Help please - Baby sparrow out of nest

kleefarr

The kids were in the garden and started screaming something about a bird. On going to investigate, I found a baby sparrow lying at the bottom of the drain pipe.
I did notice earlier that a couple of fully grown sparrows were flying up and down the garden frantically. I guessed the baby sparrow had got out of the next and fallen down the drain pipe. :eek:
It was lying upside down, but was still moving and giving the occasional chirp.
I went in and put a rubber glove on, remembering that human smell would probably mean the end for the poor little bugger.
I picked it up and put it in a cut down box with some paper (oh, and a brick at the bottom) then placed it on our garden wall next to a bush..

I watched for a while and could still hear it chirping. A little while later the two grown sparrows came back. At first they weren't sure what was going on or where the chirping was coming from. They flew off after a while.
I placed a small amount of wet bread in the box and noticed that the baby sparrow had moved to a corner of the box under some paper.
Then the other sparrows came back and have since fed the baby one a couple of times and been in the box.

One of them actually flew down a sat next to me.

What do I do now? I guess it's not the safest place to leave the little critter.
Haven't got a tall ladder to try and get it back in the roof.

Any ideas?

Kevin

kleefarr

They are still feeding it, so it hasn't been abondoned.

netman

You're handling it really well, the glove and the wet bread were excellent ideas.

If they are still feeding it then things are looking well. I hope someone replies with a tall enough ladder to put the lad back in the nest.

Otherwise, any place within reach of a human would also be within reach of a cat = bad idea. You could go off and get a birdhouse and put it up as high as you can on the outside wall or somewhere in the garden.

Here's a link that will hopefully be helpful:
http://www.silverdawnrabbitry.com/Sparrow%20Page.htm

These people managed to raise a baby sparrow that fell out of a nest, they fed it a formula until it was big enough to eat seeds and eventually fly off.

Could be quite an interesting experience for the kids too.

netman

There's plenty of links on that page, including the recipe for bird formula, feeding etc.

I'm sure someone will call it crazy, but I think it's sweet.

Otherwise, something like this would do:
http://cgi.ebay.ie/bird-nest-box_W0QQitemZ7770344647QQcategoryZ75579QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

It's a link to a page on ebay, but I'm sure there's plenty of similar items in garden centres etc.

kleefarr

netman wrote:

There's plenty of links on that page, including the recipe for bird formula, feeding etc.

I'm sure someone will call it crazy, but I think it's sweet.

Otherwise, something like this would do:
http://cgi.ebay.ie/bird-nest-box_W0QQitemZ7770344647QQcategoryZ75579QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

It's a link to a page on ebay, but I'm sure there's plenty of similar items in garden centres etc.

Wife's not to keen on the rearing idea.
Was thinking we could bring it in when we go to bed and put it back out when we get up.
Maybe get a bird box tomorrow.

netman

You can try that, depending on how young they are it could be able to eat food on it's own. It's definitely safer inside overnight.

kleefarr

It looks about the same age as the one in the link, the first pics.

YeAh!

And then, maybe, you can teach it how to fly....just like in "Fly Away Home"!!

Just joking mate, think what you are doing is great! Heres another helpful website for caring for birds.

kleefarr

Brought it in for the night. Couldn't see it, so assume that it has buried itself into the paper for the night. Have put it in the spare room where it's nice an warm.

Will give an update tomorrow.

Li'l Irish

If the parents are still feeding it, the best thing to do would be to leave it where they can still reach it. It sounds like you're doing a great job so far!

kleefarr

Woke up at 8. Took the box downstairs. I was a bit surprised when I didn't hear any chirping.
I thought I would see if it wanted anything to eat before I put it back out.
I carefully unwrapped the paper... nothing there. Gone!
Wasn't in the bedroom. Can hear the adults calling outside, but not sure if I can hear a response.
I was keeping a close eye on it yesterday. Checked every few minutes to see that things were ok. No sign of any cat and made sure the crows didn't get to close.
I don't know where it went. I didn't think that it would have been strong or old enough to get out of the box. ???
Will listen out later today just Incas I hear anything.

I failed.

YeAh!

Failed!? Hardly! You done more than what most would have done certainly. It'll probably show up again soon..

eiretamicha

YeAh! wrote:

Failed!? Hardly! You done more than what most would have done certainly. It'll probably show up again soon..

I agree 100%!! Don't be so hard on yourself! You did the best you could!

kleefarr

Thanks guys.

I just felt a bit deflated after it seemed that things were going well.
It can't have been in the box when I brought it in last night. I thought it had buried itself in the paper and was asleep, so I didn't want to disturb it.
Thought it was a bit strange when I couldn't hear anything in the morning.
I can hear the adults calling, so I guess it must have been taken by something. Strange though, because I kept an eye on it every few minutes and if it had been a crow then I thought I would have heard something.
Ah well. Better luck next time.