Discussion
I am not looking for information about these jokers - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babybird
My question is a wildlife one.
Last night just before going to bed we hear a commotion in the garden, and find one of our cats with a bird in it's mouth. I am no ornithologist, but I think it is a thrush. Suspecting it is dead, as most seem to be when the cats have had them, we leave it whilst we get the cats in. We managed to chase our cats indoors, and then head back to the garden. The bird is alive and does not seem to be injured, but cannot fly.
Fair play to the mother/father bird who was trying to chase/attack the cats the whole time this was going on!
So cats locked in last night, some water and food left for the bird and we head to bed. This morning bird is in the bush where we left it. Still walking around and attempting to fly, and again does not appear injured aside from some feathers missing. Mother bird is constantly coming into garden to feed it, so we assume it is a baby bird, and is just too young to fly.
We called RSPCA, and gave them the above info. They advised the bird will fly when it is strong enough, and to keep the cats in and keep feeding and watering it. This is not feasible, as even if our cats are in, it is a cat neighbourhood. Except for one place - our neighbours have "unhutched" rabbits, and there garden is as cat proof as it can be. So we have taken the bird over there, where it is safer.
Unfortunately the mother bird does not seem to realize what is going on and is hanging around our garden. Aside from catching it and showing it where it's young is. Is there anything else we can do?
(I don't think there is anything else that we can do, but my Mrs says to investigate. She does not realize all of my advice on all things useless comes from here!)
My question is a wildlife one.
Last night just before going to bed we hear a commotion in the garden, and find one of our cats with a bird in it's mouth. I am no ornithologist, but I think it is a thrush. Suspecting it is dead, as most seem to be when the cats have had them, we leave it whilst we get the cats in. We managed to chase our cats indoors, and then head back to the garden. The bird is alive and does not seem to be injured, but cannot fly.
Fair play to the mother/father bird who was trying to chase/attack the cats the whole time this was going on!
So cats locked in last night, some water and food left for the bird and we head to bed. This morning bird is in the bush where we left it. Still walking around and attempting to fly, and again does not appear injured aside from some feathers missing. Mother bird is constantly coming into garden to feed it, so we assume it is a baby bird, and is just too young to fly.
We called RSPCA, and gave them the above info. They advised the bird will fly when it is strong enough, and to keep the cats in and keep feeding and watering it. This is not feasible, as even if our cats are in, it is a cat neighbourhood. Except for one place - our neighbours have "unhutched" rabbits, and there garden is as cat proof as it can be. So we have taken the bird over there, where it is safer.
Unfortunately the mother bird does not seem to realize what is going on and is hanging around our garden. Aside from catching it and showing it where it's young is. Is there anything else we can do?
(I don't think there is anything else that we can do, but my Mrs says to investigate. She does not realize all of my advice on all things useless comes from here!)
It sounds like it has just fledged, and isn't quite ready to fly.
The best thing, is if the bird is located, and fed by it's parents. The trouble is, they soon lose interest.
Try and put the fledgling somewhere mum and dad will see it. Better yet, see if you find the original nest. Hopefully, they will start looking after it. If they don't, it's curtains usually. If you are going to try feeding it yourselves, go to the pet shop, and get some meal worms for it.
The best thing, is if the bird is located, and fed by it's parents. The trouble is, they soon lose interest.
Try and put the fledgling somewhere mum and dad will see it. Better yet, see if you find the original nest. Hopefully, they will start looking after it. If they don't, it's curtains usually. If you are going to try feeding it yourselves, go to the pet shop, and get some meal worms for it.
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