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Shankapotomus

(4,840 posts)
Thu May 19, 2016, 07:05 AM May 2016

Should I prepare for one of these guys being thrown out of the nest?

A bird (not sure what kind) made a nest under my sis's porch (pic included) and proceeded to have baby chicks.

I was going to say I saw around 3-4 chicks but after a second look while typing I definately see five heads, although one could be the mother (if she is small too).

As they get bigger, are these chicks going to start fighting over elbow room until one of them gets thrown out of the nest?

I'd hate to see any of them lost to sibling rivalry.

How would anyone of you handle this if one were kicked out? I don't really know anything about caring for birds.

Here is the best pic I could get (didn't want to get too close):



Thanks.

P.S. That's not my gas guzzling SUV in the background.

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Should I prepare for one of these guys being thrown out of the nest? (Original Post) Shankapotomus May 2016 OP
find the nearest wildlife rehabber now mopinko May 2016 #1
I applaud you for thinking ahead. Curmudgeoness May 2016 #2
Wonderful advice Shankapotomus May 2016 #3

mopinko

(69,804 posts)
1. find the nearest wildlife rehabber now
Thu May 19, 2016, 12:18 PM
May 2016

so you dont have to search later, if time becomes of the essence.
if this doesnt happen until the babies are fledged (feathered) be prepared to leave them alone. the parents will usually come down to feed a fledgling that is struggling.

Curmudgeoness

(18,219 posts)
2. I applaud you for thinking ahead.
Sat May 21, 2016, 06:47 PM
May 2016

I agree that finding the nearest wildlife rehabber before you need them is a great idea. Everyone should know where to locate a rehabber. I doubt that you will have to worry about it though. Birds are amazing in the way that they deal with things.

I was a rehabber specializing in birds years ago. You should know that this is a very busy time for rehabbers and you may have to leave a message instead of speaking to them right away depending on the rehab center. Also, if this is a House Sparrow, which I think it might be, some rehabbers will not take them because they are considered nuisance birds. If a baby falls out of the nest, first try to put it back in. Birds will not abandon a baby if you touch it, so don't worry.

If you cannot keep it in the nest, and it is not feathered, call the rehabber. If you cannot get through immediately, try putting it in a plastic container (like a margarine tub or a berry container) lined with paper towels, and put it on a heating pad ON LOW, or hot water bottle if you don't have a heating pad. Keeping a baby bird warm is the most important thing in the short run.

If the baby is feathered, it is probably fledging. They are like teenagers, who want to be independent but just aren't ready. The parents will continue to feed them out of the nest even as they hop all over the place.

Shankapotomus

(4,840 posts)
3. Wonderful advice
Sat May 21, 2016, 08:31 PM
May 2016

Thanks...

I think all the chicks are doing okay and fledging...I'm pretty sure now there are a total of four chicks...I noticed some were standing and appeared to be getting ready to leave the nest...then later in the day I noticed some were not in the nest...I also didn't see any lying on the ground ...and when I did see them all in the nest they appeared to be healthy...but I couldn't really see them all clearly because some were laying lower in the nest than the others...but I and my sister will be monitoring their activity...

I will ask my sister tomorrow how many she sees and keep this thread updated..

I will also try to get a picture of the mother for identification...though I think it might be some kind of brown-speckled finch. I could be wrong. I'm not a birder.

Thanks again..

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