Garden bird rescue advice
During the nesting season we get a huge number of calls regarding garden baby birds. In many cases, the birds DO NOT actually need our intervention or just minimal.
If the baby is NOT INJURED and THE PARENTS ARE AROUND, reuniting the baby with the parents is always the BEST OUTCOME. Our rehabilitators are working tirelessly and are overwhelmed. We really need to save the space for those birds who actually do need our help. Please follow the advice below to establish if it is the case:
* If a bird doesn't have feathers, the (correct) nest can be located and parents are around, please try to put the baby back in the nest.
* If a bird has feathers and is out learning to fly, please put him back to where he was found, in the garden etc., but ONLY if safe to do so and if you can monitor to see if parents do come back to feed the baby. (This does not apply to baby feral pigeons. It is rarely possible to return them to their nest and parents will not feed them on the ground. Please always pick them up and call us).
* Any sick or injured baby birds, or if no parents are around, need to be taken to rehabilitators.
* Never release a bird (whether young or adult) that has been attacked by a cat, even if he appears uninjured. Bacteria present in cat's saliva means that the smallest skin puncture will very likely lead to an infection. Without antibiotics, the bird will develop septicaemia and die. Treatment needs to be given as soon as possible, as the infection will set in in a matter of hours.
* Do not squirt water into the bird's mouth or force feed. It is very dangerous as the liquid/food can go down the windpipe and cause aspiration pneumonia and death.