HELP - male sparrow calling for female, chicks in attic*******

miaverline · #1 (**permalink**) 25-04-2011, 05:19 PM

Please help, today was in the garden, heard a commotion and on the roof was a couple of jackdaws and about 4 sparrows, one jackdaw had something in its claws, i thought a baby sparrow, and took off, this was a few hours ago. Know now the chicks are not out of nest - they are in my eaves, and the male is constantly calling for her, she has vanished, so am presuming jackdaw took the female adult. It is heartbreaking to see. A seagull was also on the roof and chased the jackdaw with the sparrow. Really dont think the sparrow has survived. Am concerned about chicks, will the male abandon the nest, and is there anything i can do to help, he is not feeding them just calling for his mate, I have food, water out seed and nutty bread in milk, peanuts and fat balls, have had sparrows nesting in eaves for about 4 years now, dont think they will come back now, am worried as the jackdaws are on the roof chasing him also. am sure they are waiting for the chicks to come out.

Kayleigh · #2 (**permalink**) 25-04-2011, 09:43 PM

Its nature the jackdaw possibly have chicks to feed and there is nothing you can do anyway.
Still is distressing but they have to live too..

Deb London · #3 (**permalink**) 26-04-2011, 05:51 AM

I thought this story sounded familiar:

female sparrow taken by jackdaw, has chicks, male calling her

I agree with Kayleigh. Life seems harsh, but that's the way it is.

To give the male a hand, he could be offered live mealworms, as it is my understanding that the chicks will feed on those, and they are readily available to buy.

But please resign yourself to the fact that you could ultimately be feeding the Jackdaw. Sometimes it is the shock of discovering these types of event that makes things twice as distressing. If you become more philosophical and resigned to the realities of nature, it will make it all just that bit easier for you.

miaverline · #4 (**permalink**) 26-04-2011, 01:27 PM

thank u, he is sticking around, no sign of female, and he is still distressed :-(

Kayleigh · #5 (**permalink**) 26-04-2011, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by miaverline

thank u, he is sticking around, no sign of female, and he is still distressed :-(

Aww..I dont know if he will raise the young ones but he will pair up again its nature..
Painful to witness the same happened to me with a magpie and blackbirds..
horrid things at the time but they all have to survive..