By Jennifer Kay, a volunteer rescuer with WIRES Illawarra
It's nestling season – Spring has arrived and so have a host of baby birds!
Australia is home to more than 800 bird species, each exhibiting distinct nesting behaviours and patterns of chick development. Understanding their needs is crucial to their survival. Chicks depend on their parents for nourishment, warmth, and protection, and are at significant risk when separated from them.
There are four main stages of chick development:
- Nestling: These chicks are dependent on the nest. Nestling chicks on the ground need urgent help, especially if they lack feathers.
- Branchling: These chicks are gaining strength and skills in the safety of trees. They venture onto branches but usually stay close to the nest or parents.
- Fledgling: These chicks are capable of flight but are still learning. They may be active on the ground, hopping, fluttering, and begging loudly for food while following their parents. These young birds have full flight feathers but are still learning to fly and are dependent on their parents for food. They don't naturally take flight from the ground and may need assistance.
- Juvenile: These chicks have mastered the art of flying and resemble adult birds.
Some native bird species nest on the ground eg. Masked Lapwings (Plovers), Pacific Black Ducks, and Quail. Their chicks are covered in downy feathers and become mobile shortly after hatching. If concerned about their welfare, observe from a distance. If the parent birds are still not present after 30 minutes, contain the chick securely and call WIRES.
Important tip: Do not place ducklings in water when they're young, as they struggle to regulate their body temperature.
It is illegal for anyone unlicensed to raise the chick of a native bird species. All native bird species in Australia are protected and orphaned chicks must be reported to an appropriate authority, such as WIRES. There have been several cases recently involving juvenile magpie chicks who have been handed in to WIRES. These chicks were being illegally raised by members of the public and were malnourished due to inappropriate diet and no longer had the survival skills necessary to exist in the wild.
How to care for chicks while waiting for WIRES to arrive
In cases of wet, cold, or very young chicks, warmth is critical. Here's what to do:
- Fill a water bottle with warm tap water.
- Ensure the water is warm to the touch (about 37-38°C).
- Secure the bottle tightly and wrap it in a tea towel or t-shirt to prevent rolling.
- Place it near the chick, not touching.
- Cover young chicks with a soft cloth for security.
- Keep the container with the chick in a warm, dark and quiet room.
- Contact WIRES as soon as possible by reporting a rescue or call 1300 094 737
For more information about our native birds, see the WIRES website.
Did you know?
Beak and feather disease is spreading quickly in the bird community and communal feeding sites are helping to spread the disease. Please do not feed native birds. If you want to encourage the birds to visit your yard, plant native trees instead. Bird baths must also be cleaned every few days and regularly scrubbed out with a solution of water and vinegar to help prevent beak and feather disease from spreading. It is also important to put stones or sticks in the water bowl so that small birds and animals can escape easily and not drown.
About the writer
A retired Teacher-Librarian, Jennifer is now employed part-time at the National Maritime Museum in Sydney, facilitating activities for children and their parents. Being passionate about native wildlife, she volunteers with WIRES as a rescuer in her spare time. She also enjoys pursuing her hobby as an artist and many of her recent works feature native birds. She was born in Wollongong and has lived in the Northern Illawarra for 43 years.
