Director's Message
Amy Weeks
One of the most common questions we get this time of year is, “I found a baby bird, what should I do?” Although we certainly understand the desire to want to help, intervening may not be the best approach. To help determine if you should take action, follow the steps below.
First, determine if the bird is sick or injured.
What to look for:
What does it look like? Is the bird a hatchling, nestling or a fledgling?
- If the bird is a hatchling or nestling and you see a nest nearby, carefully return the bird to the nest. Contrary to popular belief, birds do not have a well-developed sense of smell and will not abandon their young because of human scent.
- If the nest is too high to reach, try placing the bird in a basket lined with dry grass on a lower branch (be sure it is secure). A basket will look like a natural nest and will allow any rain to drain through it. Periodically observe the basket to see if the parent visits. If the parent doesn't return, contact a wildlife rehabilitator.
- If you've found a healthy fledgling hopping or flitting around on the ground, it is likely they are just fine and in no need of rescue. The parents are probably nearby and keeping watch.
- Is the fledgling in danger of being attacked by another animal? If so, carefully move the bird to a safer location.
Special Cases:
Crows- "Fledgling crows are as large as adults, and people are frequently concerned that the crow they have seen on the ground is an injured adult rather than simply a youngster learning to fly. One easy way to tell if a crow is a juvenile is to look at the color of the bird’s eyes. Young crows have blue/grey eyes, while adults have black eyes." Portland Audubon
Killdeer- "Killdeer are notorious for nesting in highly traveled areas. Their young are precocial and are able to walk and feed themselves at hatching. People frequently hear young killdeer doing their high-pitched peeping and feel compelled to rescue them. In most cases, a parent is hiding nearby and will return as soon as the area is vacated." Portland Audubon
Although it may be difficult to accept, most of the time it is best to do nothing. Additionally, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act prohibits the handling or possession of wild birds without a permit, so do not attempt to keep or raise any wild birds that you find.
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Please note: If you find ducklings, goslings, or other wildlife that appears sick or injured, please contact the Wildlife Rescue Center in Ballwin, MO.
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American Robin hatchling
(0-3 days old)
A hatchling hasn't yet opened its eyes. Its mostly naked but may have wisps of down on it's body.
At this stage, the bird is not ready to leave the nest. If you see a nest nearby, it is okay to put the bird back in the nest.
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American Robin nestling
(3-13 days old)
A nestling is slightly older and has a few feathers. The feathers are small or even tube-like as they have yet to break through their protective sheaths.
Like hatchlings, they are vulnerable and can be placed back in the nest.
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American Robin fledgling
(13-14 days or older)
"Most of the baby birds people find are fledglings. These are young birds that have just left the nest, and can’t fly yet, but are still under the care of their parents, and do not need our help. Fledglings are feathered and capable of hopping or flitting, with toes that can tightly grip your finger or a twig."
The Cornell Lab; All About Birds
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Ornithological Forecast, July 2023
Bill Rowe
July suffers from the stereotype of being dull. Yes, it’s often hot, and yes, many of the songbirds are cutting back on their singing, and yes, most bird groups are not migrating yet—but wait, let’s have another look. First and foremost, a lot of successful nesting has just occurred, and those young birds are out there now learning to fly and feed on their own and often still hanging around with their parents. Initially, they will be in their juvenile plumage, i.e., the first set of real feathers that they wear. They may or may not be properly illustrated in your field guides, and this can make them both challenging and interesting to look at and figure out. A juvenile Chipping Sparrow, for instance, doesn’t look like any other age of Chipping Sparrow; it is all streaked below. And while juvenile passerines don’t usually hold that plumage for very long—often just a matter of weeks—larger birds may hold it for a whole year. Juvenile Cooper’s Hawks are the brown, streaky version that we see in the fall and winter and on into the following spring and summer. Additionally, some birds may be roaming about in family groups and actually starting to move away from their nesting grounds and head south; Orchard Orioles are famous for being early migrants of this type. Shorebirds are already on their epic migrations from the Arctic, starting with some individuals even the first week of July and building up in numbers with the passing weeks (these, by the way, will be nearly all adults, to be followed later by the juveniles). In the other direction, many wading birds may be filtering northward following their own nesting farther south, so that we see a buildup of herons and egrets, with the possibility of rarer species like ibises. So even though St. Louis Audubon field trips take an annual pause now—mostly because our leaders need a break and have their own vacation schedules—it is well worth the effort to go birding in July despite the heat (sorry, can’t get past that one).
Photo above: Juvenile Chipping Sparrow
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At Home Ecology, Curated Conservation
July 2023
Shannon Callahan
This summer has been a real test for our gardens! St. Louis City and County have been abnormally dry, even crossing into moderate to severe drought conditions in places. Then after weeks without rain, we get hit by heavy storms multiple days in a row. How many of you saw your rain gardens in action? You can feel good knowing that those plantings saved runoff from entering our already overwhelmed stormwater system. It seems like everywhere you look there are flowers! Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), prairie blazing star (Liatris pycnostachya), and butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) are some pollinator favorites that are currently blooming. Keep an eye out on those milkweeds (Asclepias spp.) for monarch caterpillars (Danaus plexippus) and on spicebush (Lindera benzoin) and sassafras (Sassafras albidum) for spicebush swallowtail caterpillars (Papilio troilus)! In the heat of the summer be sure to keep new plantings watered. A layer of mulch will help maintain cooler soil temperatures and slow down evaporation. While you may be tempted to deadhead spent blooms in favor of fresh ones, keep in mind that doing so takes away food from any hungry birds that may be visiting!
Photo above: Monarch caterpillar on milkweed
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Join others who share your interests in nature, birds and wildlife!
July 23 - Volunteer Appreciation Picnic
Check the website soon for birding field trips, which will resume
in late July or early August.
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America the Beautiful
Learn more about the red, white and blue birds we've featured in Bird of the Week!
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Photo Credit: Elaine Collins
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ST. LOUIS AUDUBON SOCIETY BOARD MEETINGS
Next meeting: Tuesday, August 8
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Please Note: Board meetings will be held by Zoom and will not meet in person until further notice. If you have an interest in joining our volunteer Board, please contact one of the officers or staff members. |
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Officers & Staff
Bill Rowe, President
Michael Meredith, VP Conservation
Stephanie Schroeder, VP Education
Gail Saxton, Secretary
Nick Eaton, Treasurer
Amy Weeks, Executive Director
Dan Pearson, Director, BCH
Shannon Callahan, Outreach Specialist, BCH
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