help! There seem to be two 'chicks' in my yard, but no parents..

13 years ago

I get a good number of birds at my feeders....mourning dove, cardinals, finches, sparrows etc

Today I saw two small birds and thought 'how cute...i've never seen that type before..." I then thought it very odd that, when I decided to try and take photos, neither of them moved when I got close. They both stayed on the ground.

Mind you they are both alert and moving about, but I've never seen birds just sitting there when you are just 3' away and crouched down taking photos! But then upon further inspection...I'm quite sure they are er...what do you call them...when they've recently flown from the nest....?

Anyway, I suspect they can fly ok as I'm pretty sure I saw them on the fence, before they were on the ground. So it's not like they just 'fell' from their nest. But nonetheless it's odd that they are just 'sitting there' and not seemingly scared of me. Nor do I see a parent in sight.

should I be concerned for them? I guess there's nothing I can do, can I?

Tx!

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Comments (5)

Lynn Nevins
Original Author
13 years ago
anyway, a bit later I saw a parent....looked like a Euro Starling perhaps? I saw her(?) feeding one of the little ones that was on the ground. But here's the thing...I then saw the mother fly away. Didn't notice the little one she'd been feeding fly away but...I don't see him in that location anymore either.

But there is still one remaining on the ground, sort of behind some brush. He's been there at least 20 mins now. I occasionally see him open his mouth the way babies do...and one time I saw him open up his wings.... but I don't hear him making any sounds or chirps...I wonder if the mother will 'remember' or know to come back for him...call to him...if he'll be able to fly back to the her? As mentioned, he didn't look like he 'fell' from the nest so I don't think he's totally helpless...but perhaps not a pro at flying either...

I did put some berries and seeds by him but he doesn't seem to be eating them....

Tx!

Here is a link that might be useful: birds
Lynn Nevins
Original Author
13 years ago
ok thankfully I did see the mother come back again..she got food from my feeders, and then went over to the baby and fed him a few times. Then she flew away again.

Meanwhile he's been in the exact same spot on the ground, somewhat hidden near a fence. He's staying put but I can see him occasionally making an 'attempt' to fly. He's also opening his mouth now and then for food but making no sounds.

Is this common/normal for fledglings? How will he eventually get back to the nest? If he does not might he just remain there until he can figure out how to fly on his own, and his mom will just keep coming back and feeding him?

Tx!
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lisa11310
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The baby will not go back to the nest , and YES MOM knows it's there. The parents will be watching over it and feeding it. It may just need a day or two to get up in the trees. The parents will giude it to a safe place under cover till it can fly, sounds like it is just about ready to take off and that it is where the parents want it to be. All you can do is give them space and be on the lookout for preditors (like cats). I am sure the baby has instructions to stay put and be quiet.
Lynn Nevins
Original Author
13 years ago
thank you..i think he's gonna be ok. i saw the mother yet again, and this time I heard her making noises and the baby 'replying'....then he saw the mother nearby...she flew up into the trees and he then headed in that same direction, although he didn't fly UP into the trees...he sort of hopped up/flew up a teeny bit, from spot to spot....
feather_z9_ncacoast
13 years ago
First, it was probably the father bird (mom's more than likely sitting on a new batch of eggs), and second - why are we worrying about European Starlings? *shaking my head*

Third, Papa *will* either lure this youngster away, or leave it. Why do I sound so calloused? Well, your photos show an obviously unfit baby European Starling...something's not quite right about it. If it does fly off with Papa, it will be OK.

help! There seem to be two 'chicks' in my yard, but no parents..

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Lynn Nevins
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Lynn Nevins
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help! There seem to be two 'chicks' in my yard, but no parents..

Comments (5)

Lynn NevinsOriginal Author

Lynn NevinsOriginal Author

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lisa11310

Lynn NevinsOriginal Author

feather_z9_ncacoast

COMPANY

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Lynn Nevins
Original Author

Lynn Nevins
Original Author

Lynn Nevins
Original Author