It’s that time of the year when flowers are in bloom, pollinators are busy tending to the land, and babies are everywhere! From land to the skies, late spring throughout summer is the season for the newer fauna generations to put their adaptations to the test. Maybe you find yourself outside on your porch watching the sunrise when you hear frantic chirping coming from the bottom of a tree. Your instincts kick in, and you rush to the noise to spot a bird that you assume tragically fell from the nest with no way of surviving. But wait, before you rush to gather some towels and a shoe box to rescue the flightless bird, take a moment to truly take in the sight before you.?
There are three different stages of a bird’s life that are split up by their age approximations. Once a baby bird hatches, they are known as hatchlings. In this phase, their mouths can open and receive the food their mother catches for them, but their eyes remain closed. They also don’t have any feathers yet, so their dependency is very high. Typically, this phase gives us the approximation that they are roughly 0-3 days old.
The next stage in the life cycle of a baby bird is when their eyes are finally open, feathers are sprouting, and they are more energetic around the nest. This phase is referred to as the nestling phase, which can tell us that they are roughly 3-13 days old. They still want to remain in the nest with their family; it’s the equivalence of a toddler.?
Lastly, the part in their life where they get confused as babies in need that have fallen from the nest is known as a fledgling. This phase typically occurs when they are 13+ days old, and they seemingly look like a fully feathered adult bird. Their parents are also likely to still be nearby caring for them from a distance. The main difference between a fledgling and an adult bird is the fact that the fledgling is a flying novice. It’s kind of like the awkward teenage phase that all birds must go through. Just like a human needs to learn to walk and falls down a few times before they get the hang of it, a bird will take a few crash landings before they can properly dominate the skies.?
So, what should you do when you spot a bird in their various life cycles? If they are a hatchling or nestling and they are spotted on the ground, cautiously locate the nest and place them back in. If they are a fledgling, try to be mindful of the flight school final exam they are about to take.?When in doubt, try to get into contact with your local wildlife rehabilitator (such as Sawgrass Nature Center and Wildlife Hospital). They will gladly be able to accurately answer any questions you may have and guide you towards the best route to take for the safety and well-being of that bird’s life.
References:?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pv2iVX9AHw4 https://www.massaudubon.org/nature-wildlife/birds/baby-birds-out-of-the-nest