05/31/2024
It’s baby bird season. I’ve been seeing multiple posts about people who thought they’d found a sick or injured bird, only to find out later it’s a fledgling.
You don’t need to or want to mess with fledgling birds!! They don’t need help, they’re just learning to bird. And their parents will help them out as needed.
Make sure before you step in to help, that help is actually what’s called for. (This article is based in NYC but applies most everywhere.)
If you find a young bird without fully-formed feathers, it is a hatchling or nestling and should be returned to its nest, if possible. Learn more about how to tell the difference here.