Helping baby birds means letting nature sometimes take its course
This time of year, it’s not uncommon to find a young bird on the ground, feathers fluffed, hopping around, maybe calling for its parents.
For many, including Eagle Mountain residents, the first instinct is to help. But according to the City’s Wildlife Biologist Todd Black, stepping in might do more harm than good.
“Every spring and early summer, I get calls or messages from residents who have found a bird on the ground and are worried it’s been abandoned,” said Black. “They want to help, which is a great impulse, but in most cases, that bird is exactly where it’s supposed to be.”
Most of the young birds seen in neighborhoods this time of year are fledglings: birds that have left the nest but haven’t fully developed their flight skills yet.
Species like robins, kestrels, owls and other songbirds go through this natural stage of development where they spend a few days on the ground, learning how to fly and survive.
“People think these birds have been pushed out or are injured, but the reality is this is just part of their life cycle,” Black said. “It’s not unusual for them to spend a day or two on the ground with their parents still watching and feeding them.”
Removing fledglings from the wild can actually reduce their chances of survival.
“One of the biggest misconceptions I see is people thinking they need to raise the bird themselves or take it to a wildlife rehabilitation center,” said Black. “But what they’re doing is removing it from its natural support system. The parents usually know exactly where their young are and are actively caring for them.”
If a fledgling is in immediate danger such as being near a road or where a cat might find it, the best thing to do is gently move it out of harm’s way.
“Put it somewhere where there is cover, like under a bush or on a low tree branch,” Black advised. “But if there’s no obvious threat, the best thing you can do is just leave it alone.”
This natural process can be tough to witness. Only about half of fledglings survive to adulthood, even in natural conditions.
“That’s why most birds lay clutches of three to five eggs,” says Black. “Nature’s built to account for these odds.”
For those who want to learn more about fledgling behavior and what to do when they find one, Black recommends checking out reliable resources such as the Eagle Mountain City website, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, or performing a quick Google search.
Residents with specific questions can contact Black at tblack@ealgemountain.gov for more information.