Ohcrapohcrap

[oakenguy]

Help! Baby bird that's fallen out of its nest: is it okay to replace it? Or will it get rejected because it smells like humans? If I CAN'T replace it, what are my options?

Ack!

Comments

[helianthas.livejournal.com]

googling for "baby bird out of nest" seems to say yes, replace it.

http://www.stokesbirdsathome.com/q&a/archive/qa108.html
http://www.chicagowilderness.org/wildchi/livingwild/wildinfant/bird/index.cfm
http://www.nhaudubon.org/naturalist/naturalistbabybird.htm

[lisy-babe.livejournal.com]

I've not googled the subject, but, if it happened to me, I'd replace it wearing gloves to make it not smell human.

[helianthas.livejournal.com]

the links say that the birds don't have a developed enough sense of smell to make that a factor

[akycha.livejournal.com]

You can replace it, but watch to make sure the parents come back (in most cases they will).

If you can't replace it, depends on what species it is-- is it naked? Fluffy? Are the eyes open?

[phobean.livejournal.com]

If all else fails, call the local Humane Society and ask them what to do. We used to raise fallen baby birds when I was a kid -you probably don't want to go that route because it's a lot of work and they usually die.

[anotherjen.livejournal.com]

But take a picture first!

[jesshartley.livejournal.com]

Because of the coon cuteness, we've read a lot in the last few days.

Replace it.

http://www.wildlifecenter.org/rescue/ has a great flow chart for animal rescue.

[flopart.livejournal.com]

is it physically okay? if so, return it. if not, it might need some medical care.

[wanderingrogue.livejournal.com]

I'm with the others: return it. The whole smell thing is a bit of an urban legend, IIRC.

[kittybrat.livejournal.com]

Well not really. Maybe with birds it's a misconception, because with felines, mother cats will reject their babies if they smell of something they don't recognize (such as a human).

[wanderingrogue.livejournal.com]

Oh, I was speaking only of birds in this case. I'm well on my way to being a crazy old cat lady so, believe me, I know how much smell plays a factor in the relationship between mommy cat and baby. :)

[kittybrat.livejournal.com]

If the parent(s) don't come back, you might want to bring the baby bird to your local humane society. I did that once for a bird that flew into a 711 then knocked itself unconscious. I drove to two or three before finding one that would take it.

[palusbuteo.livejournal.com]

Birds don't really have a sence of smell (save Vultures), so handling the bird won't be a big deal...However, too MUCH handling and "hand raising" will cause Imprinting - The baby bird will associate handler (bird or human) with Food and sees it as it's Parent, which is of course BAD. So yeah, making a temp nest with a margarine/plastic tub with dryer lint/and/or papertowel in the bottom - make sure you poke holes in the bottom for drainage...And get it back up as high *as possible*...And hope for the best