Here is what to do if you find a baby bird.

The best thing to do if you find a baby bird is to leave it alone. If the bird appears as though it has fallen from a nest, an attempt to locate the nest can be made, and the bird can be carefully returned. If the bird has feathers, it may be a fledged bird and a parent bird is probably close by. As long as the bird is in no danger from cats or other predators, it is best to watch the bird from a distance to see if a parent returns after an hour or so before determining that the bird needs human help.

Birds do not have a true sense of smell, so the myth that birds will reject a baby bird if touched by a human is not true. A baby bird that has been touched by a human, however, does make it easier for a predator (cat, raccoon, etc.) to find.

If a nest cannot be located or the bird is “rescued,” the first important step is to call a rehabilitator to care for the bird. Second, provide warmth to the baby bird. A hot water bottle or low heating pad or even hot water in a glass bottle will do.

How you can help an injured bird?

Taking care of injured birds and wildlife should be left to people who know how to do it best. Contact your local Wild Birds Unlimited store for help locating a rehabilitator near you. Find your store’s contact info by clicking here. Or try this web site to locate a rehabilitator, https://theiwrc.org/resources/emergency/north-america as well as The Humane Society websites for rehabilitators in the U.S. or in Canada by state or province.