Along with the hedge-cutting reminder for the nesting season on another thread ... we are now at the time where more and more baby birds will be seen on the ground and out of the nest before they are able to fly properly. This is very NORMAL for a wide range of species, in fact many of our garden birds finish their fledgling education on the ground and will be continued to be fed by the parents (even if you don't notice them!). It is very
unlikely that a healthy fledgling chick has been abandoned just because the parents don't appear to be around or feeding it when you watch.
IF YOU SEE A BABY BIRD ON THE GROUND: 1. Is it fully feathered?
2. Does it appear to be uninjured?
If YES - Leave well alone and keep a distance. Parents are likely to be around but may not come to feed while you are close by.
If YES, to the above but is in immediate DANGER from a lurking cat, on a road etc
a) Gently pick it up and place in a bush in the immediate vicinity of where you found it - Do NOT remove from the area as parents will need to be able to hear it calling for food.
b) Do NOT attempt to return to a nest - the nest may be the wrong one! OR you could risk disturbing other birds still in the nest and disturb parents away from the nest site.
3. Is the baby bird partially or totally unfeathered? Or, covered in fluffy down
If YES, to the above, then it's fallen out of the nest or been pushed out accidently:
a) Locate the original nest (which will be above the site where you found it) and quietly place back in nest then move away quickly from the site
b) If you can't find the nest: Create a makeshift 'nest' from a shoebox or other type of open container with leaves etc in it and place in a hedge/location off the ground immediate vicinity where you found it.
c) If either the above is not practical or you don't think it's safe to do, contact the nearest Vet/Rehabber/wildlife rescue and deliver the nestling to be hand reared ASAP.
Hand reared birds have a diminished likelyhood of surviving and being successfully released back into the wild. This must be a last resort at all times and there being no chance of it surviving in the condition and situation that you found it.
Click here for standard advice:
The RSPB: Advice: Baby birds
NEVER try and feed or give water to a baby bird regardless of how sorry for it you are! Unexperienced feeding (with wrong type of food etc) and handling could kill the bird.
The best thing that we can do for baby birds this time of year is try and ensure cats are kept in during the night, they are wearing bells etc.
(This is all off the top of my head, so if anyone has any further advice/comments/links/contrary points to add etc - then feel free to post!)
One other point worth noting: If you are out and about in the countryside, be aware of ground nesting birds - all the chicks will be on the ground!!
Re: If you find a BABY BIRD 
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