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Question about fledging
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Posted by sjp_in_pa (My Page) on Sat, Jul 11, 09 at 16:07
| Hi all,
Four out of our five babies fledged yesterday morning. One baby remains in the nest. Mom/dad are still returning to feed the baby but I don't see much flapping of wings or trying to get out of the box. Is it very unusual for there to be such a long time (over 24 hours now) for the last one to fledge. I hope he is OK. I hear him and on occasion he will peek out, but not real often. Will the parents stop feeding if he is sick or hurt in some way? I worry a lot! |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Question about fledging
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| I think the baby will be OK, but keep watching! It is not unusual for some to fledge one day, and the rest to fledge the next day...then again, some pop out of the box so quickly, you miss it if you blink! The first time I ever had bbs nesting last year, 2 fledged about 4 pm and 3 were still in the box. I was certain the parents had forgotten about the other 3, as they quit feeding them! The forum assured me they were fine, and sure enough by daylight the next day, they were gone. Sometimes the parents will withhold food trying to coax them out. I probably haven't been much help since there's just one left, so maybe an expert will chime in. I bet everything is just fine...keep us posted. Donna |
RE: Question about fledging
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Hi SIP! If your baby is not out by tomorrow morning I would be concerned. It is being fed right now so Mom and Dad have not given up on it. When you see the baby at the hole and Mom and Dad witholding food, maybe going to the hole with a worm and leaving, you will know it's time to watch. I'ts not unusual for there to be a day between fledgings. To be safe I would suggest locating a rehabber in your area. You will have a choice to make. If the parents stop feeding and it does not leave there is something wrong...you can intervene and get the baby to a rehabber or let nature take it's course. I had the sad experiance of watching 3 baby TRES starve to death in the box this year, trying to fledge. The single parent stoped feeding and after 2 days they died. 3 did fledge though. Did the parent chose to do this? Should I have interviened? At this point I will say I wish I would have. Some say our job is to do nothing more than to provide safe housing. I suggest contacting a rehabber or at least securing a phone number for one. Do you have live meal worms? I hope by this writing your baby has left the box. Please let us know whats going on...someone will be here to help you.
Donna....you have been such a gret addition to this forum..thanks for your help! |
RE: Question about fledging
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| He is still in the nestbox and he is still being fed by both mom and dad. Yes, I do feed live mealworms. And I think I feed them pretty well...lol. I just read on the Sialis site that sometimes the runt will not fledge until one or even two days after the others have gone. I'll try to remain calm and not worry. He just sounds so lonely out there. And mom and dad are both pretty busy with their other 4 babies. I'll let you know what happens. I do feel though that sometimes it's best to let nature take its course. |
RE: Question about fledging
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| SIP I am not disagreeing with you, but it still haunts me that maybe I could have done something, it's still hard for me to look at the box. If your little guy is not out by tomorow morning I would at least take a look to be sure it's not cought on somethig. Worst thing that can happen is it will have a chance to get to the outside world to decide it's fate. HOWEVER I bet it will be gone when you check! Baby birdy prayers to it. Please let us know what you find. |
RE: Question about fledging
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| I too would check tomorrow to make sure the baby isn't caught on something. Someone on this forum had a Chickadee baby that had its foot caught in nesting material, it too didn't fledge with the others. They had to take it in and soak it to get the stuff off. Good luck, hopefully it will fledge in the morning. Thankfully you know it is being fed, that is great!! Donna |
RE: Question about fledging
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| Morning all, Well, he is still there this morning. I put mealies out and mom took some in to him. I hear him so I know he's alive. I did check on him a couple of times the last 2 day and he had moved his position but I will go out (as soon as I put some clothes on) and actually lift him up, I guess, to make sure he's not caught. I don't know what else to do. I can try to call a rehaber today but if they are like everyone else these days, I'll just get a message machine and no one will ever call me back. Say a prayer for the little guy. |
RE: Question about fledging
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| I went out to check him this morning. He is not tangled in the nest in anyway. He was scared but I lifted him up and made sure he was clear. He appears to be big and healthy. But if something is broken I wouldn't know. Today will be two full days since the others fledged. I'm going to wait it out some more. |
RE: Question about fledging
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| Wow, well I am glad he is getting fed, that takes the urgency out of it. Please do call a rehabber. I will see if I can find Elly. Also go to the www.sialis.org scroll down to "contact us" and send an e mail to Bet...she is very good at returning e mails and she may have some suggestions.I also sent a shout out to Malinda, I am sure she will jump in here when she gets it. You can try http://www.tc.umn.edu/~devo0028/contact.htm to find a rheabber in your area. I want to say he will just go when he's ready but I think he would have "fear fledged" if he was going anywhere soon. Good luck and keep us posted. |
RE: Question about fledging
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| Glad to hear it wasn't tangled in anything. Wow, can't believe it didn't fledge after you picked it up and all. Someone else on here this year had a blind baby Bluebird, wonder if this could be the problem here or not. Good luck, I sure hope he is ok. Donna |
RE: Question about fledging
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| Lisa, exactly what does a rehabber do? Would I have to take the bird somewhere? |
RE: Question about fledging
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| While not a vet, a rehabber is licensed to assess the birds health, diagnose what is wrong and get it the proper treatment. Most work with an avian vet. If it is treatable, such as a broken wing,conjuntivitis, etc. they will care for the bird with proper diet and treatment until it can be released. There is a heartwarming story of a baby that needed several weeks of rehab. It was returned to it's birthplace and before it even left the cage its Mother and siblings were there to greet it. Maybe somebody can repost those pics? If there is one near enough to you they may want to come out and do the assessment there, or you may have to take it to them. There is no cost but a contribution is alway welcome as they pay for supplies out of their own pocket. Keep us up to date I have been checking in every few hours. |
RE: Question about fledging
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| Thanks Lisa. I've been watching the birdhouse most of the afternoon. He's calling for his mom and dad. And he actually got up on the ledge opening (I have the sparrow resistant nest box...which has always been successful for me) for a little bit once or twice. That's encouraging but still he doesn't do it often and he then drops out of sight. He's still being fed by the parents, although I don't know how often they should be feeding him. Am I correct to think if there was something wrong with him, wouldn't the parents know that and stop feeding? Just a thought. Mother Nature is pretty amazing. |
RE: Question about fledging
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Hey -- Thanks for the IM about the bluebird nestling -- I can't log in to Garden Web for some reason, and haven't been able to for some time now. ANYWAY -- I could read the post. The poster says the baby was up in the opening looking out, calling out, and was not tangled in nest material. In addition, both parents are feeding. I would let it go, at least another day, I think. UNLESS they look and see that there is a lot of blowfly - one baby is vulnerable to an infestation, since he/she would be the only food source in the nest. They should be able to check the nest for blowfly, since they lifted the baby up and it did not fledge earlier in the day. In fact, I would go check for blowfly while the adults are watching me (probably having a fit at this stage in the nesting) and IF the baby DID fledge while looking for the blowfly, the parents would see it -- and it could hardly be called a PREMATURE fledging if it's nestmates went two days ago. Did they mention if this was a late hatching egg? Maybe that's the case and this kid is right on schedule. Hopefully, it will go on its own -- AND SOON!
Malinda |
RE: Question about fledging
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| Just a quick update. Little guy is still in his nest. However, he is peeking out more often. I've been putting out extra mealies and whistling for mom to come feed him and she does. I got an email from Bet at Sialis and basically she said not to panic until Day 21. So I feel better and I'm just waiting and watching. I saw no blowflies when I lifted him out. Would they be very visible? As far as hatching goes, they all hatched the same day. I'm pretty sure of that, although one may have been very late in the day. Also, FYI, I did try to call a wildlife rehabber. The number was no longer in service. The next closest one to me was not accepting any new patients. So that's not going to happen. Thanks to all of you for your help and encouragement. I'll let you know. I have a feeling today might be the day. Today will be 3 full days after the others fledged. |
RE: Question about fledging
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| Hi, It sounds like he is a Younger Child. Since he is perching, it seems to be going in the right direction. I agree; I was afraid he was tangled in string or something. But I bet he's out by now. I know many rehabbers who are very dedicated and helpful. They are usually people like yourself inundated with dozens, maybe hundred of injured and baby birds that they care for out of their own pocket. I guess there are all kinds. |
RE: Question about fledging
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| Thank goodness...he finally left. This morning at 7:45. I didn't see him fledge but my husband did. I'm just so happy right now. Thanks again to everyone. |
RE: Question about fledging
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| That's great news! What a relief to know the little one made it. Donna |
RE: Question about fledging
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| YYYYEEEEEE HHHAAAAAAA! Thrilling news! We have all learned something. I have never heard of a baby taking that much longer than the siblings. Another one for my books! Thank you for caring enough to come in and ask questions, you did a great job! |
RE: Question about fledging
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| What wonderful news!! So glad to hear he finally fledged! Donna |
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