A baby raptor fell out of its nest - what do we do?  top

It is not uncommon for a baby raptor to leave its nest before it can fly. This process, known as branching, allows the baby to move out of a crowded nest but stay under the watchful eye of the adult. It is not necessary to take any action unless there is a danger to the baby.

On occasion, baby raptors end up on the ground. Depending on their age, they may be able to climb or hop back up into the safety of nearby trees. The parent birds cannot pick them up and move them. While on the ground, these babies are at risk of being injured by domestic animals and other wildlife. Before intervening, first observe to see if the adult birds are still present and if the young bird is making an attempt to climb to safety.

CAUTION
When approaching or observing baby raptors, please be aware of the adult birds and their instinct to defend the nest site and their young. Adult hawks and owls have been known to swoop at and even strike people on the head if they feel their offspring is in danger.

Here are a number of possible scenarios involving baby raptors:

• »A baby owl has apparently fallen from a tree. The adult birds are present and watching from nearby trees. ---- This baby may need some help, depending on its age. Observe it for obvious signs of injury - one wing held at an odd angle, flies buzzing around. Is it alert, standing upright and walking around, or is it just huddled under a bush, not moving at all? If it is old enough, it will attempt to climb on any nearby structures (trees, fences) to get off the ground. If possible, observe the bird from a distance of at least 50' and preferably from inside the house, to see if the adults are delivering food. Too much human activity near the baby may distract the adults or prevent them from making food deliveries
• »A baby owl is seen on the ground, but a few minutes later spotted sitting on a low branch, about 5 feet off the ground. The adult birds have not been seen, but it is mid-day. ---- This bird is probably developed enough to leave alone. It will make short hops and flights from branch to branch to get back into the tree tops. The adults will continue to supply food and protect it. Observe it from a safe distance. Keep children and pets away from the immediate area.
• »Several baby hawks are sitting in the higher branches of a tree, close to their nest. They call frequently and the parents are only seen on rare occasions. The young birds, although they are almost the size of their parents, are only making short hops and flights from branch to branch. ---- Most likely these babies are doing fine. The parents will probably only deliver food several times during the day. Unless someone is observing them literally around the clock, they can easily miss food deliveries made by the adult birds. The frequent calls are food begging calls - no matter how much food the adults deliver, chances are the young will continue to call for more.
• »A baby owl is discovered at the base of its nest tree. It appears healthy and is clacking its beak when people approach to within 30'. After two hours of observation from a distance, it has not made any attempts to move on its own. The adult birds have not been seen but are presumed to be there. The trees in the area are all mature, with the lowest branches starting around 15' from ground level. ---- This baby probably needs help - it appears to be too young to climb or fly up on its own. On the ground, it is vulnerable to predation. Since the nest is not within easy reach, assistance will be required. Call CRC or another licensed raptor rehabilitation center or licensed individual rehabilitator. Potentially, this baby can be returned to its own nest, if the nest is still intact. Storms will sometimes damage nests and make them unusable.
  
  To get a close look at the nest and to potentially return the baby to the nest, an experienced tree climber with protective gear may be required. Equipment such as a very long ladder or a bucket truck used by utility crews and tree cutting operations may be needed.
  
  Contrary to popular belief, most adult raptors do not have a good sense of smell and will not abandon the babies because they have been handled by people.
• »Two baby hawks are hanging around a typical neighborhood yard. They are fully flighted, but spend much of their time on the ground, perched on fences and the swing set. They also vocalize a lot. ---- Most likely these are young birds just fledged and still inexperienced when it comes to hunting. Young hawks often hunt very easy-to-catch prey such as insects and earthworms. They may spend considerable time on the ground and often don't seem to be afraid of people.

Contact Carolina Raptor Center if:

• »there are predators such as cats and dogs in the area that cannot be kept away from a baby raptor
• »human activity is prevalent in the area where a baby is located
• »the bird cannot be placed in the nest or on a branch
• »the baby appears to be injured. We will attempt to connect you with a transport volunteer who is trained to handle injured and orphaned raptors. They will bring the bird to Carolina Raptor Center's facilities where it will be raised by foster parents of its species.

A baby raptor appeared in our yard and we don't know where it came from - what type of nest should we be looking for?  top

In the Carolinas, most hawks build or use stick nests. Look for a fairly substantial accumulation of sticks, relatively high up in a large tree. The larger the species of hawk, the larger the nest structure. Adult birds can be seen for several weeks prior to egg-laying, carrying sticks to the nest. They may use the same nest year after year. Red-shouldered hawks in particular are not shy about building their nests right in someone's backyard, close to human activity.

Vultures don't usually build nests but simply find a suitable, somewhat protected area such as the loft or second floor of an abandoned building. The eggs a laid on bare floor.

The nesting habits of owls vary by species.

• »Great horned owls take over an old hawk nest, so look for a larger stick nest.
• »Barred owls use cavities in larger trees and will accept nest boxes. They commonly nest in established neighborhoods where large trees still exist.
• »Barn owls will use cavities and nest boxes, but also utilize hay lofts, old silos, and abandoned buildings. They don't collect nest material but simply us what is available on site. Barn owls are usually not found nesting in heavily developed counties such as Mecklenburg county, but are much more common in rural counties, with open farmland available for hunting.
• »Eastern screech owls are cavity nesters and will accept nest boxes

Bald eagles build very large stick nests, which they add to every year. The trees to support them will be very substantial and often near a larger body of water. A hawk broke most of its tail feathers. Can it be released?  top

Birds replace many of their worn feathers every year through a process called molting. An old feather falls out and a new one is produced by the feather follicle and emerges in exactly the same place as the old one. Over a period of several months the hawk in question could grow a whole new tail. Unfortunately this process only happens during the late spring and summer. So what happens if this hawk comes to CRC in September? It would have to wait until the following spring to begin its molt.

There is another way - it's called imping.

For centuries, falconers have repaired broken feathers on the birds they care for. Today, rehabilitators use the technique to give a bird an almost instant new tail or new wing feathers.

Answer: Yes. Here's how it works:

All feathers, once fully formed, have a hollow shaft. (Remember the quills dipped in ink that were used for centuries to write with?) If a bird breaks off a feather, as long as there is a little bit of shaft left protruding from the bird, a new feather can be spliced onto the old shaft. This is a delicate procedure, because the tissue producing the feather, called feather follicle, cannot be damaged, otherwise the bird will never grow another feather in that particular area.

CRC keeps a collection of molted (dropped) feathers from all common species on hand and CRC staff and volunteers use these to find the perfect match. Age and size of the bird and the aerodynamically correct shape and position are very important.

The hollow space inside the shaft is ideal for receiving an internal splint, which will hold the old and new shafts together. That splint is made from yet another feather, slightly smaller feather shaft. This splint, light-weight and flexible, is coated with waterproof glue and then sintered into the hollow shafts of both old and new feather. Within minutes, our hawk has one new tail feather that could remain with it for several months, until the bird begins the next molt.