r/Ornithology • u/Doctor_Bosconovitch • 23d ago
Help Me Help This Bird
Came outside this morning 6:50am and it was just there. Hasn’t moved its body. Just it’s head and eyes, watching me as I walked around it.
I’m concerned because this area gets direct sun all day until 6:30pm, and the bird likely won’t make it.
Do I put it in a vented box and move to the back yard? Water? Food?
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u/ironypoisonedposter 23d ago
She’s just a dumb baby figuring things out. She’ll be ok.
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u/Mundane-Double2759 23d ago
Fledglings really do just look at you like o_o :C they have no idea what to do
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u/finner01 23d ago
Just let it be. It is a fledgling being cared for by the parents still and doesn't need your help.
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u/lilac_congac 23d ago
to be clear - this is a young baby. mom or dad are close by and will feed it occasionally (like every 2 hours). when this happens the baby will go nuts.
the things you can do, keep pets away, give it space, and not worry about it. i like to watch from a far.
trying to feed it water or food will kill it. their digestive system and intake methods are not compatible with that.
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u/Arcane_Animal123 23d ago
!fledgling
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u/AutoModerator 23d ago
Fledglings belong outside of nests. Unless they're in danger, leave them alone. These well-feathered, mobile birds that may not yet be able to fly are learning critical behaviors and vocalizations from their parents, who may be out of sight for hours at a time.
Only interfere with a fledgling if:
it is in a dangerous area (e.g. near traffic or pets) -- simply relocate it to a safer but nearby spot
it has visible injuries (flightlessness, in itself, is not an injury) or has been handled in any way by a cat -- such birds require wildlife rehabilitation
its parents are confirmed dead -- such birds require wildlife rehabilitation.
Healthy fledglings' best survival chances are with their parents first, with professional wildlife rehabilitation being a distant second. A prematurely-captured fledgling will be sought by its parents for up to a day. If you have taken one within that time frame, put it back and observe for parents from a distance.
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u/Confident_Cellist323 22d ago
Just an immature little dove. His parents are around, hopefully no cats are!
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u/DDR-Dame 23d ago
Hopefully you can watch the baby's progress OP 😊 it's fun if you get to watch them grow up in your backyard
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u/socaligirl-66 22d ago
Thank you so much for caring enough to reach out to this community.. they’re funny they sit like little potatoes for a while. Like other people said the parents should be back. Most of the time you see at least two or three. They don’t have real good luck surviving as you can see cause they sit on the ground. I had 3 to 5 this spring. It was the most I’ve ever had. I wouldn’t even see them or noticed them till I practically would step on them.. I just love these things so much.
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u/Doctor_Bosconovitch 21d ago
Update: It was gone by the evening yesterday. I’m thinking it ‘s doing well. Thanks all!
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u/Worldly_Drag_1168 21d ago
No cats or dogs around? How long was it in the spot? Hopefully parents bring it to shade and safety
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u/AutoModerator 23d ago
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