Baby Birds
Found nestling
Q: I found a baby bird on the ground. What should I do? I don’t want it to die.
A:
If the bird is not injured, the best possible thing to do is to
put it back in its nest as soon as you find it. Please visit our page on "Orphaned Baby Birds" for tips and information.
Incubation and fledging
Q: How long do birds
usually incubate their eggs? And, once hatched, how long does it
usually take for young birds to fledge from the nest?
A: The
time for incubation varies from species to species but, as a general
rule of thumb, it takes most songbirds two weeks to incubate their
young and another two weeks before the young are ready to leave the
nest. Visit our “Nesting Information” page for specific incubation and fledging periods for many common species.
Painting/construction near nests
Q:
There is a bird nest very near my house. I have some painting and
construction projects on my house that I want to do this summer. Can I
just move the nest to another location close by?
A: Birds
are very sensitive to their environment during the breeding season. In
particular, you take a big risk when you move a nest, even if you move
it a short distance. The bird may abandon the nest and anything in it.
Additionally, it is illegal to disturb the nests of birds protected
under the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
A few people have
told us that they had their house painted, including the area by the
nest, and the birds were able to successfully fledge their young.
Others have chosen to wait till the young fledge before beginning any
projects. In general, from the time the bird begins sitting on its eggs
until the young are ready to leave the nest, four weeks will pass. If
you can afford to wait, that’s the best choice for the birds.
Pigeons
Q: Why don't we ever see any baby pigeons?
A:
This is one of those urban mysteries that does have an answer! Pigeon
nests are well-hidden and the young usually stay in the nests until
nearly full-grown. Often, the young birds, or squabs as they are
called, become even bigger than their parents just before they leave
the nest. By the time we see them walking and flying around, it’s hard
to tell them apart from their parents. No wonder most people never see
baby pigeons!