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With the arrival of spring, many urban birds such as sparrows, blackbirds, warblers, swallows, and wagtails begin their breeding season. Have you found a chick on the ground? Stop and think before picking it up, because it might not need help!

During this season, it is common to find chicks on the ground, but this does not mean that they are orphaned or abandoned. In nature, it is almost always advisable not to pick up chicks unless they are in imminent danger or injured.

In urban areas, if everything is going well, chicks also usually don’t need human help (since, even if we don’t see them, their parents are usually still taking care of them until they learn to fly). However, cities can be hostile environments for these animals, even though they are adapted to them (traffic, presence of cats, etc.), and there are some occasions when our intervention may be necessary.

How can we determine when it is truly necessary to intervene?

Warning! Trying to save a chick may actually result in harming it! That’s why it is important to know how to act without putting wildlife at risk.

Follow the guidelines of the Wildlife Recovery Centre of Menorca to understand when to intervene and what to do.

• Observe before acting: If the chick is not injured or in immediate danger (for example, near roads or predators), it is best not to touch it. Many species leave the nest before they are able to fly properly, but the adults are still nearby and continue feeding them.
• Make sure it is truly abandoned: Move away a little and watch for a few minutes. Often, the parents are close, even if we don’t see them right away.
• Relocate it only if necessary: If the chick is in a dangerous spot, you can place it on a low branch or safe location, but always close to where you found it.
• Contact experts if it is injured: If the bird shows signs of injury, evident weakness, or is in danger, contact the Wildlife Recovery Centre of Menorca (619 83 45 97, for calls and WhatsApp messages). If you don’t have experience, it’s better not to try feeding or raising it yourself, as this could harm its chances of survival.

Why is it important not to intervene unless absolutely necessary?

Do not become a chick ‘kidnapper’! Most chicks do not need to be rescued. Removing chicks from their natural environment, even with good intentions, disrupts their learning process and reduces their chances of survival. It’s also important to remember that raising wild birds without a license is prohibited by law.

Conserving urban biodiversity benefits everyone: Birds contribute to ecological balance, help control pests, improve air quality, and enrich our surroundings with their songs. Protecting them during their breeding stage is key to ensuring their presence in the future.

The Wildlife Recovery Centre is managed by the Balearic Island’s Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Natural Environment through an agreement between COFIB (Consortium for the Recovery of Wildlife in the Balearic Islands) and GOB Menorca.

More information:

Wildlife Recovery Centre of Menorca – 📞 619 83 45 97