By Colleen Grzan, werc@werc-ca.org
This time of year is “baby season.” You’re hearing cheeping and chirping in the trees and seeing lots of avian activity as parent birds fly back and forth searching for food and feeding their nestlings. It’s also a time when people are outside enjoying the pleasant weather and finding little critters that may appear to be in need of help.
Most people will call WERC or other licensed rehabilitation facility to ask for advice on what to do. Advice can vary from “leave it alone” when it’s a fledgling that is still being cared for by its parents to “bring it in” when it’s injured or obviously orphaned.
One of the biggest advisements is DO NOT FEED THE BABY BIRDS yourself. Besides being illegal for the public to care for native species, licensed rehabilitators are experts in determining the proper nutrients for each species: Insectivores, omnivores, herbivores, seed-eaters, fish-and-frog-eaters, and the carnivorous raptors that eat rodents and other natural “meat” (NOT hamburger). Food that rehabilitators feed to the wild babies can range from special protein formulas for nestlings to juicy mealworms to cut-up small rodents. Maturing birds may be fed - according to the species - large rodents, flying insects, various seed mixes, live fish and more. By feeding the animals their natural and proper food, we keep our native wildlife wild and healthy.