What To Do If You Spot A Baby Bird Outside Its Nest 🐦

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Here's How To Know When A Baby Bird Needs Your Help, Country Living, April 18, 2025.

When you’re working or spending time in your yard, take note of the location of any birds’ nests in and around your garden. “When you know where birds are nesting, you can work mindfully around these areas during yard maintenance and give nesting birds the space they need during the sensitive breeding season,” says Ben Haywood, director of community science at the National Audubon Society. “This prevents accidental disturbances that could harm young birds.”

At times, you may find a baby bird outside its nest. While your natural inclination may be to rescue a baby bird you find on the ground, that’s not always necessary or recommended by wildlife experts. Before you intervene, assess the situation. “The key is distinguishing between a bird in genuine distress and one experiencing normal development,” says Haywood. “A nestling that’s mostly naked with closed eyes on the ground definitely needs help. These birds are too young to be outside the nest and cannot survive on their own.”

You also may find a full-feathered fledgling hopping around on the ground with alert behavior. In this case, the bird is likely going through the natural fledgling process as it’s learning to fly. “If you observe parent birds visiting and feeding the young bird, that’s a clear sign nature is taking its course as intended,” says Haywood. “While our instinct is to help, sometimes the best assistance we can provide is to give fledglings the space to continue their natural development under their parents’ care.”

Here’s how figure out whether or not you need to help a baby bird you find outside the nest:

When Do You Find Baby Birds Outside the Nest?

Spring and summer during nesting season is when you’ll find baby birds outside their nests.

Nestlings may fall during severe weather events that damage nests, or occasionally when nests become overcrowded. Sometimes, nestlings accidentally tumble out during feeding time when jostling for position, says Haywood. Fledglings (more mature babies with feathers and open eyes) often are seen on the ground during the natural period when they’re learning to fly. “This awkward stage is normal and doesn’t necessarily indicate distress because the parents are still actively caring for the babies during this time,” says Haywood...

https://www.countryliving.com/gardening/garden-ideas/a64491480/what-to-do-if-you-find-a-baby-bird/