| In spring and early summer each year baby birds are | | | | But let's assume that for some reason you feel you |
| struggling for survival. Inevitably the odd young bird tries | | | | have to rescue the baby bird. How are you going to |
| to fledge too soon or falls out of the nest before it | | | | care for and feed the young wild bird? |
| should and is found by a person like you or me. | | | | The bird should be kept in a surrogate nest - such as |
| How to feed young wild birds and ensure their survival | | | | a shoe box - with paper towel around the edges and |
| through to adulthood then becomes key and is a | | | | along the bottom of the box to absorb any mess and |
| challenge not to be taken lightly. | | | | to make the baby bird feel comfortable. Any mess |
| Even with the best information and intentions, before | | | | should be renoved immediately and cleanliness is vitally |
| feeding young birds you should be aware that there is | | | | important to your success as a surrogate parent. Try |
| still a good chance they won't survive. Injuries from | | | | to do your best not to upset the bird - keep it warm |
| their fall, stress or just plain bad luck can all have an | | | | and in semi-darkness unless you are trying to feed the |
| effect on a young bird. In addition, it may have fallen | | | | bird and keep noise and commotion to an absolute |
| out of the nest not through bad luck but because it is | | | | minimum around the box. |
| weak or diseased and may not make it anyway. | | | | Next, the feeding. |
| Sometimes, as cold hearted as it sounds, you are best | | | | The easiest utensil to use for feeding birds is a |
| to leave the bird exactly where you find it. In many | | | | teaspoon, which you have modified by deliberately |
| cases the bird may have fallen accidentally and may | | | | bending up the sudes using a vice and/or pliers to |
| look in danger but it is quite likely one of thr adult parent | | | | create a sort of "shute" or tube down which food can |
| birds is watching from a nearby bush or tree. | | | | be poured. |
| As soon as you touch the baby bird it will be disowned | | | | Foods to try for young birds, depending on the species, |
| by it's parents and no more maternal care by it's | | | | are bread crumbs, cooked egg yolk, finely-ground |
| parents will be offered so if you do pick up a baby bird | | | | cooked meat or one of the professional rearing foods |
| for whatever reason, you will have to care for it from | | | | available from larger pet stores. All foods should be |
| then on. On the flip side, if you leave the baby bird | | | | moist and easy to swallow and baby birds should be |
| alone the parent may well come down and feed the | | | | fed regularly - every 30 minutes or so inititally |
| bird or help it back up to a safe roost. Fallen baby birds | | | | extending to once every 30 - 60 minutes as the bird |
| are, after all, quite common and wild birds have | | | | grows. |
| evolved and developed solutions over the years. | | | | |