How to check whether parents have been caring for the baby – do the poop test!

If you have found a fledgling bird you are concerned may be orphaned, place it in an open topped box in the area where it was found.  The box may be wedged in a low tree branch or on a bush if it is safer.  Leave the area or monitor from a distance.  Parents will often stay away if they think there is danger.  If you do not see parents feeding the baby, return and check the box in 1 hour.  Parent birds feed their babies frequently and as a result, a healthy baby bird will poop often—if there is feces in the box when you return and it looks normal (well formed, both white and dark coloured), then the baby has likely been fed recently.  If you are not sure, put a clean light-coloured tea towel or hand towel down under the baby and check in another hour for additional feces.  If the baby is pooping normally, leave it in the area (without the box—being contained will make it harder for the baby to avoid predators) so its parents can continue to care for it.  If the baby is not pooping or the feces is only white with no dark colour in it at all, the baby needs help.

NOTE: This will NOT be a reliable test if you have fed the baby yourself, as this will affect the baby’s feces.  Please do not feed a baby bird without first speaking to a trained wildlife rehabilitator.

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