Expert: Roger Lederer - 5/28/2007

Question
QUESTION: Good Morning, I have a birds' nest over my driveway light,  noticed that the birds hatched last week.  When I came home yesterday one bird is on the driveway dead.  I can't see any other birds still in the nest but one bird was my porch railing for hours, unresponsive, I thought he was dead or dying.  I was afraid to leave my house.  This morning the bird is still on the driveway dead, the bird that was on the railing isn't there anymore.  What should I do, should I be worried about discarding the dead bird?  I haven't heard the mother bird chirping at all.  and I am scared:)
Thank you Mignon

ANSWER: There is no reason to be afraid. Is it West Nile Virus you fear? You can't get it by picking up a bird. Sounds like there is nothing you can do except dispose of the bird in the driveway. Wear gloves or use a shovel if this task sounds unpleasant, but there is nothing to fear. Roger Lederer at Ornithology.com

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Oh boy never even thought about West Nile Virus now I am really scared, could he had died from that or just fell out.  And what about the bird that appeared to be waiting for us to come out of the house on the railing? At first  was scared thinking the mother would attack me as I tried to pick up the dead bird.
And Thank you in advance for you instant response.

Answer
Again, there is no reason to be afraid. Young birds often die before they start to fly, for a bunch of reasons. You cannot get West Nile Virus from handling birds or being near them. The mother will not attack you if you pick up the dead bird. There is nothing to be frightened of.