Skip to main content
 

What to do if you find a baby bird or injured bird?

Here you can find advice on what to do if you find a baby or injured bird. In most cases chicks out of the nest or on the ground should be left alone, however, in certain circumstances it may be necessary to take further action. Read on for more information.

Have you found a sick or injured bird?

It should be kept in mind that the majority of baby birds found outside the nest are not in distress or in need of help. It is not unusual for a baby bird to leave the nest before it is fully capable of flight. This is true of many of our common species, e.g. Blackbird and Robin. Unless you have experience of caring for birds, taking a baby bird in to care may often reduce its chances of survival; the majority of hand-reared baby birds do not survive. This is not a decision to be taken lightly, and should only be done where you are absolutely certain that the chick has been abandoned.

If you encounter a baby bird out in the open, moving it to a safer location with some cover may help its chances. If the chick is very young (with few or no feathers) and you know where the nest is, the best thing to do is to pop the chick back in and let the parents continue to care for it. Do not stay in the vicinity as you may frighten off the adult birds and cause unnecessary stress to the chicks.

Wild Bird First Aid

We would highly recommend the excellent Irish Wildlife Matters website, an online wildlife first aid resource with full details of what to do, whom you should contact and details of vets and wildlife rehabilitators who will be able to help.

Website
stonechat-chick-in-a-persons-hand

Read our latest  news

Kilcoole Little Tern ProjectA successful year for east coast Little Terns in 2024
December 5, 2024

A successful year for east coast Little Terns in 2024

Thankfully, 2024 proved to be a very successful year for Little Terns on the east coast of Ireland, with increased nesting numbers across all of the colonies managed by BirdWatch…
AdvocacyBiodiversityBreeding wadersInternationalMigrationNewsExtinction of Slender-billed Curlew must be a wake-up call for global biodiversity action
November 22, 2024

Extinction of Slender-billed Curlew must be a wake-up call for global biodiversity action

In recent days, scientists sounded the death knell for Slender-billed Curlew, declaring the migratory shorebird globally extinct. Published in IBIS, the International Journal of Avian Science, the analysis of the…

We sell amazing stuff!

Visit our shop and find the essential items for every birdwatcher and wildlife enthusiast. Whether you are a serious twitcher or someone who is looking for a nice gift, we’ve got it sorted. With the added bonus that your purchase is contributing directly to wildlife conservation in Ireland, visit now to see our amazing range.

Find Out More