Caring For Nestlings Songbirds

Newborn - 2 Weeks, Unfeathered - Downy Quills, Unable to fly


If attempts to reunite the baby bird with its parents have been unsuccessful, prepare a small margarine tub (or similar container) by lining with tissue. Place the baby gently in the substitute nest. It is imperative that the baby be kept warm and quiet, just as you would any infant. A bird's normal body temperature is approximately 107 degrees, so if its body feels cool to the touch, do not try to feed until it is warmed. A cold body will not digest the food! Place the nest cup in a small box (shoebox) for stability and then on a heating pad on the "LOW" setting. If a heating pad is not available, you may use a small desk lamp with extreme caution. Use a low wattage bulb and cover the nest cup with a wash cloth.

Now that the baby is warm and comfortable, it's time to feed! Unfeathered baby birds will need to be fed every 30 minutes, from sun up to sun down. Older babies are fed at hourly intervals. They receive all the moisture they need from their food...NEVER administer liquid into a baby's mouth!  A healthy diet is imperative to the bird's development as nutritional deficiencies can occur within 48 hours causing irreversible damage. The suggested food substitutes below are for temporary care only. We highly recommend that a licensed rehabilitator be contacted as soon as possible to provide the necessary specialized care for the appropriate species.

-Science Diet Feline Growth: This dry kitten food should be soaked in a small amount of water until softened. Small packs can be purchased at most pet stores or veterinarian clinics. The small softened pellets may be fed using a blunt end toothpick.

-Mealworms: Live mealworms may be purchased at pet stores and fed alternately to supplement protein levels. When feeding nestlings it is recommended that the mealworms be dipped in plain yogurt to aid the digestive tract.

-Additional Food Supplements: Fruits - tiny slivers of grapes, banana, apple. Protein - mashed boiled egg, lean raw beef slivers.

Now that the baby is quiet, warm and fed, you can begin your search for a rehabilitator that is properly equipped for wild birds. Contact your local State Parks and Wildlife Department for the name of one in your area. You may also call avian veterinarians, zoo, nature center or animal control to request a list of bird rehabbers.

Raising a nestling requires a fulltime commitment of up to eight weeks. Many baby birds, raised by well meaning individuals, are released into the wild unprepared for independence only to meet certain death. Before a bird can be returned to the wild, it must be fully flighted, completely self feeding, waterproofed and fearful.
 

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