It’s very common for nestlings to be found hopping on the ground as they’re just learning to fly and forage for food. Although it’s normal to feel worried for a fledgling hopping about on the ground, the fledgling might not actually need any help at all.
If you’re concerned about the fledgling’s safety and health, check on it every 1–2 days to make sure it’s still alive and flapping.
Furthermore, the next may not even belong to the fledgling’s family or may have been constructed by a different species of bird altogether.
If a young bird accepts food from humans too many times, it may imprint on humans and struggle to form social bonds with other birds.
If you can’t help but walk through the area that the protective birds are patrolling, carry an umbrella with you to keep the birds from pecking at your head and face.
If the parents are not feeding the fledgling, try moving a little farther off. The adult birds may not approach if you’re too close.
A seriously injured fledgling may have flies buzzing around or, if it’s in very bad shape, have a few maggots crawling across its body.
If you live in the United States, you can find a website for wildlife rehabilitators in every state online at: https://secure. mediapeta. com/peta/PDF/WildlifeRehabilitatorsbyState. pdf. If you live outside of the U. S. , contact your local government or animal-control center and ask about wildlife rehabilitation personnel.
It’s a good idea to still call a wildlife rehabilitator after you’ve placed the fledgling into a tree.
If you have neighbors with housecats, advise them to keep their pets indoors for the same amount of time also.
