What to do when spring winds scatter baby birds and nests to the ground

By Nicholas Gerbis
Published: Thursday, March 23, 2023 - 2:25pm
Updated: Thursday, March 23, 2023 - 5:48pm

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Laura Hackett/Liberty Wildlife.
A Liberty staffer feeds orphaned baby birds.

Nesting and hatching season is an exciting time for birds and bird watchers. But what’s the right thing to do when spring winds knock baby birds or nests to the ground?

Liberty Wildlife has some answers. 

The mostly volunteer education, conservation and rehabilitation nonprofit cares for upwards of 7,000 animals annually but needs the public’s help on such an extensive problem.

People should return uninjured birds to their nests and use a small basket to secure any fallen nests to their trees, then watch for the parents to return.

If that’s not possible, or if the bird is injured, Liberty asks that people bring it to their Phoenix campus at 2600 E. Elwood St. between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Due to limited staff, volunteers can only retrieve special cases, like animals with dangerous talons, teeth or claws, or that need to be physically rescued. The rescue has a hotline for such cases at 480-998-5550.

The notion that birds will reject their young if humans touch them is a myth.

Laura Hackett/Liberty Wildlife.
Heron hatchlings.

Laura Hackett/Liberty Wildlife.
Some of the many orphaned baby birds Liberty cares for this time of year.
Laura Hackett/Liberty Wildlife.
A tableful of intakes.
Laura Hackett/Liberty Wildlife.
A baby owlet fed by some helping hands.
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