When a baby bird has been touched by humans, which statement is true?

• A. The baby must be given formula immediately
• B. The mother will always reject the baby
• C. Touching with bare hands guarantees rejection
• D. Most birds have a poor sense of smell and will not reject the baby; the parent should be reunited

Answer: (D)

Birds rely more on visual and vocal cues than on scent to recognize their young, so human scent or touch does not reliably cause a parent to reject a chick. Because of that, if a chick is found and it’s safe to do so, reuniting it with its parents is the best course of action, since the parents will typically continue to care for it. This reflects the idea that scent is not a primary trigger for abandonment, and the recommended action is to place the chick back where the parent can find it rather than assuming rejection. The other ideas—that formula must be fed immediately, that the parent will always reject, or that touching guarantees rejection—don’t align with how most birds respond to human presence.