On the SE Sem Hts. email list.
"Neighbors,
Last night a baby mockingbird fell out of a tree in my yard. The mother was swooping down almost as if to pick it up but of course she couldn’t. I got a ladder and put him in the nest. He is still there this morning with his little beak open looking for his mother to come home but she isn’t coming.
The baby has feathers and will soon be able to fly and hunt for himself. Can I please, please get some suggestions or help with this?"
I rememeber from when I was a kid that if a person touches it the mother won't take it back? I would ask the Vet at Avalon for tips on how to take care of it
ReplyDeleteI think that has been proven to be an old wives tale.
ReplyDeleteSadly Jess is correct - the baby now "smells" like a threat, or at the very least something other than the Mother's baby bird. In these cases the mother generally doesn't return. I have heard of very rare exceptions - though if she's not back yet this probably isn't one of them. It's also a very real possiblilty the mother sensed something wrong with this baby (perhaps it is the runt?) and kicked the chick out of the nest.
ReplyDeleteNature is cruel that way.
Not to be the callous jerk here, but you may just want to put the chick out of it's misery if you can't find a rehab place to take it soon.
It is very possible to hand-feed baby birds. There are formulas and syringes sold in most pet stores to help. How that will impact its future in the wild, I am not as familiar with.
ReplyDeleteThe vet on the corner of Humphrey and Dale Mabry (actually just W. of Dale Mabry on Humphrey) will treat the bird and feed it (or at least train you on how to feed it) for FREE if you promise to return the bird to the wild when it is ready.
ReplyDeleteFlorida Veterinary Specialists(FVS) will take it. They are located near the corner of Busch Blvd and Busch Lakes Blvd. Their number is 933-8944.
ReplyDeleteand fvs will only charge you $5000.
ReplyDeleteFVS charges nothing, zip, zero to take any injured or orphaned animal. They are a collection site for a very good rehabilitator that I have used 2 times (onnce for a baby bird once for an injured adult bird). I gave a $30.00 donation to her that was greatly appreciated, but not required. It is also tax deductable.
ReplyDeleteYes I took a baby owl and a baby mockingbird to FVS...no charge. They have a wildlife specialist that will pick it up from them.
ReplyDeleteGet a cat!!
ReplyDelete"Anonymous said...
ReplyDeleteGet a cat!!"
Explain.
The cat will take care of your poblem fast!!
ReplyDelete