Sanders says that people shouldn t assume the animal is abandoned just because they cannot see the parents. Most of the animals we get should have never been picked up in the first place, said Sanders. They would have had a better chance for survival if left in the care of the parent animal. In cases where newly hatched birds have fallen from their nest, Sanders recommends returning them to the nest if you can do so safely, or placing them on a high branch to keep them away from pets. It is an old wives tale that birds will reject their young if people touch them.
Birds have little sense of smell.
If you are not able to reach the nest, put the bird in a small box and attach it as to close to the nest as you can. It is a lot easier, and more successful, when the parent birds feed and care for their babies than when humans try to do so, she said. Keep in mind that when young birds begin to fly, they often spend some time on the ground before they perfect their flying skills. If this appears to be the case, leave them alone and let them learn. It is illegal in Colorado to possess most species of native wildlife.