Three little birds, sat by my doorstep
Discussion
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.
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.
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.
Do you know anyone who does hang gliding/paragliding? If you could get them to take them up in a box and record the release on a gopro or whatever, you could end up with a good number of hits on youtube, especially if you start to film them being hand fed in the week/s prior to them getting their solo license.
Do they / will they sit on your finger?
I rescued a young sparrow many years ago & found that it was quite happy sitting on my finger — if I then moved my hand downwards, the resultant 'updraft' seemed to encourage it to use its wings. I started off moving my hand slowly & gradually increased the speed to get it used to flapping its wings.
After release, s/he stayed around for a while & would often appear when I was out in the garden – so it did seem to earn to fly OK. Whether I helped or not is entirely another matter..
I rescued a young sparrow many years ago & found that it was quite happy sitting on my finger — if I then moved my hand downwards, the resultant 'updraft' seemed to encourage it to use its wings. I started off moving my hand slowly & gradually increased the speed to get it used to flapping its wings.
After release, s/he stayed around for a while & would often appear when I was out in the garden – so it did seem to earn to fly OK. Whether I helped or not is entirely another matter..
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!
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