Birding/newborn birds

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Expert: - 7/15/2010


Question
I found a nest of newborn birds (3) that have fell out of the nest. Before thinking I picked them up and put them back in the nest. They have a little fur on them but still babies, mouth open looked to be hungery. Will they be ok or can i help some how.? Will the mother take care of them since i touched them? What can i do? I feel bad for them.

Answer
If they are mostly feathered (no fur), as I suspect, then leave them alone. They jumped from the nest and the parents will care for them until they can fly. If they are mostly naked, then you did the right thing by putting them back in the nest. It's a myth that parent birds will abandon their young if a person touches them. Thanks for your concern.

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Roger Lederer

Expertise

Any and all about WILD birds - the science of ornithology. Information about birdwatching, ecology, conservation, migration, behavior, banding, rehabilitation, feeding, songs, binoculars, identification, and careers in ornithology. No questions about pet or caged birds, please.

Experience

Have a PhD and over forty years as a professional ornithologist - research, teaching, author, speaker, webmaster of Ornithology.com . Have written thirty scientific papers, three bird field guides, a textbook in ecology and two recent books entitled "Amazing Birds" and "Birds of New England". Have traveled to over 90 countries watching birds.

Education/Credentials
PhD in Zoology/Ornithology; Emeritus Professor of Biological Sciences; former Dean of the College of Natural Sciences at California State University, Chico

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