Nesting season is hazardous and baby birds are often vulnerable, especially when the safety and security of their nest is no longer adequate. While nests naturally decay, there are emergency situations that call for nest rescue, and cautious birders can easily give unsafe nests a hand and help hatchlings stay safe.

Does This Nest Need Rescuing?

While it can be startling to see a bird's nest on the ground or casually discarded in an unsafe area, it is important to remember that most backyard nests are only used once, and after the young fledglings have left the nest, the structure will naturally deteriorate.

There are times, however, when a nest is inadvertently dislodged while it is still in use – a severe storm with heavy rains or high winds may knock a nest down, or a branch may break and send a nest tumbling. Even the birds themselves, as they grow and begin to move around, can upset a delicately balanced nest. To recognize if a fallen nest needs assistance, watch for…

• Young birds near the nest that are obviously too immature to have left voluntarily. They may have bald patches, undeveloped wings, unopened eyes or be otherwise weak and helpless.
   
• Parent birds in obvious distress either at the remains of the old nest or around where the nest debris has fallen. They may be agitated or calling excessively, which indicates stress.
   
• Unhatched eggs in the nest or scattered nearby, which would indicate the brood was either incomplete or incubation was not yet finished before the nest fell.

When it does appear that a nest needs a helping hand, it's easy for birders to offer that assistance, though some birders are reluctant to help because of the urban legend that a mother bird will reject her chicks if they have been touched by humans.

Most passerines have a very weak sense of smell but very strong instincts for family protection, and human scent on the chicks or nest will not be a deterrent for determined parents. It is always wise to wear gloves and to touch the nest, eggs or chicks as little as possible, however, since predators could be attracted by the scent.

If the nest appears abandoned and is not in need of rescue, the fallen debris can be left for other birds to scavenge as new nesting material, or the nest can be disposed of in a compost pile or by any other appropriate means.

To Rescue a Nest

It doesn't take a lot of effort to rescue a nest, but great care should be taken to do so responsibly. When a fallen nest needs help…

1. Examine where the nest fell. If the nest is intact and relatively sturdy and the original location is no longer dangerous, return the nest to the same spot as quickly as possible.
    
2. If the nest is no longer sturdy enough for use, opt for an alternative, replacement nest such as a quart berry basket, small bowl, small sturdy box or similar container, trimmed or cut to approximately the same size as the original nest. Line the replacement with the debris from the old nest or use dry grass clippings, dry leaves and shredded paper towel to make a substitute nest, and poke a few drainage holes in the bottom. Position the replacement nest in the same spot as the original nest.
    
3. If the original nest location is out of reach or not stable enough for the nest any longer, position the substitute as close to the original location as possible. It may be necessary to use wire or nails to secure the nest, but it should be close to the same height and in the same type of vegetation as the old nest site.
    
4. Position the rescued nest safely out of direct sunlight and sheltered from the wind as much as possible. Placing the nest under an overhang or sheltering branch can also protect it from excessive rain, and the nesting area should be safe from predators.
    
5. If baby birds or eggs have fallen out of the nest, return them to the newly secured replacement as quickly as possible. Do not attempt to feed the baby birds, and instead observe the nesting area closely for the parent birds to return. If the parents have not returned in several hours, or if the baby birds appear injured from their ordeal, contact a bird rescue organization or wildlife rehabilitator to get them the proper care.

Birds can be amazing architects, but accidents and emergencies do happen and nests occasionally fall or crumble before the baby birds are ready to leave. By recognizing when a nest needs help and understanding how to offer the proper assistance, birders can protect their feathered families even in the worst situations.

Photo – Fallen Nest © stanze