help - baby birds!

spottydog · #1 (**permalink**) 05-08-2009, 04:05 PM

Help - I've been renovating our pond for the last 3 days and today attacked the 12 year old cotoneaster bush. Having hacked away for 3 hours and got to the last few thick branches in the centre I found a nest with 3 baby birds in it! They have not fledged and eyes are still closed but every move of the bush and they were gaping for food. In a panic I covered it over with as many of the cut leafy branches of bush as I could as it was now totally exposed, and beat a hasty retreat. I feel awful as I had made sure (I thought) that the nesting season was well over before I started work on this job. I think it may be robins or sparrows as they go into it a lot. I've left it alone for nearly an hour now and have seen the robin under the bush so hopefully she will go back.
Any thing else I should do? When should I intervene? - how will I know if they've been abandoned without disturbing them any more!?
In a bit of a panic!
Leona

valleyforge · #2 (**permalink**) 05-08-2009, 04:49 PM

Hi Leona ... welcome to the forum.

You should leave them well alone for a couple of hours, as your further presence will deter the parents from returning.

It's not unusual for birds to have second broods in a season and this is clearly the case here.

The main problem really is that birds are much more likely to abandon eggs or newly hatched nestlings, than they are with youngsters that they have already invested a lot of time and effort with ... so you will need to keep watch from a distance for the next few hours to see if the parents return and the wee birds are being fed.

If there is no sign of the parents before it starts to get dark, then I'm afraid that you'll need to retrieve the nest, bring it indoors, and keep the nestlings warm.

You'd then need to determine if you can be a surrogate parent to them ... which means feeding every 15-20mins during daylight hours (0530hrs to 2030hrs) for the next 2-3 weeks!

If not then you must contact your local wildlife rescue group to see if they can help.

spottydog · #3 (**permalink**) 05-08-2009, 05:33 PM

Thanks - I'm off for a peek.
Would she be sitting on them/brooding them overnight?
Leona

valleyforge · #4 (**permalink**) 05-08-2009, 06:46 PM

Yes ... at this stage the mother bird will sit on the nest overnight to keep the brood warm and dry.

Let us know what happens so we can support you further if need be?

spottydog · #5 (**permalink**) 05-08-2009, 09:28 PM

The babies were still active at 7.00pm and I saw the robin again so fingers crossed. The robins are used to us being around so hope they'll cope with the disruption. I put more covering branches over the top to hide them from the magpies and crows. Let's hope I don't have a nasty shock tomorrow. Feeling very guilty - it's the last thing I wanted to happen. Is it usual to have such a late brood?
Thanks for your help and support.
Leona

FUDGEY · #6 (**permalink**) 05-08-2009, 11:06 PM

Don't worry the robin won't abandon them, the biggest danger is predation. Cover the nest as good as you can, but don't over do it. Make sure the parents have access in & out & everything will be fine. It's very rare for a bird to abandon chicks as long as both adults are healthy. Don't beat yourself up about it, it's happened now & you have learnt a lesson for the future. Well done on coming on here to get advice. A lot of people would not have been so concerned, keep us updated on their progress please.

spottydog · #7 (**permalink**) 06-08-2009, 09:36 AM

Hi FUDGEY and valleyforge,
this morning's update ........
seen sparrows and robins in and out of the bush (what's left of it!) so still not 100% sure of the species of the babies. Crept up and had a peek a few minutes ago and was aghast to find one baby dead on the ground with a little blood beside it - either fell out or was thrown out. (Our great tit family did that the last 2 years when they had 3, they only kept 2 - heartbreaking to see, but I suppose makes sense to maximise resources) However there are still 2 in the nest and gaping at the least movement so must have been kept warm overnight as doubt they would have survived otherwise. Took the wee dead one away - eyes shut, no feathers but a very full tummy by the looks of it so looks like parents are still around. Going to leave them in peace all today and hope for the best.
Thanks for the help and support.
Leona

valleyforge · #8 (**permalink**) 06-08-2009, 10:03 AM

Thanks for the update Leona ... I'll be online here until 1800hrs anyway, and will look in again during the late evening, should you need any further advice on this.

spottydog · #9 (**permalink**) 06-08-2009, 07:32 PM

Hi all, been away all day so left in peace. A cautious peek tonight at 8pm showed something moving in the nest but didn't explore further in case it was Mum on the nest.
Fingers crossed!
Leona

spottydog · #10 (**permalink**) 07-08-2009, 08:59 AM

Just had a cautious look this morning - they seemed very still and unmoving, even at the movement of the branches. Either she's taught them to keep their heads down - or the worst has happened.
Feeling miserable.
L