every spring and summer, birds busy themselvesbuilding nests, laying eggs, and feeding their young. but what happens when something goeswrong, and you find helpless, unfeathered babies on the ground, or a nest that has beenknocked out of a tree? it's a simple process to reunite nesting birds and their young.this mockingbird nest was knocked out of a tree in our backyard after a strong storm.when you find unprotected nestlings, be sure to put away household pets. curious cats anddogs are a threat to nesting birds. in our case, these mockingbird chicks aren't fullyfeathered, and they aren't aggressively trying to fly away, so we know they aren't readyto leave the nest just yet. if the nest is still intact and you can reach it, simplyplace the chicks back in the nest. don't worry
about touching the birds. it's not true thatthe smell of your hands will cause the nest to be abandoned.if you can't find the nest, or if it is out of reach, you can make a temporary replacementnest. you'll need a hanging basket, and some natural materials like mulch, leaves, or moss.fill the hanging basket so that the materials come up to the edge of the basket. this way,as the chicks get older and begin to explore their nest, they won't fall between the nestand the walls of the basket. be sure to leave space in the middle to fit the chicks.if you have the nest, place the nest into the hanging basket. make sure to fill in thegaps with natural materials to stabilize the basket, support the nest, and prevent thechicks from falling into the deep basket as
they explore their world.find a hanging spot as close to the original nest as possible, and hang the basket froma sturdy hook or branch. when the parents return, there's a good chance they'll findthe new nest, especially if the nestlings make lots of noise. but resist the urge tobabysit too closely, (or to constantly check on the nestlings). you want the adults tofeel comfortable investigating, and they can't do that if you're constantly peeking intothe nest. the adults may not return immediately, and when they do, they probably won't stayvery long. in our case, the adults watched the entire procedure, and fed the nestlingswithin a few hours. not all bird species are so bold, so be patient. trust that their nestinginstinct will continue and let them do what
they do best. they may even have a thing ortwo to say about your handiwork! be sure to check out our other videos aboutnature by searching for texas parks & wildlife department on youtube.