Expert: Roger Lederer - 8/9/2010

Question
There is a baby robin in our backyard, in the grass(not in it's nest).  It has been there at least 2 days.  The parents come around from time to time, but it looks like the baby is struggling.  The nest is just above it(under our deck, so I am not sure if it fell out of the nest or what happened).  It looks like it does not have many feathers and it is on it's back.  I don't know if I should do anything to help it or just let it alone for the parents. I am concerned that if I touch it the parents will abandon it. The parents are only there for short periods of time and we have not seen the parents at all today. Also, it appears(best I can tell)  that the rest of the babies are gone from the nest.

Answer
Baby robins JUMP from the nest before they can fly and the parents feed them on the ground for another ten days or so until their feathers are long enough so that they can fly. Best thing to do is leave it alone - the parents will take care of it. By the way, it is not true that if you touch a baby bird or eggs or the nest the parents will abandon it. But it is almost always best to let nature take over.