Baby birds, chicks and fledglings

If you find a wild baby bird, it’s best not to pick it up. Parents often leave their young briefly to find food and will return soon. Touching a chick can sometimes lead to abandonment, and untrained handling can cause stress or harm. Observing from a distance is usually the kindest thing you can do.

What to do if a bird looks sick or injured?

If you find a wild bird that allows you to come close to it, and they are not a fledgling, it’s safe to say there is likely to be an issue with their health caused by injury or illness. It’s important that the bird is seen by a professional.

Who can help?

• If the bird is injured, orphaned or in danger, please take it to a vet or an appropriate wildlife centre, you can find your nearest open wildlife centre at www.helpwildlife.co.uk  
• Mousehole Wild Bird Hospital Cornwall is open for seabirds, carefully managing admissions due to the ongoing risk of Avian Influenza in Cornwall and surrounding counties.
• Cornish Birds of Prey Centre can assist with many injured bird species from garden birds like sparrows, blackbirds and pigeons to crows, ducks and geese. They can also help if you have discovered an injured bird of prey or owl also.
• Screech Owl Sanctuary can help if you have found an injured or ill owl of any kind.

How do I handle a bird safely?

• If the bird is large – like a bird of prey, seagull – or an oiled bird the easiest way to catch it is by throwing a towel, blanket or coat over it and then place them into a suitable pet carrier or box.
• When you are holding the bird, keep it away from your face to avoid any injuries.
• If you find a young bird out of its nest or on the ground, please contact a rescue for advice before attempting to return it to a nest.
• Try to handle the bird as little as possible to reduce stress. Contrary to popular belief, parent birds will not abandon their young due to the smell of humans. This is more applicable to mammals.
• If you cannot take the bird with you, make sure it’s safely out of harms way from predators or moving vehicles before reporting it.

How can I care for the bird before I take it for help?

• Place the bird in a box large enough for it, with plenty of air holes.
• Please do not offer food or water to any injured, ill or orphaned wildlife unless advised to by a professional. Birds can easily aspirate when given water incorrectly due to the position of their airway and feeding a young bird incorrect food or whilst hypothermic can lead to complications and be fatal. It is generally best to not feed a bird and for food and water provision to be left until the bird is at a rescue.
• Place the box in a warm quiet area, out of direct sunlight.
• If the bird is oiled – do not try to clean it.  The birds need to be dosed with a special liquid to clean any oil from their stomachs that they may have preened off.

On arrival at Mousehole Wild Bird Hospital Cornwall

• Please make sure you phone ahead to ensure we can and are prepared to admit the bird. If we are at capacity, we will be unable to look after it.
• During opening hours, the bird will initially be examined by our staff at the Hospital.
• We work closely with our vet, Rosevean, to ensure the best outcome for each bird in our care.
• If the bird can be treated, we try to bring all birds up to the condition where they are able to be released back into the wild.
• Sadly, some birds cannot be saved, and may be suffering due to their illness or injury. In this instance, they are humanely and painlessly put to sleep to prevent any further pain and distress.