Expert: Roger Lederer - 6/27/2007

Question
Sparrows built a nest in my barbeque grill a few months ago. I live on the second floor and the grill is on my deck. Today I noticed a little sparrow with feathers  on the deck and one of it's legs must have been broken because it stuck out completely behind it and it couldn't stand up. It was spinning in circles and trying to flap it's wings but because of the leg being completely behind it , no way could it get any balance. It kept getting close to the railings which have 4" openings around the complete deck and it could have fallen thru. I was so very concerned that it would fall to the cement ground below that I put cardboard about a foot high around the entire deck. Birds were coming back and forth to see it but it was there all day. They even brought a few pieces of straw and laid it close by. The bird seemed to get weaker and weaker and I was sure it would die. After reading your site I think I did a really bad thing. I lifted the grill top and put the little bird back into the nest. When I placed it inside I saw another little bird in there, I'm sure I must have frightened it to no end. After I put the hurt little bird back into the nest I did see adult birds going back and forth into the nest. I feel just horrible now  because I keep thinking I may have upset the entire nest by opening the lid and putting that little bird back in there. The only reason I did that is because I read online that it was okay to do if it looked like the bird had fallen out. It seemed so scared I truly did think I was helping it and the parents. I cant stop thinking about that poor little bird and feeling like I probably hurt it more by thinking I was helping it. Can you offer me any insight in the event that it happens again.

Answer
Young birds rarely fall from their nest unless the nest is destroyed by wind or a cat or something. They jump out before they can fly and the parents take care of them. If this bird has a broken leg, the best thing to do is bring it to a wildlife rehab center in your area as any bird with a broken leg needs serious medical care if it is to survive. Young birds with broken legs almost never survive. I don't think you harmed anything in this case since the bird will most likely die in any case. THanks for your concern.