Feeding a fledgling blue tit
June 4, 2018 3:22 PM Subscribe
Hello there, hoping someone with experience on this matter can give me some advice.
What would one feed a fledgling blue tit if you couldn't see parents around?
This evening on the street near me (London) a neighbour had found a fledgling blue tit that was sort of fly-jumping-hopping along the pavement. This street has an insane amount of cats and it's busy with traffic and pedestrians too. We watched it for 10 mins staying reasonably far away but no sign of parents. Before the waiting cats got I picked it up and tried to put it in a high bush, but time and time again it sort of flap-bounced onto the road.
By this time the neighbour had given up and gone in. I sat on a wall with this little fledgling on my finger for another 20 mins wondering what to do. Tried a couple of times to put it in trees and it fell/flew out and bumped along the pavement. So then I put my finger out near it and it just climbed back on.
Eventually I decided to take it home round the corner, it seemed to like the warmth of hands and also tried to sit in the crook of my elbow. A very unafraid wee guy. I put it in basket, tried to feed it water and then some meal worms and some minced up meat. Nothing doing, would not take anything. So I decided to take it back to the original spot I'd found it in, but in the basket. I have just stuffed this little basket high up in the bush thinking that as it's dark the wee bird won't try to move (it was still, though awake). And it might have a better chance of rejoining it's parents in the morning.
I'm aware I may have limited it's chances by moving it. I panicked a little as it seemed so vulnerable. It's not too cold here this evening.
If I go back in the morning and it's still there, and by some miracle still alive, but with no parents around, what should I do? What should I feed it?
This evening on the street near me (London) a neighbour had found a fledgling blue tit that was sort of fly-jumping-hopping along the pavement. This street has an insane amount of cats and it's busy with traffic and pedestrians too. We watched it for 10 mins staying reasonably far away but no sign of parents. Before the waiting cats got I picked it up and tried to put it in a high bush, but time and time again it sort of flap-bounced onto the road.
By this time the neighbour had given up and gone in. I sat on a wall with this little fledgling on my finger for another 20 mins wondering what to do. Tried a couple of times to put it in trees and it fell/flew out and bumped along the pavement. So then I put my finger out near it and it just climbed back on.
Eventually I decided to take it home round the corner, it seemed to like the warmth of hands and also tried to sit in the crook of my elbow. A very unafraid wee guy. I put it in basket, tried to feed it water and then some meal worms and some minced up meat. Nothing doing, would not take anything. So I decided to take it back to the original spot I'd found it in, but in the basket. I have just stuffed this little basket high up in the bush thinking that as it's dark the wee bird won't try to move (it was still, though awake). And it might have a better chance of rejoining it's parents in the morning.
I'm aware I may have limited it's chances by moving it. I panicked a little as it seemed so vulnerable. It's not too cold here this evening.
If I go back in the morning and it's still there, and by some miracle still alive, but with no parents around, what should I do? What should I feed it?
The RPPB says
posted by EndsOfInvention at 3:29 PM on June 4, 2018 [7 favorites]
Best answer: If you find it tomorrow and are still concerned, I would call London Wildlife Protection and ask them for advice.
posted by mollywas at 3:31 PM on June 4, 2018
posted by mollywas at 3:31 PM on June 4, 2018
You can soak some dry dog kibble in warm water until its soft, mix that with scrambled egg. You may have to gently open the birds beak with your finger and pop the food as far back in its throat as you can (small bits, dont choke the wee birdy). This will tide it over until you can get it to a wildlife rehabber.
posted by WalkerWestridge at 5:53 PM on June 4, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by WalkerWestridge at 5:53 PM on June 4, 2018 [1 favorite]
The blue tits in my birdbox have been busily feeding their little ones for a while now. I'm pretty sure that they've all left the next as I can no longer hear peeping outside, but they've been bringing them the small green caterpillars and the red suet/insect pellets from a neighbours feeder. The adults also like by sunflowerseed feeder at times. I think mealworms are a good bet, along with any caterpillars you could scrounge up. It shouldn't need actual feeding, just placing the food near it should suffice.
posted by koolkat at 12:23 AM on June 5, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by koolkat at 12:23 AM on June 5, 2018 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Thank you everyone!
Good news is when we went to check in the morning, the basket was still wedged in the bush but the bird had left. I'm taking this as a positive sign.
posted by stevedawg at 4:43 AM on June 5, 2018 [1 favorite]
Good news is when we went to check in the morning, the basket was still wedged in the bush but the bird had left. I'm taking this as a positive sign.
posted by stevedawg at 4:43 AM on June 5, 2018 [1 favorite]
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