“He’s so tiny, defenseless, and clumsy,” is probably what everyone who sees a baby bird that has fallen out of the nest thinks. You just want to take him home and give him warmth and care. But does the little creature need it?
Summer is the time when gardens, forests, and parks are decorated with luxuriant lush green attire, pleasant aromas, and the chirping of birds. The melody seems to come from all directions. A starling lurks on a branch; a sparrow walks along the path. And who knows: maybe one of them has a nestling. They sit in the nest, waiting for their parents, while they are looking for food. They are still so small that they could easily fall out of the nest. And what if you are the one who spots one of these nestlings in the grass?
What do you do when you find a nestling?
Imagine, Friend, that an adventure happened during your walk. You found a little nestling and you don’t know the right thing to do: keep it or take it home. Read on – and I’ll tell you what to do and how to do it.
More often than not, people find nestlings that are learning to fly. They are called fledglings. As they try to flap their wings, they sometimes fall out of the nest.
The nestling already has feathers, although they are very short. Of course, he can’t go home on his own yet. But You do not worry and do not rush to take the nestling.
You found the nestling near the tree. Look around. Check to see if there is a nest anywhere: the nestling could not have flown far away. Listen and maybe you will hear the nestling “calling” to its siblings. If you haven’t found the nest, or if it is too high up, just leave the nestling near the tree; the parents will find it.
The nestling was far away from the forest or garden (near the road, on the school steps, or the porch of the house). In such places, the nestling is in danger: it can become prey to a cat or dog. To prevent this from happening, take the nestling farther away, to trees and bushes.
Even if the parents never came to the nestling, you have nothing to worry about. He learns to fly very quickly. So, perhaps, in a few hours, he will go to mom and dad on his own – and he will meet them.
There is a wound on the nestling’s body. In such a case, you can`t leave him. You need to go immediately to a special rehabilitation center or the veterinary clinic: there you will be advised what to do.
You came across not just one nestling, but several at once, and next to it, a broken nest. This often happens from strong winds. If the nest survives even a little, “repair” it with twigs and dry grass.
If it is completely broken, you need to make a new home for the nestlings. Good if you notice the nestlings near your home: you can quickly find an old small basket or cardboard box, line the new “nest” with paper towels, and hang it on a branch with a metal wire.
When can I take the nestling home?
To take the nestling home is possible only when it is necessary. After all, no matter how hard a man tries to take care of it, nothing can replace the natural conditions of life.
- just born: he has no feathers at all, he is blind and hardly moves;
- He is wounded and there is no veterinary clinic in your area or it is very far away.
Taking a nestling into your care is Friend, a big responsibility.
When and what does the nestling eat?
Nestlings have a very fast metabolism: this means that the food they eat is digested instantly. Give food to the nestling You have to give from dawn to dusk: approximately from six in the morning to ten in the evening. You have to feed often – every 15-20 minutes. That is, up to 65 times a day! Now imagine how the parent birds have to work hard to find food for the baby.
A hungry nestling becomes weak immediately. So don’t waste time and feed your ward as soon as possible.
- boiled eggs
- floury crustaceans
- zoophobic
- crickets
- caterpillars
- butterflies
- flies
- beetles
Note. Nestlings should not be fed bread, milk, or seeds. Colorado beetles, ladybugs, and furry caterpillars are dangerous for them.
For the little nestling, food should be crushed and brought to the beak with tweezers. And if he refuses to eat, you have to feed him with a syringe without a needle. To do this, the food should be well-milled and add a few drops of water, if the mixture was dry.
In other cases, the nestling does not need to give water. The main thing is a varied diet: it should contain not only dry food (crickets, cockroaches) but also wet food (worms, caterpillars).
If you care about a chick and you don’t have enough time to study, you can always write and ask professionals to write my essay.
Related Reading
Setting up a nest for a nestling
You probably want to make the best house for the tiny nestling – small and cozy. But what he needs is not a pretty, but just a warm place.
- What do you need for this?
- A cardboard box with sides not less than 10 cm high.
- A plastic or wooden bowl.
- Paper towels.
- Sawdust.
- Pieces of cloth.
If you don’t have a regular cardboard box, you have an unwanted box that once contained shoes. It will be perfect for setting up a nest in which a nestling can settle. In a box put a small bowl. Fill it with sawdust, hay, and scraps of cloth. Or you can just line it with white paper napkins or towels. The nestling will feel nice, warm, and soft in the nest.
Pay attention! Do not cover the nest with absorbent cotton. Nor is knitting thread suitable, as it can easily entangle the nestling and injure a leg or wing. Never make a nest with fresh grass and leaves – the nestling will be cold on them.
I’m sure the nest was easy for you! But that’s not all. For the nestling to feel as comfortable as possible, You must provide special conditions for it.
The nestling must be warm. You need to maintain the same temperature in the nest. The optimal temperature is 35 degrees Celsius: You will need a thermometer to monitor this.
- Fill an airtight plastic zip-top bag with warm water and place a nesting box on top of it.
- Pour warm water into a plastic bottle, wrap it with cloth or paper towels, and place it near the nest box.
- Place the box on an electric heating pad, setting it to a minimum temperature.
Every week the temperature can be lowered by three degrees until the nestling gets used to the room temperature.
The nest box should not be left out in a draught. The nestling is still too young and its body cannot store heat. Therefore, the baby is very sensitive to both low and high temperatures.
Do not make noise where the nestling is. He is afraid of loud noises. This can provoke stress, dangerous for the nestling’s health.
Tips for taking good care of your nestling
- Do not disturb the nestling unnecessarily: do not take it in your hands and do not stroke it. He does not like it.
- Wear gloves if you are going to touch the bird: it can carry infections. And be sure to wash your hands with soap and water afterward.
3 Don’t move the bird from one place to another, even if you think he is uncomfortable.
- 4. Make sure you feed him regularly, not more often than every 15 minutes, and not less often than every 25 to 30 minutes.
- Change the napkins in the nest as often as you feed the nestling. Just when you see that they are dirty and wet, bed them with new ones.
- Don’t look at the nestling from above: this way it will perceive You as a predator.
- Don’t put the nest box up high, because when the nestling gets a little older, it may fly out and fall.
Remember that a nestling that has grown in your home will no longer be able to return to its natural environment. Therefore, you will have to keep it with you.
But always remember that you don’t have to take the nestling home if it is not in danger. It will be better off in its own, natural home.