IS THE BIRD INJURED?

YES - Please see our Information Page for full details of what to do and who to contact within Surrey Heath

NO - Please see below

FOUND A BABY BIRD?

When to help and when to leave alone

This usually depends on whether it's a fledgling or a nestling

Nestlings

Nestlings are baby birds that have no feathers, or only a few.
Nestlings will not survive long outside the protection of the nest so contact a local wildlife rescue

Fledglings

Fledglings have all or most of their feathers and leave the nest just before they can fly.
Leave a fledgling alone and watch from a distance, as the parents are usually nearby and will still be feeding the bird. Never try to return a bird to the nest as this may disturb the other young birds and may be illegal.
If a fledgling is in immediate danger, place it in a sheltered spot a short distance away.

Better off left alone?

People often pick up "orphaned" fledglings assuming they are doing the correct thing. Most of these birds are not orphans and would've been better off left in the wild.

Baby owls (owlets)

Tawny owlets can climb back up into the nest. If you find a tawny owlet under a possible nest site, monitor from a distance to see if the parents are nearby. If you hear them calling, leave the bird alone.
If, after monitoring, you think a fledgling is genuinely orphaned, contact a local wildlife rescue

Please don't try to care for young birds yourself – they need specialist care and facilities to survive.

Capture and boxing baby birds

If it’s safe to catch and handle the bird then, wearing suitable gloves, place it into a secure ventilated cardboard box, lined with towel or newspaper. Don't offer food or water as they require a specialised diet.
Keep the bird somewhere warm and quiet and contact a local wildlife rescue 

The RSPCA has created this infographic to help

Information from the RSPCA. 2018