“They’re all doing great. The mamma bird flies in and out through the day to bring them bugs," Sarah Salinas tells PEOPLE
NEED TO KNOW
- A Texas woman discovered a nest of newly hatched baby birds hidden inside an old work boot in her garage
- “They’re all doing great. The mamma bird flies in and out through the day to bring them bugs,” Sarah Salinas tells PEOPLE
- According to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, baby birds should generally be left alone when found, unless they appear injured
A Texas woman received an unexpected surprise when she found a nest of baby birds inside an old work boot.
Sarah Salinas tells PEOPLE that she had gone outside to her garage on May 11 when she “saw the mamma fly out of the shoe.”
“So I decided to take a peek, and there they were. Just recently hatched and featherless,” she says.
“They're all doing great,” continues Salinas of the animals. “The mamma bird flies in and out through the day to bring them bugs. “
Salinas previously shared a video of the birds on TikTok, taken the day she first found them.
In the clip, she approaches a shelf lined with shoes, before carefully picking up a particular boot. Inside is the nest of the five freshly hatched birds.
Salinas shared an update about the nesting situation in a TikTok video on Thursday, May 14, sharing clips of the mother bird dropping food into the boot, as well as a close-up of the growing baby birds.
Credit: Storyful
“Baby birds update: It's only been a few days but thank goodness they're getting their feathers! Mamma birds doing her thang #farmlife #babybird #boots,” she wrote in the video's caption.
According to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS), it is almost always best to leave baby birds alone when they are found.
“If you find a baby bird, it likely does not need your help unless it is featherless or has its eyes closed,” the organization says.
If a bird that is not yet ready to leave the nest is found, the USFWS recommends gently placing the animal back in its nest.
“If you cannot locate the nest, leave the nestling where you found it or move it to a shaded area. The parents will come back,” the group further explains, adding that a human's scent will not deter the bird's parents.
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If the bird is injured, the USFWS states that a licensed wildlife rehabilitator should be contacted. The group additionally stresses that people should never attempt to raise a baby bird themselves.
“For the safety of the animal, yourself and your family, always call a professional,” said the USFWS.
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