Las crías de aves tienen más éxito cuando son criadas por sus padres en la naturaleza. Estas crías reciben de sus padres la alimentación más natural y adecuada, aprenden dónde y cómo buscar comida o cazar, aprenden a reconocer y evitar a los depredadores y otros peligros y, en general, son más adaptables y resistentes cuando las crían sus padres en la naturaleza. Por estas razones, intentamos reunir a las crías con sus familias siempre que es posible.

Las aves jóvenes suelen quedarse solas mientras sus padres buscan comida. Los padres también pueden dejar temporalmente a sus crías para evitar atraer a otros animales al nido. If you find a fallen nest, or baby bird without parents, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the bird has been abandoned or orphaned. Siempre suponemos que los padres están vivos y cuidan de sus bebés, a menos que se demuestre lo contrario.

Si ha trasladado un ave, ha encontrado una cría o ha perturbado un nido, utilice este recurso para intentar reunirlos con sus padres y vigilar la salud de las crías, a menos que tanto la madre como el padre hayan fallecido. Tenga en cuenta que, contrariamente a la creencia popular, los padres no abandonarán a sus bebés porque los hayas tocado. Sin embargo, los padres no volverán si usted está demasiado cerca porque los seres humanos son vistos como amenazas. Para que las crías se reúnan con sus padres, hay que proporcionarles tiempo y espacio fuera de la zona de nidificación.

Información general

Hummingbirds nest in many locations, including those often occupied by humans such as patios, walking trails, etc. The nests are very small, not much bigger than a ping pong ball, and may be on very low branches in shrubs. Only female hummingbirds raise the young, so babies are frequently left alone for short periods while the mother is out looking for food — until they are old enough to fly and keep up with her. Young birds leave the nest when they can fly, but a baby’s first attempts at flying are typically clumsy and short.

Note: Young birds have yellowish coloration on the corners of their beak. If the bird has any red or pink on their head or throat, they are an injured adult rather than an orphan. If you’ve found an injured adult, we recommend bringing them to Project Wildlife for evaluation and potential rehabilitation. If we find no treatment is needed, we may ask you to return the bird back to where you found them.

Edad y tipo de ave

Antes de comenzar el renesting o de reunificación, utilice la información que figura a continuación para confirmar la edad y el tipo de ave que ha encontrado. Una vez confirmados, siga el renesting instructions based on the bird’s age.

Anidamiento

• Fluffy or fuzzy
• Can have either bare skin or regular feathers growing in with “quill” type appearance
• Yellowish color on the corners of the beak

Fledgling

• May still have some yellow color on the corners of the beak
• Body and wings fully covered with regular feathers
• Little to no down (fluffy) feathers, possibly a few stray wisps
• Able to fly a little

Chequeo médico

Renest or reunite healthy babies only. The mom won’t return for a sick baby or be able to help them recover.

Compruebe lo siguiente:

• Significant injury (the bird has broken bones, deep cuts or a drooping wing, or is non-responsive,gasping, limping or bleeding)
• Signos de enfermedad: frío al tacto, caída, secreción ocular o nasal, ojos costrosos
• Se ve atacado por un gato (u otro animal)
• Ácaros o piojos por todo el cuerpo
• Infestación de hormigas, moscas o gusanos en el ave o en el nido.

Recomendamos llevar a cualquier cría con estos síntomas a Project Wildlife para su evaluación y posible rehabilitación. Los arañazos o moratones leves no son motivo de preocupación a menos que se sepa que han sido causados por el ataque de un gato.

Si el bebé no presenta ninguno de estos síntomas y parece sano, comience el renesting process. If the baby feels cold, warm them before the renesting proceso.

Cronología

Renest or reunite hummingbirds during the day when mom is active. If you picked up and kept the bird for four daylight hours or more, we recommend bringing the bird to Project Wildlife for evaluation and potential rehabilitation (See Box 2).

Renesting y supervisión Nidos

1. Try to identify where the nestling came from. Look around the location where you found the baby to see if there are any adult hummingbirds or bushes with nests. Remember, hummingbird nests are very small and often decorated with moss-like plants. They may be less than six feet off the ground. If possible, simply return the baby to the original nest. If you cannot identify where the baby was likely to have fallen from, we recommend bringing the baby to Project Wildlife for evaluation and potential rehabilitation.
2. If the original nest is damaged or you are unable to find it, you will need to make a new nest. Choose a shallow plastic container (such as an empty Chobani yogurt cup, or something similar) big enough to hold the baby, and poke holes in bottom for drainage. Line the container with grasses and moss to make a nest. If you have the original nest, you can place it inside the container instead.
3. Return to where you found the baby and attach the nest as close to the suspected original nest as you can. Use zip ties or similar sturdy material to secure the nest. Once the nest is secure, add the young.
4. Monitor the nest. Observe the nest area continuously for one hour from a distance. Remember, the parent will not return if you or other animals are too close. We recommend using a camera, computer or similar device to monitor the nest, if possible.
5. Review the footage or observe from a distance to see if you can spot a parent coming to the nest. If you see the mom coming to the nest, the reunion is successful! If you do not see the mom, the bird is a confirmed orphan.

If the mom doesn’t return within one hour or if the baby’s condition is worsening, we recommend bringing the baby to Project Wildlife for evaluation and potential rehabilitation.

Reunificación y seguimiento de los volantones

1. If the area is safe, return or leave fledgling at the location where they were found. Fledglings leave the nest and make short flights around their nest area.
   These flights are often clumsy and may result in a crash or premature landing, causing the baby to potentially end up in an odd location (sidewalk, parking lot, etc.). Place the baby on a branch or other elevated location off the ground. If the bird cannot fly at all that could mean they are sick, injured or too young to be out of the nest (see nestling instructions).
2. Monitor the fledgling. Observe the fledgling continuously for one hour from a distance. Remember, the parent will not return if you or other animals are too close. We recommend using a camera, computer or similar device to monitor the fledgling, if possible.
3. Review the footage or observe from a distance to see if the mom comes to the fledgling. If you observe this, the reunion is successful! If you do not see the mom, check on the baby. If they are still doing OK, you can give the mom another hour.

If the mom does not return to the baby within two hours or if the baby’s condition is worsening, we recommend bringing the bird to Project Wildlife for evaluation and potential rehabilitation.

Información sobre la entrega de Project Wildlife

You can drop off confirmed orphans during our admission hours: seven days a week, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. (excluding major holidays).

Proyecto Vida Silvestre
Pilar y Chuck Bahde Centro de Vida Silvestre
Calle Gaines 5433
San Diego, CA 92110
619-299-7012
sdhumane.org