Sometimes they come to us "bald" with not a feather on their tiny bodies. Other times they come as a whole brood of baby birds nest and all. Volunteers act as surrogate parents to hundreds of hatchlings each year, from swallows and sparrows, to night herons and crows.

Anna's Hummingbirds

These wild birds are without their parents care because their nests were disturbed, they were attacked by cats, or became victims of other mishaps. But one thing never changes: every two hours, an exuberant chorus of song rings out as the young birds clamor for food. Using eye droppers and homemade formula, babies are fed up to eight times a day. Mockingbirds and scrub jays are especially excitable at mealtimes, flapping their wings furiously as they await their feeding.

When fledglings grow feathers and have learned to eat seed, fruit, or worms on their own, they are transferred to large outdoor aviaries to exercise their wings and practice flying. Once they become proficient at flight, birds are ready to resume their lives as independent and wild creatures. After weeks and weeks of intense care, there is no richer reward for us, the surrogate parents, than watching that first flight to freedom.

If you find an injured baby

European Starlings	House Finch
Photos by: Ralph Clevenger