Help? Found a baby bird; should I be doing something? Update 2

Hi! There’s a baby bird in my yard. It’s about the size of my fist. It has a few short white feathers. I think they’re pin feathers. The nest is too high for me to reach; so I left it alone on the ground.

More importantly and the reason I’m reaching out, the little thing hasn’t moved. It doesn’t move when I approach and it hasn’t moved from its spot all day. I don’t see any blood, but I also haven’t touched it because I didn’t want to distress it further. I haven’t caught the parents caring for it, but I did see adult birds in the tree.

Is there something I should be doing here? I’m leaving it alone and keeping my cats away from the window. The area it is in is shady, but it’s so hot outside. A cup of water? Should I make it a comfy box? I’ve got an ant problem in my yard. Will they hurt it?

Picture: https://i.imgur.com/0ZtylZl.jpg

Update: I made it a “nest” on the recommendation of google and the wildlife volunteer that called me back. It hated it and ran away in small circles. After shooing it back to its original hiding spot, I left the “nest” where it could reach it if it changed its mind and fled the scene. At least it isn’t hurt.

Update 2: it was very chirpy this morning and I heard its parents so I chose to leave it alone. The chirping stopped this afternoon and, after a while, I went to check on it. It was dropped over and unresponsive. It was in the shade of the fence but I think the 105+ degree heat got to it. Thank you all for your input. I’m sorry I couldn’t do more… :(

OutrageousUmpire,

Poor thing! Thank you for caring and trying to help it.

heylilsharty,

That’s a baby mourning dove! There are usually two babies so the sibling is likely up in the nest. The parent could feed it on the ground if it feels safe to do so, but I’m not sure if the parents would know how to find it or would feel safe.

Judgy_McJudgerson,

Thank you for the identifying info! Now I can google for what the parents look like. I’ll keep a look out.

heylilsharty,

They’re so derpy and sweet! I scrolled and posted a lot recently on Reddit (wah wah) on the mourning derps and stupid dove nest subreddits (hilarious) because I got a little dove nest in a plant pot on my own porch this spring! The mom actually just had another set of eggs! I have learned a lot about these damn birds.

I really hope you get to see this one grow and get to see the parents, too. Our last set of fledglings spend a lot of their “teenage” days on our balcony railing instead of in the nest and the mom kept on coming back to feed wherever they stood, until eventually they were coaxed to start really flying. Maybe your baby’s parents will swoop down and feed. Or like someone else said the fledgling may just adapt and figure it out - surely it will get hungry enough to try!

I’m officially a bird person thanks to mourning doves!

lilbirddog,

Fledglings often end up on the ground outside of their nests. They usually spend this time poking around the ground for bugs or other things to eat while their parents are nearby. As long as it isn’t in danger of being eaten, I would leave it alone and allow it to do its thing. If it happens to be injured, I’m not sure there is anything you can do to help other than contacting a wildlife rehabilitation group.

lilbirddog,

Here’s some additional info:

allaboutbirds.org/…/i-found-a-baby-bird-what-do-i…

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