Like any major life change, leaving the nest is fraught with extraordinary dangers Birds making the transition from dependency to their new life as fledglings can be preyed upon by humans, cats, crows and even hawks Young birds are especially vulnerable as they flutter around or land in the wrong places and can be crushed by the wings of larger animals as they try to fly
 
 A bird that leaves its nest too early will usually not have strong enough flight feathers to make it through this delicate phase of development In addition, it may have to spend a lot of time on the ground where it is much more likely to be preyed upon by predators such as squirrels, mice and insects Research shows that it’s better for fledglings to stay in the nest until they can fly than to leave too soon
 
 How can you tell if a baby bird is ready to fly If it’s a nestling, its eyes will still be closed and it will not be able to eat on its own If its wing feathers look like tubes they have yet to break through their protective sheaths, it is also not ready to fledge A chick that can hop, walk or flitter is a fledgling and is likely to be ready to take its first steps into the world of adults
 
 If you find a fledgling that is in distress and has left its nest, do not try to put it back Instead, if it is safe to do so, place the fledgling on a perch out of harm’s way in a tree or shrub and keep pets and children away from it It is almost always best not to touch a bird even if you can see its parents  https//nestvuicom/to-yen-tho/  are very careful not to leave their chicks unattended
 
 If you can’t find the nest, try fastening a small basket or other container to a branch so that it will be out of harm’s way but still be easy for a fledgling to hop into and out of Remember, it’s important not to disturb the nesting area, as a startled bird will have difficulty finding its way back to the nest or it may abandon its attempt at becoming an independent fledgling altogether