Help? Found a baby bird; should I be doing something? Update 2
Help? Found a baby bird; should I be doing something? Update 2
Hi! There’s a baby bird in my yard. It’s about the size of my fist. It has a few short white feathers. I think they’re pin feathers. The nest is too high for me to reach; so I left it alone on the ground.
More importantly and the reason I’m reaching out, the little thing hasn’t moved. It doesn’t move when I approach and it hasn’t moved from its spot all day. I don’t see any blood, but I also haven’t touched it because I didn’t want to distress it further. I haven’t caught the parents caring for it, but I did see adult birds in the tree.
Is there something I should be doing here? I’m leaving it alone and keeping my cats away from the window. The area it is in is shady, but it’s so hot outside. A cup of water? Should I make it a comfy box? I’ve got an ant problem in my yard. Will they hurt it?
Picture: 
Update: I made it a “nest” on the recommendation of google and the wildlife volunteer that called me back. It hated it and ran away in small circles. After shooing it back to its original hiding spot, I left the “nest” where it could reach it if it changed its mind and fled the scene. At least it isn’t hurt.
Update 2: it was very chirpy this morning and I heard its parents so I chose to leave it alone. The chirping stopped this afternoon and, after a while, I went to check on it. It was dropped over and unresponsive. It was in the shade of the fence but I think the 105+ degree heat got to it. Thank you all for your input. I’m sorry I couldn’t do more… :(
Fledglings often end up on the ground outside of their nests. They usually spend this time poking around the ground for bugs or other things to eat while their parents are nearby. As long as it isn’t in danger of being eaten, I would leave it alone and allow it to do its thing. If it happens to be injured, I’m not sure there is anything you can do to help other than contacting a wildlife rehabilitation group.
Here’s some additional info:
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/i-found-a-baby-bird-what-do-i-do/#
Thank you for this!
I was very worried about it being injured since it hadn’t moved. This is no longer a concern. It hated the box and ran away really well! So I put the box where it could reach it and fled the scene.
That’s a baby mourning dove! There are usually two babies so the sibling is likely up in the nest. The parent could feed it on the ground if it feels safe to do so, but I’m not sure if the parents would know how to find it or would feel safe.
Thank you for the identifying info! Now I can google for what the parents look like. I’ll keep a look out.
They’re so derpy and sweet! I scrolled and posted a lot recently on Reddit (wah wah) on the mourning derps and stupid dove nest subreddits (hilarious) because I got a little dove nest in a plant pot on my own porch this spring! The mom actually just had another set of eggs! I have learned a lot about these damn birds.
I really hope you get to see this one grow and get to see the parents, too. Our last set of fledglings spend a lot of their “teenage” days on our balcony railing instead of in the nest and the mom kept on coming back to feed wherever they stood, until eventually they were coaxed to start really flying. Maybe your baby’s parents will swoop down and feed. Or like someone else said the fledgling may just adapt and figure it out - surely it will get hungry enough to try!
I’m officially a bird person thanks to mourning doves!
Poor thing! Thank you for caring and trying to help it.
I know very little but your best option is to find a way to put it back in the nest. It is possible mama bird pushed this one out since it was the weakest and there aren't enough resources to have an extra mouth to feed, or it sensed something was wrong with it.
Alternative you could look into animal rescues I've known of ladies who rescue and nurse to health baby birds and then relinquish them to a sanctuary. If you know the type of bird that could be a good place to start looking. Or get advice on how to try to care for it on your own.
The nest is too high up for me, but I did call a wildlife rescue through google. The lady called me back and suggested building a small nest for it out of a box to get it off the ground. I’m going to put it on a cinderblock. I hear other birds, but it seems like the closest rescue is a two hour drive away. So if it makes it through the night, I’ll give them a call during business hours.
Adding paper towel to the “nest”
Awesome! Hope little guy makes it, you're doing a great job. Very smart to call wildlife rescue.