Throughout the spring and summer months we receive many enquiries regarding baby birds.

In most instances where they are feathered they are likely to be fledglings. These young birds will leave the nest 2 weeks after hatching just before they can fly. They are generally quite mobile and can hop onto low branches. Usually in these circumstances the adult birds are never far away and will continue to look after the youngster.

It is estimated that 20,000 fledglings are handed into the RSPCA every summer in error rather than leave them close to where they were discovered. Human interference under these circumstances, according to the RSPCA, can lessen a young animal's chance of survival.

A tremendous amount of information is available on the RSPCA website on this and many other topics including feeding wild birds which is a very easy and rewarding way of seeing wildlife close up.

Unfeathered birds such as the one pictured have usually fallen from the nest and the prognosis is generally much poorer.

Some wildlife centres such as the Warwickshire Wildlife Sanctuary will take on injured wildlife in an attempt to rear and return them to the wild wherever possible. Members of the public are invited to visit and witness firsthand the effort involved which is all performed on a voluntary basis.

Terry Dunne BVMS, Cert SAO, MRCVS

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