Earlier this week, I stumbled upon a small surprise in the middle of a busy downtown walkway: a baby bird, alone looking up at me, smaller than the palm of my hand. I wasn’t sure what to do at first, so I did what any cautious animal lover might do, stood nearby to protect it from being trampled by unsuspecting pedestrians while I consulted both knowledgeable bird folks and reputable sources.
According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Audubon Society, the first step in this situation is to determine whether the bird is a nestling or a fledgling. Nestlings, who are mostly featherless and clearly not ready to be out of the nest, may need human assistance. Fledglings, on the other hand, often look a bit unkempt and helpless, but they are in the awkward, necessary phase of learning to fly and survive. Intervention can sometimes do more harm than good.
This particular bird, though small, was feathered and capable of hopping about, which suggested it was indeed a fledgling. A friend and I scanned the area for adult birds of the same suspected species, and after identifying a likely candidate, we carefully encouraged the fledgling toward a safer, shaded patch beneath a nearby tree. We gave it some distance, and within a few minutes, an adult bird landed nearby. The fledgling immediately began following, seemingly recognizing the adult, perhaps its parent.
It turns out fledglings are often not abandoned at all. Their parents are usually close by, monitoring from a distance while encouraging independence. The experience was a humbling reminder that nature is frequently doing just fine without our interference. When in doubt, it is always best to consult experts and observe before acting.
Photo and caption by Sabrina Seaborn-Mederos
Edited by Isabelle McDonald
References
What to do if you find a baby bird, injured or orphaned wildlife | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. (n.d.). FWS.gov. https://www.fws.gov/story/what-do-if-you-find-baby-bird-injured-or-orphaned-wildlife
Jones, B. (2025, May 23). When you should—and should Not—Rescue baby birds. Audubon. https://www.audubon.org/news/when-you-should-and-should-not-rescue-baby-birds
theethogram.com 