This is the time of year when the RSPB in Dorset gets calls from concerned members of the public who have found an apparently orphaned or abandoned baby bird.

The RSPB is a conservation charity not a rescue or rehabilitation organisation (that’s the work of the RSPCA or your local wildlife hospital) but we can give people advice.

If you find a very young bird that is unfeathered or covered in fluffy down (a nestling) it has obviously fallen out of the nest by accident or been blown out by strong winds.

Trying to put the bird back in the nest may do more harm than good as it could disturb the other nestlings or if they see you, cause the parents to abandon the rest of their brood.

At this age, the bird is entirely dependent as it can’t regulate its own body temperature so looking after it will require specialist care. Take it as quickly as possible to an expert rehabilitator such as a wildlife hospital or your local vet.

It's also common in spring and summer to find young birds sitting on the ground or hopping about without any sign of their parents. These are fledglings and this is perfectly normal, so there's no need to be worried.

The young of most familiar garden birds fledge once they’re fully feathered but before they're able to fly, they spend a day or two on the ground while their feathers finish developing. The parents are probably just away collecting food or are hidden from view nearby, keeping a watchful eye.

Removal of a fledgling from the wild reduces its chances of long-term survival to a small fraction. Fledglings should be left where they are, in the care of their parents.

If the bird is on a busy path or road, or other potentially dangerous, exposed area, it makes sense to pick it up and move it a short distance to a safer place. Birds have a poor sense of smell so handling a young bird does not cause its parents to abandon it but make sure you leave it within hearing distance of where it was found.

Just because you can’t see the adult birds doesn’t mean they’re not there. They’ll be in cover, close by, and will tend to the youngster once you move away. Only remove a fledgling as a very last resort if it’s injured.

Tawny owl chicks are among the birds most often needlessly ‘rescued‘. They are mobile at a very early age and can be seen climbing in and around their nest tree or on the ground before they are even half grown - this is known as branching. If you find one or any other kind of fledgling, the best thing to do is to leave it where it is.

The RSPB run a range of events and guided walks at both Arne and Weymouth Wetlands. Check out the website at rspb.org.uk or the blogs at www.rspb.org.uk/community/groups/weymouthwetlands and www.rspb.org.uk/community/placestovisit/arne/b/arne-blog