Orphaned Owlets
Orphaned Owlets
What to do if you find an “Orphaned” Owlet
Many young birds disperse from their nest long before they can fly. This is referred to as “branching”. It prevents overcrowding at the nest as the chicks grow and are Nature’s way of ensuring against threats to the whole brood from predators.
Many of these birds are considered orphaned when actually they are simply testing their wings. Young birds often lose their footing during these early explorations and fall to the ground. A chick on the ground looks lost and vulnerable but most probably its parents know exactly where it is and will continue to feed it. Many young birds of prey are quite capable of climbing back up a tree using claws and beaks.
Step 1
The first thing you must do is check if the youngster is obviously injured in some way. If the answer is YES then follow the instruction for “Injured Birds of Prey”.
Step 2
Next check if the chick is in danger from vehicles, people or predators. If the answer is YES place the chick in the branches of a nearby shrub or tree and leave the area.
Step 3
If the answer to both these questions is NO then just walk away quietly and let nature take its course. Only ever remove a bird from the area if you are positive it is injured or has clearly been abandoned. Do not attempt to treat or feed the bird yourself. Seek expert advice. It is very easy to imprint a young bird of prey on humans and this will render it incapable of being returned to the wild where it truly belongs.
With the help of our staff and trained veterinarians, the injured owls and birds of prey are cared for until they are capable of returning to their natural environment.
If you find any injured owls or birds of prey first assess the situation to work out the best way of dealing with the situation. Please be careful! When frightened, these birds can lash out and give a nasty wound with their talons. You can contact The Owls Trust by phone to get quick advice but if you are not able to do this then use a jacket or a towel to first cover then wrap the bird so that you can take it to the nearest place from which you can get help or to a rescue centre.
Spring and summer are nesting seasons for most birds and concerned members of the public regularly find young birds out of the nest and seemingly on their own prematurely. When you find a baby bird, understanding what to do can help you ensure it has the proper care and the best chances of survival.
Finding a young bird triggers compassion and helpfulness in most people but the very best help you can give a baby bird is to simply leave it alone or, if absolutely necessary, to intervene in only minor ways. Infant mortality is high for young birds and the strongest, healthiest chicks will survive even without human assistance no matter how cute and helpless they may seem.
With the help of our staff and veterinarians, these birds are cared for until they are capable of returning to their natural environment.
If you have found an owl or bird of prey, get in touch with The Owls Trust as soon as possible.