Fish & Game

ASK A WARDEN:

What do I do
if I find a
baby bird?

Wei-Wei Lin serves as a game warden in the Hill Country after holding posts in Dallas/Fort Worth, the Gulf Coast and South Texas. She was often featured on the TV show “Lone Star Law.” She is happy to answer your questions about the Texas outdoors.

Q: I occasionally find a baby bird in my yard that is unable to fly. I always leave it alone. My neighbor suggested I pick up any animal I find and take it to a local wildlife rehabber or call a Texas game warden. How should I handle baby birds in the future?    

A:  Game wardens often receive calls about assisting baby wildlife during the spring and summer months. The best rule of thumb is to leave wildlife alone. If the bird or animal is not causing harm to itself or others but appears to need some assistance, I recommend taking some time to further assess the situation. Most of the time, there is no need to intervene.

As humans, we often forget that wild animals do not have caretakers or “babysitters” for their young and must forage for food, leaving their offspring alone until they return, typically around dusk or early morning.

Juvenile birds are called nestlings while they are still in the nest, being fed by their parents. After some time, birds become fledglings, meaning they are ready to venture from the nest and test their flight abilities. During this transition period, there is usually a two-week window when the bird’s ability to fly is limited. They are still able to navigate throughout their environment by walking and hopping around brush and trees. To the unfamiliar eye, a young bird on the ground may seem helpless, sick or vulnerable to predators. This is not always the case. In most cases, the parents are nearby, keeping watch and feeding the fledglings.

One of the most memorable experiences I had with fledglings happened during my time spent in Guadalupe County. One day, I received a call from a homeowner concerned about a large owl unable to fly and hiding in the bushes. Upon arrival, I noticed, covered in down feathers,
more of a poof ball than an owl. It did not act afraid of me. In fact, it performed its intimidation dance, swaying slowly from side to side with its wings open and clicking its beak. I was thoroughly impressed. I looked up through the magnificent tall trees on the property and spotted an adult barred owl watching from its perch on a large limb above us. I reassured the homeowner that the parent owl was watching nearby.

The best method of action for us was to leave the fledgling owl alone in the bushes, and for the homeowner to enjoy watching the owl’s progress. A couple of weeks later, the homeowner sent me photos of not just one but two owls that she observed as they learned to fly.

However, there are instances when intervention may be needed. This includes when the adult is found deceased or the juvenile has actually been abandoned. If you are concerned that this is the case, I advise you to wait at least 24 hours before taking any action. If there is no improvement in that time, I recommend reaching out to a TPWD licensed wildlife rehabilitator through our website where they are listed by county: tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/wild/rehab. Not all counties have rehabilitators, so be sure to check nearby counties as well.

While my colleagues and I often responded to injured wildlife calls on episodes of Lone Star Law, please be mindful that we may not always be available to respond. As game wardens, our focus is primarily on enforcing conservation law. Due to distance or the day’s duties, a game warden may not be able to respond in person, but we are happy to take your call and answer your questions about wildlife.

As enticing as it may be, please do not attempt to pick up, transport or rehabilitate native wildlife on your own, even if you have experience with livestock or exotic wildlife. It’s vital that wild animals are reared in a way to make them successful in the wild without becoming reliant on humans for survival. Improperly rehabilitated wildlife often become a nuisance, especially in residential areas Not only is this harmful to wildlife; it can lead to injury to pets and humans as well. It’s also illegal. Always contact TPWD personnel or a TPWD permitted wildlife rehabilitator for further assistance.

Until next time. Stay safe, y’all!    

Have a question for the game warden? Email us at magazine@tpwd.texas.gov and we will pass it along to Wei-Wei.