Spring in full swing Baby Bird Advice from the GSPCA

Submitted by Steve on 23:27, 13th Jun, 2023 | 0

At the GSPCA we are extremely busy with the daily arrival Spring baby birds needing hand rearing that have been found or rescued.

Baby birds are always where possible best left in the wild to be raised by their parents.

Yvonne Chauvel GSPCA Animal Care Supervisor said “With the lovely weather and start of Spring we are fast filling with baby birds.”

“We’ve had a lot of ducking, baby doves, finches and a variety of others.”

“A baby bird has a greater chance of survival in the wild than being hand-reared as they learn how to forage for food and fend for themselves from their parents.”

“From hatching, most birds take on average 2 weeks or more to learn how to fly.”

“If they can be returned to the nest or be put in a safe place and monitored to see if their parents are caring for them if they have feathers then they will have the ideal upbringing.”

The GSPCA would like to remind that as a general rule, it is best to leave baby birds alone.

A baby bird has a greater chance of survival in the wild than it has being hand-reared by man as they learn to fend for themselves and how to forage for food by their parents.

Around 2 weeks after hatching young birds in your Bailiwick garden usually leave the nest, just before they learn how to fly.

It is about this time that you find a young bird out of its nest, as it is probably a fledgling. Fledglings are almost fully feathered, able to walk, run and hop on to low branches, and will try to hide in undergrowth where they are fed by their parents. Parent birds are not usually far away and are probably collecting food but will not return until you have gone. Within a day of leaving the nest, fledglings can usually fly enough to keep up with their parents and escape predators.

Please remember to only move them, or encourage them to move, a short distance to safety if they are in immediate danger.

If you have picked up a fledgling, put it back as near as possible to the place you found it. Don't try to return a fledgling to its nest as you may disturb other young birds.

If you are concerned about its safety try to put it nearby on a ledge, or somewhere it will be out of the reach of cats. You may want to use an ice cream container with kitchen towel in and place it in a tree or ledge.

Monitor the situation from a place where you will not been seen or heard as otherwise you may continue to discourage the return of the parents. Do this for at least two hours. You will almost certainly find that the parents have taken care of their youngster within this time.

If, after monitoring, you think a fledgling is genuinely orphaned or sick please call the GSPCA on 01481 257261 and choose the emergency option or bring it to the Animal Shelter where we have hospital cages set up ready for them. Please do not try and care for these birds yourself. If you need further help and advice, again please call us on 01481 257261.

We have already had a number of baby birds including finches, pigeons and ducklings this year.

Nestlings are baby birds that only have a small number of feathers. They are different from fledglings in that they are totally dependent on the security of the nest and will not fare at all well if left. If a nestling is found, contain it as soon as possible in a warm, dark, well-ventilated cardboard box (do not offer water, milk or food as this could make them ill or if done incorrectly worse). If the bird is sick, take it to your nearest veterinary surgeon or to the Animal Shelter or call 01481 257261. Never try to return nestlings to their nests as this may disturb the other babies. Never try to rear nestlings yourself, as they need specialist care if they are to survive and the staff at the GSPCA have years of experience and training.

Steve Byrne GSPCA Manager said "It is a worry when baby birds are seen with no parents in view, but this simple advice can mean they can have the best start in life."

"We are very lucky to have intensive care units at the Shelter to help raise these very fragile young, but it is never easy with the number of feeds and the fact that many arrive injured or very cold."

“Due to the numbers of baby birds our intensive care units are starting to fill and we are looking at building a new Wildlife Hospital for all wildlife.”

"We are always at the end of a phone for advice and there are plenty of details on our website and please remember we operate 24 7 with someone on site and out in an ambulance."

“We have over 2500 injured and sick wild birds through the doors last year at the GSPCA.”

“There are many ways to donate to the wildlife and baby birds in our care such as donating by visiting https://giving.gg/donate/charity/2/Guernsey-Society-for-the-Prevention-of-Cruelty-to-Animals-(GSPCA) or supporting the new Wildlife Hospital.”

“Please remember handling any animal either domestic, wild, dead or alive may be potentially hazardous. Obvious dangers include bites, scratches and general hygiene issues.”

“The GSPCA advise common sense should be applied in all instances and if unsure please call 01481 257261.”

“Personal hygiene should be taken into consideration after handling any animal whether it is domestic, wild, dead or alive.”

“For helpful information to help sick and injured wildlife we have a 24/7 helpline on 01481 257261 or check out this link – http://www.gspca.org.gg/animals/wildlife-advice “

"This year we celebrate 150 years and to find out more and how to support our Wildlife Hospital please check out https://www.gspca.org.gg/page/gspca-celebrating-150-years ."

Donate

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GSPCA Celebrates 150 years in 2023

This year the GSPCA celebrate 150 years and to find out more please check out https://www.gspca.org.gg/page/gspca-celebrating-150-years

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Below are our usual opening times but these are occasionally adjusted to ensure we provide the best of care for the animals and those needing our 24/7 help, in an emergency please call 01481 257261

	Reception & Shop area	Collecting/Dropping Off Boarding Dogs & Cats	Viewing animals for adoption	Emergencies Call 257261 or the Shelter is manned 24/7	GSPCA Charity Shop in Smith Street
Monday’s	9am – 5pm	11am – 4pm	11am – 4pm	24/7	8am - 530pm
Tuesday’s	9am – 5pm	11am – 4pm	11am – 4pm	24/7	8am - 530pm
Wednesday’s	9am – 5pm	11am – 4pm	11am – 4pm	24/7	8am - 530pm
Thursday’s	9am – 5pm	11am – 4pm	11am – 4pm	24/7	8am - 530pm
Friday’s	9am – 5pm	11am – 4pm	11am – 4pm	24/7	8am - 530pm
Saturday’s	9am – 5pm	11am – 4pm	11am – 4pm	24/7	8am - 530pm
Sunday’s	11am – 4pm	11am – 4pm	11am – 4pm	24/7	Closed
Bank Holiday’s (Varied times)	Possibly 11am – 4pm	Possibly 11am – 4pm	Possibly 11am – 4pm	24/7	Closed unless advertised