BABY BIRD -Nanny 911

[fire&ice]

Help - anyone who knows birds. Each year we have a starling mom build her nest on our front porch. I don''t remember how old the babies are as of date; but, they appear fairly large & w/ some feathers. This morning a commotion went on. I thought the babies were leaving the nest. Then, I saw another starling and some other birds gathering & chasing one another. After all that, I discovered a baby on the ground (porch).

I read conflicting reports on the wildlife spots. It''s definitely NOT a nestling. But, I am unsure that it is a "fledgling", which according to the net, should be left alone (doesn''t appear to be in any danger of animal attack). I''ve watched it most of the day. It tries to fly - but can''t quite get lift off. It can hop about - but not great. The mom has been swooping down. The baby opens it''s mouth. I don''t see any food going in; but, the mom is going through the motions of feeding it.

Question is - should I leave it alone (as suggested for fledglings - again I know nothing about it except what I''ve read on the net) or put it back in the nest? The nest is pretty crowded with two babies left (they are fairly large).

I want to really be well meaning - and not just "well meaning" & screw up the natural order of things.

 

[belle]

i''m sure it''s getting food, if that''s what you''re worried about.
as far as actually being a fledgling and being able to fly, you can tell by the feathers.
are you seeing actual feathers, or are they still pin feathers? (they look encased, like needles or sticks)
if the bird is feathered out, i would say leave it. he''ll be flying before you know it.
if he still has pin feathers, you might want to put him back, as he wont'' be ready to fly for at least several more days and the ground isn''t a good place for little hoppy guys.

 

[Bikergirl]

Hmm... That''s a tough one. If the mother is taking care of it, I would say leave it alone. If you do pick it up and put it back in the nest, there is a good chance the mother will abandon the nest (and all of the babies). I would say keep a close eye on him, keep predators away, and leave him be (as long as the mother continues to care for him).

 

[fire&ice]

THanks so much for answering, Belle. Here''s a shot of the little guy. He''s pretty protected on the porch. I have yet to see any potential predators travel up our porch. He motivates pretty good on the ground & does attempt flight.

I don''t want to do more harm than good. What do you think from the photo?

 

[mustang9]

I don''t have any real sound advice, other then to say, if you have a shoe box that you could put some ripped up newspaper/paper towels in that would be good. If it takes him a few days, he will need someplace to nest to stay warm at night. Don''t put the bird in, but lay the box on the ground next to it.

Yyou may want to consult a vet in the area. They may be better able to help you. Also, my mother has had baby birds. When they are little, she would feed them baby oatmeal, with a small amount of fruit(baby jar) mixed in. You may want to mix up a batch of something small, and a little bowl of water, incase he is there for a few days, and the mother is not feeding him.

Good luck!

 

[belle]

awwww....isn''t he cute! he looks mostlly feathered out, and was probably on his way to freedom in a few days anyway, so you could just leave him be if you felt there were no predators around. especially if he is already making attempts to fly.
hope everything works out!

 

[fire&ice]

Date: 5/6/2005 3:22:11 PM
Author: belle
awwww....isn''t he cute! he looks mostlly feathered out, and was probably on his way to freedom in a few days anyway, so you could just leave him be if you felt there were no predators around. especially if he is already making attempts to fly.
hope everything works out!

Yeah, he is cute - but scared to death. I took that pic w/ zoom. We both think we could do more harm than good trying to put him back in the nest. He''d probably flail about & we could risk injuring him. I just witnessed Mama feeding him. He''s pretty protected up on the porch. The porch is somewhat enclosed; so, I think he is safe.

I''m going to take the suggestion about putting a little nesty area. He can take flight at about 10" so far. As hubby said, he''s a 3 bricker now!

If he''s still on the ground in a couple of days, should we attempt to put him back or still leave him be. Mama''s back again - this little guy is a bottomless pit!

Thanks all.

 

[Kaleigh]

Oh he''s so cute!! As long as the momma is feeding him, I would leave him be??

 

[belle]

wow! a 3 three bricker!?

i am certain he will be off and flying in the next couple of days, if not sooner.
babies......they grow up so fast!

don''t worry about feeding him, momma will take care of him, and he will be pecking at stuff on his own as well.
keep us posted!

 

[Bikergirl]

I agree with Belle. Leave him be, just make sure he''s protected from predators. He does look big enough to care for himself soon. His wing feathers are mostly developed, and won''t take long to fill in completely.

 

[pricescope]

Fire&ice, I posted your question on the Birdforum.net: http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?p=325314


Hope bird enthusiasts will also give some advice.

 

[MINE!!]

can you reach the nest?
Regardless of what you may have heard, a mother bird will NOT neglect a baby that has the scent of a human. This is a myth. You can put the bird back in the nest where it is safe. The mother WILL take care of it. She is swooping down to protect the bird and to be a distraction for others. If you can put it back in the nest then I would do so.
Hope this helps/

 

[fire&ice]

Date: 5/6/2005 4:41

0 PM
Author: MINE!!
can you reach the nest?
Regardless of what you may have heard, a mother bird will NOT neglect a baby that has the scent of a human. This is a myth. You can put the bird back in the nest where it is safe. The mother WILL take care of it. She is swooping down to protect the bird and to be a distraction for others. If you can put it back in the nest then I would do so.
Hope this helps/

Yeah, I read that. We can reach the nest. The problem lies in the possibility of injuring the baby & the nest when trying to do so. It''s about a full bird & probably full of spitfire. And, he just hopity flew into the little nest I put out there.

Who needs Idol when I can tune into my very own nature channel?

Thanks Leonid. I will be checking the bird forum.

 

[MINE!!]

Oh... Ok... Well that is a good idea as well. There he will be pretty safe.. just keep away the predators and his mom should take care of him. Lots of luck. Was just a suggestion

 

[pricescope]

Forum rules Got an answer from the birdforum.net moderator: http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?p=325357

"If you can easily get the baby back in the nest then go for it or if you can hang a basket on a limb near by the nest then try that. Otherwise, I would leave it alone and hope for the best. Nature isn't always kind but it has its own way of culling the weaker of a species. Good luck and keep us posted."

 

[fire&ice]

Date: 5/6/2005 5:10:13 PM
Author: Pricescope
Forum rules Got an answer from the birdforum.net moderator: http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?p=325357

''If you can easily get the baby back in the nest then go for it or if you can hang a basket on a limb near by the nest then try that. Otherwise, I would leave it alone and hope for the best. Nature isn''t always kind but it has its own way of culling the weaker of a species. Good luck and keep us posted.''

Yes, I read that. I''m unsure he knew how far developed the bird seems to be. I clarified the little fella''s status. I am very concerned about hurting him & the nest. Everywhere on the wildlife sites, they said don''t put "flegling" back in. He appears to be very close to that.

 

[Matata]

F&I,

I was a licensed wildlife rehabilitator for many years. The bird is not a fledgling yet; but you''re correct in that it''s close. A true fledgling would not sit on its hocks as your photo shows; it would remain completely upright. If you can put it back on the nest, I recommend that. If it falls or jumps out again, let nature take its course. It''s customary for fledges to remain on the ground for a day or two and parents will continue to feed it.Then it''ll take its first flight and parents will continue to feed it and begin weaning it to self feed.

 

[fire&ice]

Date: 5/6/2005 5:37:21 PM
Author: Matata
F&I,

I was a licensed wildlife rehabilitator for many years. The bird is not a fledgling yet; but you''re correct in that it''s close. A true fledgling would not sit on its hocks as your photo shows; it would remain completely upright. If you can put it back on the nest, I recommend that. If it falls or jumps out again, let nature take its course. It''s customary for fledges to remain on the ground for a day or two and parents will continue to feed it.Then it''ll take its first flight and parents will continue to feed it and begin weaning it to self feed.

Yeah, I just don''t know what''s best since he is so close. He is hopping around like a normal bird. He has perched on the little basket I put out there and has had lift off.

The nest is in a precarious spot as it''s perched on a brick pilaster. Tough to place a bigger bird in such a small space.

We really are afraid of hurting him. Any suggestions on how to handle the bird.... and his siblings? They are tight in there. Someone may have been voted of the island.

 

[Matata]

You can move it near a bush or some other cover. To capture it, use a bath towel and holding it in front of you, walk slowly toward the bird and throw the towel over it. You can scoop it up pretty easily after that. Don''t worry about hurting it -- it you pick it up by cupping your hands around it all will be fine. Carry it in the towel to a safer place. If the bird is frisky, it could take you a couple of tries. You can try herding it with the towel if you''re not successful on the capture.

 

[fire&ice]

I understand what you mean by the legs. Is my mind playing tricks on me or could he be laying on his legs like in the pic & standing up more like a normal bird. He seems to be going back and forth - almost like a 12 year old into maturity one minute & being more baby like the next.

We will try tomorrow. She is actively feeding them now.

 

[JCJD]

I work with birds now and worked with starlings as an undergrad. Birds, like other animals, are extremely resilient creatures. Just don''t twist his head too far around or snap his legs off or anything.

In fact, you''ll probably hold him too loosely if anything - make sure you''re holding him tightly enough that he doesn''t squirm away. Since he''s on the verge of flying and attempts to do so, you can''t just scoop him up in the palm of your hand like you could a nestling. If you did, he''d frighten and fly off of your hand and perhaps injure himself in the process. I suggest you cup him in both of your hands (if you can manage to corner him and not get attacked by mom), one below and one over him, wearing gloves if possible, and gently ease him off of your lower hand with the top hand into the nest, or whatever suitable place you have for them. He''ll understandably be stressed by this interaction, so try to do it as quickly as possible. If you need too, stop and give him an hour to calm down. You don''t want him to get used to you either - he needs to stay wild to survive in the... wild...

Also, starlings can carry diseases such as salmonella, so wash your hands right away after handling them. Not very likely you''ll catch something, but better safe than sorry.

And you know, starlings can make great pets!! They''re mimics and can live 20 years! You can tell the males from the females in the spring by the color of the base of their beaks - males are blue, females are pink! Otherwise, you can see the pupil of female eyes, but not males - females have brown eyes.

 

[JCJD]

RE his legs: He's a baby just learning to use those gangly limbs! Think of a child just learning to sit up on their own - sometimes they get it, sometimes they just keel over! Also, you're a big intimidating animal leaning over him shoving strange metallic things in his face! He's trying to be as small as possible in that picture, which might be another reason why he's sitting back on his entire leg, not just using the toes.

I just noticed that pic is from today - I'd say in 2-4 days he'll be flying on his own and you won't have to move any of them! He's such a cutie!!!

ETA: You can see he's starting to get his adult beak instead of "baby lips". I think that as long as predators don't get him in the next couple of days, he'll be perched on the telephone wires next week. Mom hasn't stopped caring for him, so she'll protect him as best she can until he can fly better. So.... maybe you shouldn't move him..... Oh well - it's up to you I think. If you think he's in danger on your porch, move him. If he's OK and mom's still taking care of him, I think he's OK to leave right where he is.

 

[cflutist]

F&I,

You've got great advice...no real need for me to add more...

Here is what is on our local wildlife rescue center's web site (The Lindsay Wildlife Museum):

Very Young (Nestling) Bird On Ground
Locate the nest which should be nearby. If it is not injured, gently pick up the baby and place it in the nest. Make sure the other babies in the nest look like the one you are replacing. Watch the nest from a distance to confirm that the parent bird returns to the nest. This could take several hours. Don't worry about your scent on the bird; the mother will not reject the baby.

A pre-fledgling on the ground can be put into a large box that is put in a tree or bush to keep the baby off the ground for a little while. Make sure the box is large enough so the parent will not be afraid to fly into it and the sides high enough so the pre-fledgling won’t hop right out.

If you cannot find the nest or cannot reach it, keep the baby warm and bring it to the museum as quickly as possible. Do not attempt to feed it anything.

If a nestling bird is injured, keep it warm and bring it to the museum.

Young (Fledgling) Bird on Ground
Has feathers but does not fly well, if at all, mostly hops and can jump to low branches. This period of being on the ground is a normal and necessary part of a bird developing the ability to fly. Keep your cats and dogs indoors while the fledgling is learning to fly. Watch from a distance to make sure its parents are feeding it. If you don't see the parents after watching for several hours or the bird has been caught by a cat or otherwise injured, bring it to the museum.

Do not automatically pick up a fledgling bird. It probably doesn’t need your help. The parents are attentive and will not abandon their offspring. It is important that young birds are raised by their parents.

Only if the bird is in imminent danger from cats or dogs should it be picked up and brought to us.

If you find one fledgling, you may see more. Talk to your neighbors about keeping pets indoors, especially in the morning and late afternoon.

websailor (hijacking cflutist's computer again)

 

[fire&ice]

Thanks All! What a great bunch we have on PS.

We came home early from a baseball game just to check up on the little fella. He''s still on the porch and seems to favor corners. The sun was fairly strong today; and, he probably feels the warmth. The brick holds heat - probably like his siblings.

I want so badly to make it all right for him. But, my gut is feeling a "first do no harm" thing. It''s so hard to not do anything. I think that is the right thing. I put his little nest next to where he is. Unless something fluky happens, no predators come up on our porch. Our dogs go out in the back yard; and, when taking them on a walk we have been using the back door. Funny though, my female probably would raise him if she could.

JCDC - I looked at his beak and the top closer to his eyes is blue. My imagination - or does this "trait" develop in one so young.

I will continue to monitor the situation. All is quiet now; so, don''t want to be hovering like mother hen.

Heartfelt - truly thank you ALL!

 

[valeria101]

I've put plenty of small birds back in their nests as a kid growing up in the countryside (sparrows, one owl, stork chicks...).

Unless the chick is already injured from the fall (something that is hard to tell since they can hang on nicely for days on end even with a bad fracture) things should be fine. Nests are always crowded and this one should be with the chicks almost full size - you will not have to "push" this one in - the trick is not to scare the other two and cause them to fall off when you approach the nest. However, this is not likely and you can always hold a safety net under (think apron, although I can't quite imagine the position of the nest and how you will approach it). It is likely that the two parents will attack when you come close (if they are anywhere near). Sure this is not dangerous for either party. If you can find a time slot when the nest is alone and operate before any of the adults come back, the chances that they abandon the nest are nil.

The feathers of that little guy do not seem fully formed - it may take time before it can fly. My guess would be one week or more, if they are anything like the European kind. Usually parents desert chicks that are not in the nest - if not the first day, then shortly

 

[fire&ice]

Update on the little fella. Moments ago, he saw mama in our yard. He "flew" to her. He was on the ground in a neighbors yard - not a great place to be - too exposed. Unceramoniously, I got my old oven mitts & picked him up. He didn''t flail - just protested loudly. I put him back in the nest.

Welp, seems he liked his taste of freedom and within minutes "flew" back down on the porch & hopped out his little "window". And word for word from websailors "what to do" he is jumping "flying" from azalea to azalea. So, it seems he is a young fledgling doing what young fledglings do.

I guess my nanny job is done. I feel good about him. I''m hoping nature will be kind to him. The first exposure to freedom he seemed a bit out of place. But, he seems more street smart now. Boy, those feet are like ocotpus suckers.

Birds are pretty cool. Funny JCDC, you mention that they are mimics. A few days ago we enjoyed watching a robin take a bath in some pooled water. Immediately after he/she finished, the adult Starling did the exact same routine.

 

[Kaleigh]

Fire & Ice,
Good job, sounds like the little fella is off to a good start!! It must be fun to watch the litlle guy learn to fly and explore the big world around him. Hope there aren''t any cats near by. You did a great job, he''ll be off on his own soon.

 

[fire&ice]

Date: 5/7/2005 11

1:15 AM
Author: kaleigh
Fire & Ice,
Good job, sounds like the little fella is off to a good start!! It must be fun to watch the litlle guy learn to fly and explore the big world around him. Hope there aren't any cats near by. You did a great job, he'll be off on his own soon.

Every year, it's a joy to listen to the peep peep peeps & keep watch over the nest. Starlings must be a community bird because several are keeping watch over the little guy. He is truly motivating around. People are pretty good about their pets in our little city neighborhood. I never see a dog w/o a leash and cats rarely go outside of their yard. We have more problems with dogs and cats in our country property. Sadly, you can't really mess with mother nature & what may be in store for the little fella. I think he will be alright, though.

Again, thanks to ALL for your support. His two siblings are still in the nest. I'm sure their status will change soon.

Leonid, this place truly ROCKS. More replies & substanance from a diamond board. Go figure. This is quite an accomplished caring bunch.

Eidted to add: My window next to the computer looks right out to the porch. Birds eye view - so to speak.

 

[fire&ice]

Update from my bird''s eye view, baby number two is down.

This one is more developed than little fella. This little trouble maker is trying to coax bird three down.

- who still has "tufts" and not as developed.

Sadly, we have an engagement. Wish I could set up a nanny cam.

 

[JCJD]

Awww! What a trooper the little guy is!! I''m glad he''s doing so well!! Keep us posted with pictures!

I don''t know if birds so young will develop the male/female beak colors. He''ll be a dusty grey-brown color until the winter molt.

I actually meant vocal mimics, but starlings do watch other birds to find food sources, water sources, nest sites, etc.

Ana - They ARE the European variety - introduced to Central Park in NYC by a man named Eugene Scheifflin (spelling??) in the early 1900''s because he was part of a society that aimed to introduce every species mentioned in Shakespeare''s works into the US. The starling is mentioned in Henry VIII, I believe.