What's happening in your backyard!

Mid-to-late summer is fledgling season, when baby birds leave the nest and begin learning how to survive on their own. It’s an exciting time for backyard birders, but also one that calls for extra awareness and care.

 

🕊️ What Is a Fledgling?

Fledglings are young birds that have left the nest but are not yet fully independent. They may flutter around the ground or sit low in shrubs while their parents continue to feed and protect them.

You can often identify them by:

• Fluffy or uneven feathers
• A shorter tail than adults
• Constant begging calls
• Awkward hopping or flying

 

🚨 What to Do if You See a Fledgling on the Ground

Don’t panic—it’s normal for fledglings to spend a few days on the ground learning the ropes.

✅ DO:

• Observe from a distance
• Keep cats, dogs, and children away
• If in danger (e.g. road, open lawn), gently move it to a nearby shrub or low branch

❌ DON’T:

• Assume it’s abandoned
• Try to raise or feed it yourself
• Place it back in the nest—it likely won’t stay

Pro tip: If the bird is featherless or has closed eyes, it’s a nestling, not a fledgling. That one should be returned to the nest if possible or brought to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator.

 

🐛 Why Mealworms Matter

Feeding fledglings is demanding work for parent birds especially in the heat of summer when natural insect sources can become scarce. That’s where mealworms come in.

Offering live or dried mealworms gives birds a high-protein boost that:

• Supports growing fledglings
• Eases the burden on tired parents
• Attracts species like chickadees, wrens, bluebirds, robins, and more
• Best ways to offer mealworms:
• Use a small tray or dish feeder near your main feeding station
• Offer in the early morning and evening when parents are most active
• Soak dried mealworms in water to increase hydration

 Purchase Dried Mealworms here.

 

🧼 Keep It Clean 

Fledglings are more vulnerable to disease. Clean feeders regularly, especially those offering moist foods like fruit or soaked mealworms. Always toss uneaten mealworms daily in hot weather.

 

🌱 Make Your Yard Fledgling-Friendly

• Add shrubs or native plants for cover
• Keep outdoor pets indoors, especially during fledging season
• Offer water in shallow birdbaths with a perch or rock inside
• Avoid using pesticides—insects are key to fledgling diets

Every feeder you stock, every clean water source you offer, and every moment you keep pets indoors could help a young bird survive its first summer. Thank you for being part of the journey!

 

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