Birds are “Spring”-ing In: What Can You Do?

Introduction

As winter wraps up and spring nears in the Northern hemisphere, we're going to see a lot of birds on their Spring Migration journey - they'll be flying from the south, where they've avoided the harsh winter conditions until warmer ones started rolling in up north. It's after spring breeding season is over and as fall and winter approach, that they'll then begin their Fall Migration journey back to these warmer areas - unless they're a hardy homebody bird like a cardinal or bluejay

An example of Bird Migration patterns (Image Credit: Bird Cast)

With migration at any time of the year, the multiple threats that birds in urban and suburban areas face increase, and relatively more so in the spring. But how can you tell if a bird is in danger? And if it is, what should you do? Let's get into it, starting with a simple look at the stages of bird growth: hatchlings, nestlings, fledglings, juveniles, and adults.

Hatchlings and Nestlings

During this time, migrating birds will be looking for good nesting areas, attracting and bonding with mates, and laying their eggs which eventually hatch into cuter (or sometimes not so cuter?) younger versions of their adult selves. Those first few weeks of weaning and learning how to live are critical for baby birds.

When they're in the hatchling phase, they've just been born, attended to constantly by their parents who keep them fed and warm. They usually have completely bald and pink bodies, and without warmth these young birds can quickly die.

Hatchling (Image credit: Chirp for Birds)

When they're in their nestling phase, they're older, still under the wing of their parents, but look a little bit more different - features such as their beaks and legs are more pronounced. Feathers will start to grow in, including a lot of yellow "downy" or "down" feathers.

In either of these stages, if you find them on the ground, they've likely fallen out of a nest right above you. If you see a tree it could have fallen out of, try to carefully scale the tree (using a ladder if necessary) and locate the nest and place the bird into it as soon as possible (and no, touching the bird with your hands will not cause it to be rejected by the mother, that is just a myth).

Different bird species will nest in different ways. While some opt for traditional nests, some make their nests in openings or cavities, such as starlings. So depending on the species type, it would also be good in this case to look for an opening above you as well, such as a vent in a wall. I've rescued starling nestlings that had fallen out of a nest in a vent on the outside of an apartment building, that a mother had not attended to in a while (she had likely never returned because she was killed). I've also rescued trapped starling juveniles in the open electrical box of a utility pole. It's always good to call your local wildlife rehab to consult their expertise on how to find the nest.

Nestling (Image credit: Chirp for Birds)

If the nest is too high up, the next alternative is to make a makeshift nest, preferably out of materials that can't get soaked (such as vented plastic containers or baskets), fill it with natural materials such as dead leaves, twigs and grass, and place it as close to the original nest as possible. It's important to: 1) not use construction paper/boxes as these materials can get soaked in the rain, 2) make sure the nest is secure so it doesn't actually fall down - using a string to secure it to the tree can work; and 3) placing twigs and branches that extend outside of the nest itself is important, in case the bird is grown enough (beyond the nestling phase) to have some mobility and needs some personal help exiting the makeshift nest.

Example of a makeshift nest (Image credit: Greenwood Wildlife)

If you're still unable to get to the nest or make a makeshift one, then consult with a wildlife rehab on what to do. If they advise you to bring the bird in, try to do this right away. If you can't right away (or if you're unable to get the bird into the nest right away), then it's important to remember: hatchlings specifically need supplemental heat.

You can get a heat warmer or a warmed sock of rice (warmed in the microwave), place a couple of paper towels or sheets on top as barrier (otherwise the bird may become overheated or even receive burns), and lay the bird securely on top, in a box that is sealed, ventilated, and marked, in a place that is free of disturbances (more info on proper boxing/containing of a bird in need will be expanded below). This is a good temporary measure until the bird can be brought to safety again. With any injured bird, no food or water should be provided in almost all cases - it's very easy to kill a baby bird or complicate its condition this way with non-certified and inexperienced hands. Emphasis on this practice for adult birds is expanded below.

Fledglings

Fledgling birds are still under the care of their parents but semi-independent as well. They're usually mobile, and hop around attempting to fly (but flutter instead). They have what I like to call the "Albert Einstein look" - tufts of white feathers on both sides near their ears and a grumpy look on their face. They will have more feathers at this time but not enough to help with full flight. And almost always, the parents are nearby, monitoring the bird from afar as it learns and discovers how to navigate the wild environment around it by foraging for food and hiding from predators.

Fledgling (Image Credit: Chirp For Birds)

 And that's where the biggest threat to bird fledglings comes in: cats! Cats are in the top two killers of wild birds globally, and the birds they catch the easiest are fledglings that cannot fly away. If you love to feed birds, seeing them, and hearing them chirp, please consider providing your cat an enriched indoor lifestyle that doesn't involve them wandering outside of your home.

In addition, sometimes caring humans may accidentally "kidnap" a fledgling bird to bring them to safety, mistakenly thinking that its injured because of a lack of flying or a precarious location. If you see a bird and are unsure if it needs help, it's always important to remember 1) what time of year it is: if it’s spring, it may be a fledgling bird you see on the ground, not an injured adult; 2) where you found the bird: unless you found the bird in the middle of nowhere with no structures or greenery of any kind nearby, it's probably ok on its own; and 3) the condition of the bird: if it’s mobile, hopping, and not enthusiastic to being approached, leave the bird alone. Remember, the parents are likely around watching it, letting it learn to navigate the world while stepping in at times to help feed and nurture, and the best way to let a wild baby bird live to its healthiest potential is to leave it with its wild parent birds. If there are imminent dangers nearby, such as cats, foot or car traffic, or harsh weather, it's ok to move it to a nearby bush or small tree. You can always confirm a fledgling is being cared for, by stepping far away and monitoring for a period of time (20-30 minutes or more if you're able to) as eventually the parents will swoop down to attend to the bird before flying off again. If unsure, always call a wildlife rehab.

Juveniles

At this stage, juvenile birds in most species are basically on their own. They’ve learned where to forage, where to fly and have an idea of threats nearby. They have a younger look to them, with large bright eyes, and possibly some baby feathers still remaining.

When it comes to juvenile pigeons specifically, they may still be nest bound even at this stage, until they’ve flown off on their own accord.

At any stage, cats are a threat to birds. But it's when birds become flighted that a new, vicious man-made threat enters the area: reflective and see-through window and glass.

Adults

Migratory adult birds travel hundreds of thousands of miles during migration to seek out havens of rest and resources for themselves and their young. Migratory non-native birds pass through our cities (which are foreign to them) on their journey, while native birds can leave and return from these places during their migration. They brave all types of weather and threats and are a critical part of the global biodiversity index. Without birds, the rest of the world dies - this isn't fiction! Our very lives depend on wild birds living and thriving. But they have their share of dangers to traverse, and windows and glass are no exception.

Adult song sparrow (Image Credit: All About Birds)

Windows and glass are in the top killers of birds globally, because of their reflective and see-through surfaces. Surprisingly, it is residential areas, not commercial city areas, that make up most of these kills. With see-through glass, birds can't determine that there is a hard panel between them and their destination (maybe the sky, or a tree they see beyond the glass in a park, or a bug on the ground they wanted to snatch up) that they should avoid. Other times, the glass is reflective, and showcases the background behind the bird - this can be blue sky and greenery as well.

When birds see these mirages of seemingly accessible places, they head at the glass at full speed. In a collision, their beaks hit the glass, injuring them almost immediately - internal bleeding can occur as a result of compromised internal structures in the skull, and a concussion is almost certain with a collision. Depending on the bird's size and speed, other parts of its body can also be injured, such as its wings. It then falls down to the ground, and unfortunately this fall can kill it if the collision didn't already, especially if it is a hard surface below. It is during this time on the ground that they are more vulnerable than ever to threats like being stepped on, driven over, or predated on.

Window collision bird victims (Image Credit: Audubon)

What do you do if you see an adult bird on the ground that looks injured, during migration seasons (especially the fall)? 1) Assume the bird is injured and quickly get the bird into a box; 2) make sure that the box is sealed (so it can't fly out), ventilated (so it can breathe), and marked (so it's not mistaken for trash); and most importantly 3) bring the box WITH YOU. A bird in a box left outside makes it more vulnerable to threats such as being mistaken for trash, being more easily predated on, the elements of weather, and abuse. Bring the bird inside your workplace or residence; and 4) keep it in a warm, dark and quiet place, away from disturbances such as kids, pets or loud noises. Doing this prevents bright lights from hitting its eyes (which can otherwise aggravate its symptoms from a concussion), keeps its metabolism low to conserve its energy, and keeps its stress levels low (stress can easily kill a bird, wild or domestic). And always: 5) no food or water for the bird - an injured bird can accidentally aspirate these contents, which can kill it faster and/or make it more difficult for a rehabber to assess and treat it.

After containing the bird, 6) call your local wildlife rehabilitation center - tell them exactly what happened - describe the bird, and what you did so far for the bird. If this is an incident during fall, they might suspect that it is a typical window collision during migration season and they’ll ask you to bring it in. If this is an incident during spring, they’ll want to make sure it's not an accidental fledgling kidnapping before you bring the bird in. 

It's important to 7) never re-release a window collision bird victim that hasn’t been treated by certified expert hands. Even if they seem fine (they may even flap around in the box!), a bird post-collision with no treatment can succumb to the injuries of the collision, such as internal bleeding and concussions, after they've flown off.

American Woodcock on the ground in Philly, a victim of a window collision (Image Credit: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service)

What can you do to prevent bird window collisions? Using effective deterrents such as Feather Friendly, and Acopian Bird Savers, these applications can break up the solid sheen look of a glass panel so that an incoming bird would know to avoid flying into it. If you’re unable to utilize these, an application of decals or dots on the outside of your window in a 2” x 2” matrix will do the trick. You should also turn off your lights as early as possible, especially during migration season.

Lights can cause migrating birds that are on their familiar migratory paths to be confused - they can land earlier than expected, blindly crash into things including glass, have their sleep patterns be disrupted, and land up in unfamiliar situations that prevent them from reaching their breeding destination successfully.

(Feather Friendly dot installation in Sister Cities Cafe in Philly (Image Credit: GridPhilly)

Do Your Part

Apart from cats, and windows and glass, habitat destruction is one of if not the biggest killer of wild birds globally. The never-relenting urbanization of natural areas, and the push of suburban sprawl, is especially a problem in the United States. A lack of proper mitigation is also deeply embedded in society, with an emphasis on clean-cut lawns and bird feeders instead of naturalized areas with native, bird-friendly forbs and grasses that provide food and shelter for them.

Do your part to prevent biodiversity loss - look into native vegetation that can sustain your local wild bird population, leave the leaves during the fall, and watch where you trim during the spring season. Join local conservation groups and efforts - for example, join your local Environmental Advisory Council to help promote bird-safe ventures and practices in your community (especially with the help of Bird Town PA if you live in Pennsylvania), monitor for window collision bird victims and transport them to safety with groups like Bird Safe Philly, and even lend a helping hand remotely with groups like NYC Bird Alliance. If you're using feeders and baths, refresh them daily, clean them weekly - this keeps the spread of bacteria minimal between birds. Read up on birds, their behavior, their threats, what you can do to help, and listen to the science. Birds depend on our help!

Naturalized meadow from scratch (Image Credit: Xerces Society)