Every spring and summer, it happens.
Someone spots a tiny bird on the ground and immediately assumes the worst.
But surprisingly, many of those awkward little fluffballs are exactly where they’re supposed to be.
There’s actually a simple rhyme bird lovers have passed around for years:
If it has feathers, leave it be.
Mom and Dad are watching me.
This time of year, fledglings are everywhere.
You may notice them:
- hopping through the grass
- fluttering under shrubs
- sitting awkwardly beside your porch
- yelling dramatically for food from tree branches
And while they may look abandoned, most are still being cared for by their parents nearby.
What Is a Fledgling?
A fledgling is a young bird that has left the nest but is still learning:
- how to fly
- how to perch
- how to land properly
- how to survive in the world
Honestly, they can look a little pitiful.
They’re often:
- fluffy
- short-tailed
- clumsy
- loud
- constantly hungry
But this stage is completely normal.
In fact, many birds spend several days on the ground or low branches while their parents continue feeding and protecting them nearby.
This is one of the busiest and noisiest times of year in the backyard.
When SHOULD You Help a Baby Bird?
The “leave it be” rhyme mostly applies to feathered fledglings.
But there ARE times when a baby bird truly needs help.
A young bird may need assistance if:
- it has no feathers or only sparse feathers
- it appears injured
- it was caught by a cat or dog
- ants or flies are swarming it
- it is cold, weak, or unresponsive
- you know the parents are gone
- it cannot stand or move normally
Very young birds without feathers are called nestlings.
If you can safely reach the nest, it’s okay to gently place a nestling back inside.
Despite the old myth, most birds will not reject a baby because a human touched it.
One of the Sweetest Parts of Summer Birdwatching
This time of year, the backyard feels completely different.
Everything suddenly seems alive.
You’ll notice:
- wrens carrying food nonstop
- robins tugging worms through the yard
- cardinals feeding demanding babies
- young birds fluttering after exhausted parents
- tiny chirps hidden in shrubs and hanging baskets
Right now I have baby House Finches tucked into the ferns on my porch, and once you notice the parents flying back and forth all day feeding them, you start seeing baby bird season everywhere.
Once you start noticing fledgling season, you see it everywhere.
How to Help Birds During Baby Bird Season
One of the best things you can do this time of year is simply make your yard safer and more supportive for busy parent birds.
A few simple ways to help:
- keep fresh water available
- clean feeders more often during hot weather
- avoid trimming shrubs with active nests
- provide natural cover for young birds
- offer protein-rich foods like mealworms
Summer is an especially demanding season for backyard birds, and food sources that are easy to carry and quick to feed can make a difference during those nonstop feeding trips.
That busy season is part of what inspired our new limited-run Summer Feeding Blend, made with smaller, easy-to-eat ingredients and dried mealworms for summer backyard activity.
Slow Down and Look Closely
A lot of people think spring migration is the most exciting time to watch birds.
But honestly, fledgling season may be my favorite.
It’s messy and loud and chaotic in the very best way.
And if you slow down enough to notice, there’s a good chance baby birds are already learning to fly somewhere back behind your house.
This busy season is also what inspired some of our favorite seasonal bird feeding blends, including our limited-run Summer Feeding Blend. You can browse all of our seasonal and specialty blends here: A La Carte Wild Bird Food Collection