Expert: Roger Lederer - 1/28/2012

Question
Every year we always end up having a really bad storm and it usually knocks down nests.One of my neighbors usually finds babys and there's never a nest in sight.They always give me the babys because I'm the only one willing to take care of them.I would give them to a rehab center but the closest one is 3 or 4 hours away.I know this is a bit early to ask but I want to be prepared,how do you raise a baby robin?I always try my best but they usually don't make it.I'm only 11 but my parents don't help me so I need your help instead.I gave a picture to show how they usually look when I get them.

Answer
Well, good for you for doing something so nice. If the babies look like the photo, then they definitely came out of the nest too early. Sometimes people pick up baby birds that are totally feathered, thinking they fell out of the nest, when they actually jumped to the ground where parents feed them until they can  fly.

Instead of my writing everything down here that you need to do, I suggest you go to the website at http://www.2ndchance.info/insecteater.htm  for lots of good information.

You should also contact your local wildlife official and let him or her know what you are doing as it is illegal to raise wild baby birds without a permit from the wildlife officials. Good luck and keep up the good work.