amber@scott.stat.washington.edu (Amber Tatnall) (08/02/89)
Apologies to David Mark! I'm a new bird on my life list -- a Rufous-cheeked
Goose. Well, maybe we've all seen or been one of those! In any case, there
are things to be learned in this world. Maybe you all can help me with
another one:
It seems to be that time of year when friends who know I birdwatch ask me
about young (!) birds who "fall" out of the nest. These birds usually have
feathers, they are not injured, and the parents still are very much
interested in them, since they get upset when a human approaches. I have
heard that this is the parents' way of getting the bird to fly. Does anyone
know if this is the usual way that birds are taught to fly?
I have also heard of cases where well-meaning humans have rescued the young
bird and then, on calling their local Audubon Society, have released them.
The parents do not reject the bird. Is it a myth that a parent bird will
reject a baby bird that has been touched by a human?
___
/ *\
| <
\_ _/
/))) \
/))))/ \ Look!! On the wire! It's a bird!
|)))/ |
|))/ |
/ \ _ /
/ / / \
/_/ / \ Amber Tatnall, Seattle, Washington
=====^=======^======= amber@scott.ms.biostat.washington.eduking@cbnewsk.ATT.COM (joyce.l.king) (08/05/89)
> It seems to be that time of year when friends who know I birdwatch ask me > about young (!) birds who "fall" out of the nest. These birds usually have > feathers, they are not injured, and the parents still are very much > interested in them, since they get upset when a human approaches. I have > heard that this is the parents' way of getting the bird to fly. Does anyone > know if this is the usual way that birds are taught to fly? > > I have also heard of cases where well-meaning humans have rescued the young > bird and then, on calling their local Audubon Society, have released them. > The parents do not reject the bird. Is it a myth that a parent bird will > reject a baby bird that has been touched by a human? > > Yes, it is a myth that a parent bird will reject a baby bird that has been touched by a human. It is NOT a myth that a cat will kill a baby bird that is on the ground. If it's fully feathered, and on the ground and not flying, it makes sense to gently pick it up and put it in a tree or tall bush. If the parents are trying to make it fly (and they often do this by withholding food and then forcing the baby to fly to them or to the food), you won't be interferring that much. If the baby has fallen from the nesting tree and can't get off the ground because it is too young, you may well save it from a predator. The parents will feed it if they can find it, even if it isn't at the original nesting site, and even if they have others still in the nest. Joyce Andrews King (From the Florida Keys via the miracle of modern communications) volunteer staff member, Florida Keys Wild Bird Rehabilitation Center