Help! Baby bird fell out of tree

[catnapper]

What should I do? He fell out of the tree into the bottom of our trashcan. Luckily it was empty so he didn't fall on garbage, but he's just sitting there all puffed up and breathing hard. I feel awful. Is there anything I can do to help him?

[Kfamr]

Bring him/her to the local wildlife rehab. If you don't know where it is, ask the local Humane Society.

[catnapper]

Humane Society is closed. I don't know of any wildlife rehab around here.

[ramanth]

Can you reach the nest to put him back in?

[lizbud]

Can you reach the nest to put him back in?

That's what I would do too. Put him back asap. If not the nest, at least
onto a tree branch.

[Kfamr]

Humane Society is closed. I don't know of any wildlife rehab around here.

Google helps.
http://www.rehabitat.org/rehabilitators.htm

[sandragonfly]

maybe you should wait.. for his mother? falling out of nest is normal - the mother bird often wouldn't want to take care of their babies after smelling hand oil. but sure do keep an eye on him for any predators.

if nothing by few hours, and not injuried, try to put back where he fell from and hope his mother still loves him!

[catnapper]

Well guys, it turns out it wasn't a baby, just a young-ish bird. And our neighbor helped us. It turns out the bird has a big injury on his back end... maybe a cat got to him?

[crow_noir]

That is actually false for most bird species. Nobody really knows how the rumor got started... except maybe by well meaning people to get others to leave wildlife alone.

If anything you have more to worry about by poking through a young bird's fragile front. (you won't feel that you've done any damage, but it happens and there's almost no way to tell.)

the mother bird often wouldn't want to take care of their babies after smelling hand oil. but sure do keep an eye on him for any predators.