Fledgling v's Nestling

Fledgling vs Nestling

Spring has nearly sprung and we are receiving lots of calls for wildlife in need. Some of the calls we are starting to receive are calls for baby birds called Fledglings.

The majority of birds found on the ground are not orphans and W4W are urging members of the public to leave them be.

Many fledglings discovered by members of the public are mistakenly thought to be injured or abandoned, and are picked up and moved from their natural habitat. This can greatly reduce a young bird’s chances of survival.

Young birds, or fledglings, usually leave the nest a couple of weeks after hatching and during this vulnerable period of their lives they are fed on the ground by their parents while they learn how to fly.

If the bird you find has feathers, is mobile and is hopping around it is most likely ok to leave them be. Keep an eye out to see if Mum and Dad are around to feed it and make sure it’s not in immediate danger. If the bird has little to no feathers and looks sick or injured call us straight away.

Handling can cause the bird extreme stress and so please call W4W on 1300 352 923 to get some advice if you see a baby bird on the ground. Also please share to help prevent baby birds from being handled unnecessarily.