querying the bird brain
June 30, 2006 8:17 AM Subscribe
What do I do with a baby bird in my backyard?
Yesterday evening I was relaxing on the porch and noticed a bird feeding a chick along the wall of my backyard. I saw it scamper over into a corner, and kept an eye on the mama (?), which seemed to know where the baby was and kept watch on a telephone line strung above.
This morning I went out again and the chick is still in that corner, the mama is still perched on the line. I think the baby is trapped in my backyard. It doesn't seem like it can fly yet. Can I move it somewhere that would help? Would my interference foul the chick's relationship with its mother?
Yesterday evening I was relaxing on the porch and noticed a bird feeding a chick along the wall of my backyard. I saw it scamper over into a corner, and kept an eye on the mama (?), which seemed to know where the baby was and kept watch on a telephone line strung above.
This morning I went out again and the chick is still in that corner, the mama is still perched on the line. I think the baby is trapped in my backyard. It doesn't seem like it can fly yet. Can I move it somewhere that would help? Would my interference foul the chick's relationship with its mother?
Nothing. No. Yes.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 8:50 AM on June 30, 2006
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 8:50 AM on June 30, 2006
Response by poster: thank you for the succinct answers all. I just have a hard time marking 'best answer' for advice that breaks my heart.
posted by carsonb at 8:57 AM on June 30, 2006
posted by carsonb at 8:57 AM on June 30, 2006
Best answer: It's fine. In fact, most birds leave the nest before they can fly (weird but true). That said, the old notion that handling a baby bird will make a mother abandon it is a myth.
posted by Gilbert at 8:57 AM on June 30, 2006
posted by Gilbert at 8:57 AM on June 30, 2006
Response by poster: from Gilbert's link:
Many fledglings are scruffy looking and look like they are unable to be on their own. They may leave the nest, scurry on the ground, etc., looking like a lost baby bird. The parents care of these fledglings and keep track where they are until the fledglings can live on their own. So the baby bird you see may be a fledgling that is being taken care of by its parents still.
thanks!
posted by carsonb at 9:05 AM on June 30, 2006
Many fledglings are scruffy looking and look like they are unable to be on their own. They may leave the nest, scurry on the ground, etc., looking like a lost baby bird. The parents care of these fledglings and keep track where they are until the fledglings can live on their own. So the baby bird you see may be a fledgling that is being taken care of by its parents still.
thanks!
posted by carsonb at 9:05 AM on June 30, 2006
Best answer: Keep cats away. Otherwise it will be fine.
posted by shifafa at 9:18 AM on June 30, 2006
posted by shifafa at 9:18 AM on June 30, 2006
Nature will often break your heart. It's not touchy-feely. The bird has a small shot of surviving, since the mother knows where it is.
I'm of the mind that it's always better to leave this stuff alone because it's really none of our business unless you're a wildlife expert (few of us are).
posted by agregoli at 9:54 AM on June 30, 2006
I'm of the mind that it's always better to leave this stuff alone because it's really none of our business unless you're a wildlife expert (few of us are).
posted by agregoli at 9:54 AM on June 30, 2006
This happened to me with baby mockingbirds just last week. I saw the mother feed one and hide them in a nice planted landscape area. I live near D.C., and until the rain clouds dumped 7 inches of rain in 48 hrs, I had reasonably good hopes for them.
But yes, a call to the local animal shelter told me that if the mother is around and taking care of it, it has a better chance of survival than being taken in to a shelter.
posted by Atreides at 11:14 AM on June 30, 2006
But yes, a call to the local animal shelter told me that if the mother is around and taking care of it, it has a better chance of survival than being taken in to a shelter.
posted by Atreides at 11:14 AM on June 30, 2006
Response by poster: and until the rain clouds dumped 7 inches of rain in 48 hrs
this worried me last night; we've been getting serious microbursts from passing thunderstorms.
I've been going out periodically all morning (ostensibly to smoke) and checking on them. they were gone when I was out last, an hour ago. thanks again for your suggestions. peace.
posted by carsonb at 11:42 AM on June 30, 2006
this worried me last night; we've been getting serious microbursts from passing thunderstorms.
I've been going out periodically all morning (ostensibly to smoke) and checking on them. they were gone when I was out last, an hour ago. thanks again for your suggestions. peace.
posted by carsonb at 11:42 AM on June 30, 2006
It's like a test, seeing how the baby bird will act in the "real world", while making sure nothing (too) bad will happen. =)
posted by lain at 2:12 PM on June 30, 2006
posted by lain at 2:12 PM on June 30, 2006
Leave it be. We're watching a couple of groups of baby birds in the yard right now...it is that time of year. This is what they do. Enjoy the show!
posted by HuronBob at 6:38 PM on June 30, 2006
posted by HuronBob at 6:38 PM on June 30, 2006
Enjoy from a distance. You're not doing any wild creature a favor by imprinting it to lose its fear of humans.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 8:24 AM on July 1, 2006
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 8:24 AM on July 1, 2006
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by GuyZero at 8:19 AM on June 30, 2006