Help! I Found a Bird!
Brought to you by Wild Nest Bird Rehab
Use our quick diagnostic tool to get help fast.
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How can you help?
As a volunteer-led organization, Wild Nest is run by dedicated individuals who give their free time for the love of Georgia's native birds. We do not receive any government funding. As such, we rely on individuals such as yourself for support.
If the baby is alert, fully feathered and able to hop around, most likely it is still learning to fly and is receiving care from a parent waiting in the wings. If the baby’s eyes are closed and it’s not fully feathered, but is otherwise uninjured, return the baby to the nest if you can find it. (Unfortunately, adult birds aren’t able to lift and carry their babies.) If you can’t find or reach the original nest, refer to our guidance tool for instructions on making a temporary/substitute nest.
Birds are very bonded to their young and WILL NOT abandon them because of a human touch. You should still avoid unnecessarily handling birds, or any wildlife, as it can be stressful to them. If you find it necessary to handle a bird, wash your hands afterward.
Please visit our Quick Help Tool to determine the best steps for your situation.
We rehab almost any bird, with the exception of pets and exotics, owls, hawks, vultures, geese and ducks. We also are not able to take in species that are classified as invasive species as determined by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and Invasive.Org. Although we do coordinate with other wildlife rehabilitators and centers to try to find care for species we do not treat, we do not have the facilities to rehab these birds.
According to law, no one is allowed to keep a native wild bird in captivity without permits from both their state Department of Natural Resources and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. If you rescue a bird in distress, find a permitted rehabilitator as soon as possible. Animal Help Now is a good resource for locating rehabilitation services near you.
As a busy center staffed entirely by volunteers, we don’t have the resources to provide rescue and transport services. We are happy to give guidance on how to safely handle and contain a bird that needs help and our partner, Georgia Wildlife Network, may be able to help with transport.
We are a 100% volunteer-led nonprofit and offer our services for free. Donations are always appreciated!
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Bird Rescue FAQs
Seasonal Update
Project Lights Out
Help our birds migrate safely!
Atlanta is a dangerous city for migrating birds. Many birds migrate at night, and light pollution can disrupt their navigation and disorient them. Structures and glass pose additional threats. Sadly, up to two billion birds perish each year in collisions, and the highest mortality occurs during migration. Visit these links to see how you can help reduce bird collisions during migration and year-round.