Record breaking numbers expected to help Dorset's baby birds
The RSPCA are welcoming the public's helping hand
A record-breaking number of people are expected to help baby birds this season with the RSPCA in Dorset is expecting a surge in people getting in contact.
'Baby bird' season peaks during May and June and the RSCPA has revealed it's advice page had over 30,000 hits in those months last year.
The charity's received almost 19,000 calls about baby birds from the public since the start of 2021 - with 303 reports coming from Wiltshire.
Advice on how to best help baby birds varies depending on the age of the chick and whether they're a nestling or a fledgling - meaning whether a little bird’s feathers have grown yet.
The general rules are:
• Nestlings (no feathers) - Re-nest if possible: With few or no feathers, nestlings won’t survive long outside the nest, so where possible, put them back in the nest and leave them in the wild. If they may be injured, please take them to a vet.
• Fledglings (have feathers) - Don’t disturb. It’s normal for fledglings to be on the ground as they may leave the nest before they can fly. Parents are usually nearby and feeding the bird. If they may be injured, please take them to a vet.
'Rare for parents to abandon fledglings'
RSPCA scientific officer Rebecca Machin said: “It’s wonderful that so many people want to do the best for our wild birds, particularly if a baby bird has been found out of its nest.
“And it’s great that tens of thousands of people are following our online guidance on how to help - rather than calling us - as this is usually the best and fastest way to help them.
"While in many cases, the advice will be that there’s no need to intervene, especially if the bird is a fledgling, it’s great to have so many people showing they are for every kind by looking out for these baby birds.
“But if action does need to be taken, then every time a wild animal is helped by the public it frees up our vital specialist rescuers to reach animals suffering heart-breaking cruelty and neglect, a job no other charity does.”
Spokesperson for the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB). Emma Horton, said: “Every year we get hundreds of calls from caring members of the public about baby birds out of the nest.
"But for most species of baby birds, providing they’re not sick or injured and are fully feathered, this is perfectly normal and it’s usually in their best interest to leave them be. This flightless period is a natural part of the bird’s development.
“Baby birds intentionally leave the nest before they can fly and may appear like they need rescuing. However, give it a few days to a week and they’ll have finished growing their final flight feathers and be on their way.
“A common worry is that the baby bird is not being fed by the parents. However, parents invest heavily in their young and it is very rare for them to abandon fledglings. Usually parents are nearby and may even be waiting for people to leave before they feel safe to come back with the youngster’s next meal.
“Birds take far better care of their young than humans can, and taking baby birds into captivity unnecessarily can dramatically reduce their chances of long-term survival. So if you find a baby bird and you’re worried, we’d recommend following the advice on the RSPCA website”.
RSPCA advice on helping baby birds
How you can help nestlings
• Nestlings have no feathers, or only a few, and are more likely to need help. They won't survive long outside the protection of the nest
• Where possible nestlings should be placed back in the nest (make sure it’s the right one) and left in the wild so their parents can keep caring for them - wear gloves and wash your hands afterwards*.
• If you still have concerns visit our website for more information about how to contact your local vet or wildlife centre.
How you can help fledglings
• If they have all or most of their feathers, they are likely to be a fledgling.
• It’s normal to see them on the ground, as they leave the nest just before they can fly.
• Unless they’re sick or injured, leave the fledgling alone and monitor it from a distance for at least two hours, as the parents are usually nearby and feeding the bird.
• If they're in immediate danger, place them in a sheltered spot a short distance away.
• Even if you have already confined a healthy fledgling, you may still be able to return them to their parents.
• Keep your pets, and other people if possible, away from them.