baby black bird

[lynneclayton]

Some sparrows have thrown a baby black bird from its nest in my roof and the mother hasnt come back. I have it in the boiler room to keep it warm and I have been feeding it on bread dipped in warm milk. Its eyes are open and it has some feathers and fluff. Please advise on how I can help it to survive. Many Thanks. Lynne

[Cowgirl]

Hi Lynne, welcome to WAB & well done for trying to help. I'm sure an expert will come along soon to support you.

I'm not sure but, I don't think bread is very good for baby (learnt this from here). There are a lot of threads about rescuing baby birds on here. If you can't get it back in its nest I'm sure a wildlife rescue centre will help. Whereabouts in the country are you?

In the meantime some worms from the garden will be much appreciated by it.

[werdnal]

Do not give milk either - birds cannot digest it.

Dog or cat food, not fish varieties, mashed up with water is better, or you can get live mealworms from pet shops. Blackbirds eat worms, slugs and insects so a meat based diet is best.

Rearing baby birds is a specialised business and they need feeding more or less constantly, so always best to pass onto a wildlife rescue centre if possible.

[posie]

Find out your nearest wildlife rescue centre in case you need to pass him on to them

[lynneclayton]

I live in Spain so finding a wildlife centre is going to be easy, I dont speak spanish yet. Thanks for your reply.

[lynneclayton]

If I give it worms out of the garden should I mush them up to a sort of paste.

[lynneclayton]

Sorry I meant to say "finding a wildlife centre is NOT going to be easy"

Thanks for your suggestions - much appreciated.

[RKB]

Are you sure it hasn't fledged naturally? They fledge very early, well before they can fly and with a tiny stubby tail. Can it stand on its own or does it lay on its belly? If the former, then it is probably a natural fledgling. In which case take it back out immediately and put it in the nearest bit of thick vegetation (on or off the ground) within about 20 yards. Its parents will find it through calling, and it will be none the worse.

[lynneclayton]

No it cant stand up yet, I saw the sparrows pull it from the nest and it fell from the roof. It scurries about, but it's head lolls now and again and it sometimes ends upside down. It doesn't cry or make a sound. It's mother hasn't come back it's been over days now and she was never out of the garden before for less than a few minutes. The sparrows have taken over the nest and are carrying out a refurbishment. There is know where safe I could put it outside, we have a lot of wild cats about and it doen't appear to be able to feed itself yet.

[Cowgirl]

Originally Posted by lynneclayton

If I give it worms out of the garden should I mush them up to a sort of paste.

Hmm don't know, but parents don't, I would chop them up if I were you. Gosh, I didn't realise Spanish sparrows were such thugs! Hope someone else can give you some details about Spanish rescue centres. Good luck!