Baby bird rescue

The first thing to remember when you see a baby bird out of the nest is that it’s parents will be looking for it.   So long as it is safe from cats and predators, leave it where it is and mum and dad will come back as soon as you’ve gone.  It isn’t always possible to do though, the baby bird brought in to us yesterday had already been captured by a cat and taken indoors.    There was no obvious nest to put him back in to, so this little chap was brought in for us to rear.    We’re giving him soaked cat biscuits and feeding from a pair of tweezers, the idea is to mimic mum’s beak.   If you can get blunt nose tweezers or the plastic ones, they are ideal.    We keep baby birds in a fairly small box, we want to mimic the nest and so we line it with grass and leaves.    If you find yourself rearing an orphan bird, make sure to keep the box in an area free from draughts and fairly warm, the bird would be cosy in the nest and cuddling up to mum and other fledglings.    Feeding is on demand, there will be cheeping whenever baby is hungry.  Chopped up worms are perfect if you can bring yourself to get them.  Also flies, moths and insects.    Don’t pet the bird and handle him as little as possible, this is a wild creature and as soon as he is able to fly and fend for himself, he should be released back into the wild.   Try to find a safe place near to where he was found and as high up as possible.   Hopefully he will get back to his family, sometimes all it takes is a rest and recovery period and then the birds are up and away.