If a Songbird Hits Your Window or If You Find an Injured Adult Songbird

Gently remove the animal from the ground using a towel or cloth and place it inside a small covered box with air holes. Bring the box inside and place it in a dark, quiet location secure from pets and children.

If the bird has hit a window, allow 2 hours for the bird to regain its senses. After that time, return to the yard with the box. From a squatting position, remove the lid and gently touch the back of the bird’s tail to encourage it to fly away. If the bird does not fly, simply hops from the box, or has any type of injury, the bird will need further evaluation and care.

You may offer a shallow dish of water (a small jar lid works well).
Do not attempt to feed it, as wildlife requires specialized foods. 
Keep the bird in a dark, quiet location away from pets and children until the animal can be transported.

The sooner the injured animal gets the medical attention it needs, the better are its chances for survival.  Time is everything.  Bring it immediately to Carolina Wildlife Care or to a professional wildlife rehabilitator in your area.

If You Think You Have Found An Abandoned Nest

If you suspect that a whole nest of babies is orphaned, watch the nest from a safe distance for 3 hours to ensure that mom is not returning to feed them.  Parents have an extremely strong instinct to care for their young and are not deterred easily from their babies, despite opening doors or closing garages.  Just make sure that a small access remains for birds to fly in and out to continue caring for their young.

IT IS A FEDERAL OFFENSE UNDER THE MIGRATORY BIRD ACT TO DISTURB OR REMOVE A NEST, BABIES OR EGGS.

If You Think You Have Found An Orphaned Baby Bird

A bird that is not well feathered (hatchling or nestling), or not strong enough to stand, should be placed back into the nest.  Birds do not have a keen sense of smell and will not reject the baby if you touch it.  Watch from a safe distance for 3 hours to make sure the mother returns to the nest.  If you cannot reach the nest, make a substitute nest from a small wicker basket, a strawberry container, or a hanging basket.  Line with pine needles or leaves.  Place the basket as close to the original nest as possible. Watch for 3 hours to ensure that the mother returns to feed both nests.

Fledglings songbirds are well feathered, hopping strongly, and will not stay in a nest if returned.  Fledglings can be on the ground for several days before strengthening their flying skills and require a different approach in reuniting them with their parents.  Place the fledgling on a nearby branch off the ground or back in the vicinity where it was originally found and leave the area.  Listen for the sounds of an adult calling to its baby or carrying food around.  Watch to ensure the parents find the baby bird.

If the location is unsafe, try to stay within 30 feet when selecting another location.  Carry the baby to a few locations and let it call out for its parents.  A distress call is the fastest way to find a parent. Other non-parent adults of the same species may also respond to the distress call, so it will be important to watch for the parents who are the only birds that will feed the baby.  If dogs or cats are in the yard, bring them inside, or turn on the sprinkler so they cannot go after the bird.  If the parents are not seen returning to the baby after 3 hours, only then consider the baby orphaned.

If You Have Found An Injured Baby Bird

If the baby bird is obviously injured, cold, or has been caught by a cat or dog, then the baby cannot be returned to its family and needs to be taken to a wildlife rehabilitator. 

Please DO NOT attempt to give a wild baby bird anything to eat or drink without first speaking to a rehabilitator.  Baby birds aspirate very easily on drops of water.  They also require special feedings every 30 minutes; so getting them to a rehabilitator quickly helps in their survival.

Place the baby bird in a covered box with air holes and line with cloth.  Keep it warm using a hot water bottle or place the box on top of a heating pad set on low.  Bring the bird to Carolina Wildlife Care or a federally permitted rehabilitator for immediate care. 

If You Have Found A Duckling or Gosling

Waterfowl may be orphaned for the following reasons: late hatching, stray or too weak during walk back to water, injured, human interference. Attempting to pair a single duckling back with its mother is not recommended.  If it is paired with the wrong mother, it will be killed.  A lone duckling cannot survive on its own without its mother's warmth and protection and quickly fall prey to other ducks, turtles, or egrets/herons. 

Downy ducklings or goslings are waterproofed by oil secreted from their mother's oil gland.  It is this oil that allows them to float.  They DO NOT have the ability to generate this oil on their own, so without mom, they will become waterlogged and drown.  Ducklings are easily chilled which can also lead to death.  An orphaned duckling or gosling should be rehabilitated with the same species of similar age and size to avoid imprinting or socializing to humans. 

Place the baby duckling or gosling in a covered box or kennel with air holes and line with cloth.  Keep it warm placing the box on top of a heating pad set on low.  Bring the baby to Carolina Wildlife Care or a federally permitted rehabilitator for immediate care.