If you find a young, healthy bird on the ground, you should not take it into your care until you have observed it for a few hours and made certain the parents are not caring for it still. It is normal for many types of young birds to spend time on the ground before they can fly well. Even a very young bird on the ground may still be receiving care from its parents.
Very young birds which cannot be returned to their nest, are in danger from cats, and birds which are, for whatever reason, lost, abandoned, or orphaned, sick or injured should be brought to a licensed wildlife rehabilitation center for proper care, and release. Place the bird in a closed, dry box with lots of small air holes and a soft towel, or blanket.
Please note, however, that in Japan, and most likely your country too, that most Veterinarians, Zoos, and Wildlife Rehabilitation Centers will not give care to Sparrows, Pigeons, Crows or other types of birds viewed as common, a pest, invasive, or domesticated. It is a sad reality because Jungle Crows are native, wild, migratory song-birds supposedly "protected" by the International Migratory Bird Treaty Act. There under it is illegal to possess a wild bird as a pet, with the intention of rehabilitation and release, or even to collect a feather found on the sidewalk. I did not know any of this at the time I so innocently, with good intention, collected Fig to take her to a licensed wildlife rehab center. It is confusing.
Please note, however, that in Japan, and most likely your country too, that most Veterinarians, Zoos, and Wildlife Rehabilitation Centers will not give care to Sparrows, Pigeons, Crows or other types of birds viewed as common, a pest, invasive, or domesticated. It is a sad reality because Jungle Crows are native, wild, migratory song-birds supposedly "protected" by the International Migratory Bird Treaty Act. There under it is illegal to possess a wild bird as a pet, with the intention of rehabilitation and release, or even to collect a feather found on the sidewalk. I did not know any of this at the time I so innocently, with good intention, collected Fig to take her to a licensed wildlife rehab center. It is confusing.
Recently, in the news there was a story about celebrity Melissa Bachman shooting a lion in a santioned hunt. This is a form of conservation fund raising, getting money from rich, sicko, egomaniac thrill-seekers. Surprisingly, this is exactly the same form of conservation practiced by the authors, and legislators of the International Migratory Bird Treaty Act, who regularly legislate cullings, and issue hunting licenses poetically called Bird Stamps to raise funds to buy conservation land, and support other conservation efforts. While the Act has been called the most successful wildlife conservation fund raising effort in history, I cannot support conservation which does anything short of protecting all birds. Crows in particular have family units they rely on life long. You are not allowed to hunt during nesting season because the young need their parents, and siblings; you should not be allowed to hunt birds period as most of them are social, and rely upon there "family" unit to learn and survive. The current form of conservation espouses the idea that wildlife must be "managed" and made to fit into the human world. Real conservation acts to fit humans into the natural world, disallowing us from continuing to degrade and set Nature off her balanced state of homeostasis. Humans are common. Humans are invasive. Humans are pests. Not the birds. Humans have upset the balance which is Nature which we are obligated to respect from birth. As a result of our disregard, we are now double-obligated to protect, and fix, and pay for anything we break in Nature's china shop. Crows do not nest on twelve story concrete buildings in nature. Nor do they fall twelve stories onto asphault when they fledge.
The impending calamity global warming is causing continues to unfold most recently in the Philippines. The irony of Nature's justice is that by being a common, invasive pest, we humans have ultimately endangered ourselves. Our old model of conservation is wrong, a big red herring. Gandhi said, "You should be the change you want to see in the world." Well, I want to see a world where every wild bird is equally respected, protected, admired, and revered. I want to see a world where there is a place for the other living things who unselfishly share this planet with us. We have to start by making that place in our hearts.
Note: Feeding baby birds is tricky business, and you could easily kill a bird if you are untrained, and inexperienced. If your bird is old enough to eat on its own, I suggest very small pieces of bread soaked in water. Let the bird eat on its own; DO NOT attempt to feed it by putting food into its beak. Be very careful not to let it over eat. Get it to professional care as soon as possible.
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