Three little birds, sat by my doorstep
Discussion
Well....there's good news and bad news! Good news is that the chicks are doing fantastic and are growing by the day. The bad news is that they now have another brother/sister!
Third little bird found yesterday in roughly same place. Have put it back in nearest nest 3 times but each time it's ended up being thrown out.
The other two look so healthy compared to this one.
Back to PAH for some more wax worms then!!
Third little bird found yesterday in roughly same place. Have put it back in nearest nest 3 times but each time it's ended up being thrown out.
The other two look so healthy compared to this one.
Back to PAH for some more wax worms then!!
No idea what's happening! It seems to be mass Exodus (another Bob Marley tribute) of chicks. I can only find one best up there which still has chicks, and that one is full to bursting. So either these 3 were too much for that nest, or one of the other nest's parents have just given up and chucked out all 3?
How many would normally be in a nest, any ideas?
How many would normally be in a nest, any ideas?
lamboman100 said:
Mk3Spitfire said:
No idea what's happening! It seems to be mass Exodus (another Bob Marley tribute) of chicks. I can only find one best up there which still has chicks, and that one is full to bursting. So either these 3 were too much for that nest, or one of the other nest's parents have just given up and chucked out all 3?
How many would normally be in a nest, any ideas?
Cuckoo in the nest(s)?How many would normally be in a nest, any ideas?
Kudos for looking after the evictees.
Definitely not Cuckoo....
I think it might have been overcrowding to be honest.
Bit of sad news... the third little one didn't make it. It was looking ropey from the start, and didn't manage to pull through.
On a brighter note though, the other two chicks are doing really well. I m fairly confident now that that they are going to make it! Certainly as far as surviving to adulthood anyway.
Thanks Matt. I think you might be right about the third one. Didn't look good right from the start.
The other two are so bright and cheeky now. They're losing the fluffy feathers and seem to be growing by the hour! I have an old parrot cage which I aim to dig out so they can go in there and start flying lessons soon!
The other two are so bright and cheeky now. They're losing the fluffy feathers and seem to be growing by the hour! I have an old parrot cage which I aim to dig out so they can go in there and start flying lessons soon!
muppets_mate said:
Any further updates OP?
Both birds are doing fantastic. They look massive now compared to what they were first like. They've lost all their fluffy feathers now, and have a full coat of adult feathers. They are now flapping their wings when being fed, and climbing and moving about a lot more! 
Wigeon Incognito said:
Looking good!
I asked the wildlife hospital I work with how you would know when the swallows are ready to go and they said that as with rearing any small bird there is a distinct change in attitude when they're ready. Apparently they'll stop asking for food and that's the sign.
They also said that swallows are very unlikely to feed from a pot so it's important not to keep them longer - apparently some people try in attempt to help them build more strength.
Matt.
Thanks very much for the help. At the moment they both very definitely still ask for food. I'll keep a close eye on them then, and see if I can spot the change. I asked the wildlife hospital I work with how you would know when the swallows are ready to go and they said that as with rearing any small bird there is a distinct change in attitude when they're ready. Apparently they'll stop asking for food and that's the sign.
They also said that swallows are very unlikely to feed from a pot so it's important not to keep them longer - apparently some people try in attempt to help them build more strength.
Matt.
I reckon they aren't far off...they are flapping their wings a lot now and are a lot more active.
bexVN said:
That's true, swallows eat on the fly, catching insects midair. A downed adult swallow can be hard to rehabilitate due to this.
Great pic, looking good, next big test will be letting them go!!
Ok. Its going to be hard to teach them anything really...I am just hoping they have enough instinct to make do once they are released. Great pic, looking good, next big test will be letting them go!!
I'm getting quite attached to them! Although it will be nice to see them fly of into the wild.
norush said:
Nothing much to add apart from the fact I really like the OP 
Thanks very much!!They do indeed sit on my finger! I took a load of photos from first day until now...the last one in fact is them sitting on my finger! I'll take some more, maybe a vid or too, then put in on the tube of you'a with R Kelly's - I believe I can fly!
Escort3500 said:
This is one of the most heart-warming threads I've ever read! Good on you Sir. Pleas keep the updates and pics coming !
Thank you!They have now outgrown their shoe box and so have now inhabited an old parrot cage with some twigs and leaves in there. They're managing to end up on the top perches so they must be flying or at least flapping, to some extent.
bexVN said:
Can't be long now!
It's a shame you can't post videos on here. Just had them out of the cage on my finger, moving them up and down like someone above suggested...and they were right, the air movement naturally makes them flap their wings! And I think you're right....the time is approaching!lamboman100 said:
Must be time for a multi-photo and video update? 
Still haven't had the chance! But I will do. Wish i'd had my camera out earlier though...walked into the room where they're staying and turned the light on. They had managed to squeeze out of the cage and were perched on top. On seeing me, they have both TAKEN FLIGHT and flown over, and landed on my head!! It was unbelievable. Epic. But yes...I will work on some kind of montage!
s p a c e m a n said:
Thought about tagging them before they leave so you know if it's them when they come back, pigeon leg ring thing or something?
I was thinking about some form of identification. I'm a bit worried a tag might be a bit big for them or get caught or something. I thought about Tipex on the beaks or something but that will wear off...so I don't know...Granville said:
Are they getting outside usage? They need acclimatizing ready to leave and so it's not too much of a shock to the system.
It wont be long before they leave for warmer climates and if they're flying indoors, then it's probably time for them to take to the wing and join the big wide world and build some flying strength up before they migrate.
This very morning, I took their cage out into the outbuilding where I first found them. I have hung it up out of cat's reach. I went back an hour later...and they were flying around the shed! Got a little video of it too! They are back in the cage now, but they've most definitely been learning to fly outside now. Catching food is my main concern....but its one step closer. It wont be long before they leave for warmer climates and if they're flying indoors, then it's probably time for them to take to the wing and join the big wide world and build some flying strength up before they migrate.
I'm not going to ring or tag. I will just take a few more vids.
They are now living outside...still in the cage but with the door open so they can come and go as they please.
They are amazing. They are now flying with the other birds, but all of a sudden they fly off from the others and fly over and land on my head. Unbelievable. I'm just hoping they can learn to self feed.
They are now living outside...still in the cage but with the door open so they can come and go as they please.
They are amazing. They are now flying with the other birds, but all of a sudden they fly off from the others and fly over and land on my head. Unbelievable. I'm just hoping they can learn to self feed.
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