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Care of Wild Baby Birds - Part 2...

by Susan Nelson Hopkins

Before going any further, read Care of Wild Baby Birds - Part 1. This will alert you to what steps to take the moment you find a wild baby bird. There are several options you should consider before even thinking about trying to raise a foundling baby bird yourself (one of which is a legal consideration).

Consider the consequences of caring for a wild baby bird...

It can also place your foundling at a great disadvantage in the wild. It may become irreversibly bonded to humans, and never adapt to finding food naturally, or associate with other birds. It may never find a mate and raise offspring... absolutely normal and essential in nature.

Tips for caring for wild baby birds...

Keep your wild baby bird in a safe, quiet place.

Feed a seed-eater baby bird (like doves and pigeons) the correct food...

• These birds have a crop where the seed is turned into a soup before it moves to the stomach.
• It is essential to feed these babies a special formula readily available at pet stores.
• Just ask for their baby parrot food. In fact, if they have experience feeding baby parrots, ask them to show you how.
• This is really important to know because a seed-eater baby bird must be fed a special way.
• Insert an eye dropper into the left side of its throat, aiming it at a slight angle across the tongue toward esophagus located at the very back on the right side of its throat.
• This MUST be done correctly so the liquid formula by-passes the glottis... an opening about midway on the bird's tongue that leads to its windpipe and lungs.
• If you're not careful, you can drown your little foundling.

Feeding an Insect-eating baby bird...

• These babies can be fed solids
• The food of choice is Pedigree Puppy Chow^® soaked in water until spongy and moist.
• You can also feed it finely chopped fruits, peas, and corn after removing the skin.
• Mealworms and cricket pieces are delicious (yuk) additions to a wild baby bird's diet. Your local pet store is a good source.
• Caution... do not use milk. It is not a natural food for birds, and can often result in death for baby birds.

Resources for caring for wild baby birds...

How To Locate A Wildlife Rehabilitator... This is courtesy of the University of Minnesota and is an excellent resource for locating wild bird rehabilitators in all US states. They also have international contacts outside of the US. Visit this website -
http://www.tc.umn.edu/~devo0028/contact.htm.

Acknowledgements:
http://www.tc.umn.edu/~devo0028/contact.htm
http://www.marathonwildbirdcenter.org/baby_birds.html

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