(no subject)

[lizzybennet]

Another baby bird fell out of the nest. This time it was dead when I found it. I pushed it off the sidewalk and into the bushes and then got into the car. As I was sitting there, about to drive away, the mama bird flew back to the nest (which is located under the spanish tiles on our roof). I watched her for a few moments. She poked her head back out and started looking all around. I expected her to fly to the ground to look for her baby, but she didn't she just kept looking and looking. Part of me was mad at her (irrational, I know!) for building her nest there in the first place. What an unsafe spot to pick! I took a good look at her so that I could try and identify what species she is.

When I got home from my errand, I did a google image search and found her right away. She is a cactus wren. What in the heck is she doing building a nest under roof tiles, hmmm? Her species claim to fame is building nests in CACTUS...thus the name CACTUS wren. It turns out they are an endangered species. I found another website that offered additional advice on what to do if you find a baby bird. I found it very interesting to learn that you should always try and put them back in the nest (this is a featherless, helpless bird. Not one that's hopping around.) Apparently birds have a very poor sense of smell. I'd always been told that if a human handled a bird the parents will abandon it. This is completely false.

I stumbled across another website that was a study of cactus wrens done in the 1950's. It said that the wrens are ready to leave the nest at about 3 weeks old. They can leave the nest, but they aren't ready to be on completely on their own for several more months. Then it went on to describe how involved the parents are in teaching their babies to fly and forage for food. I assumed the bird would just start flying and would know how to find food instinctively. Wrong again. Another website I read said baby birds should be fed every 15 minutes, morning and night. Wow. I've so not been doing that. Poor little birdy.

So after all this research I decided that it was time to call the wildlife rescue center here in Tucson. I've left a message for them and hopefully they'll be calling back soon. I know the boys will be sad to see the baby go. They really love it, but I just don't think we're cut out for raising it, as much as we'd like to. Plus we'll be leaving in 3 months. It won't be ready to be on its own by then. I want to give this bird a fighting chance and I think its best chance lies with the wildlife rescuers.

Comments

[sunrise0124.livejournal.com]

Another bird fell? how sad. Yeah I agree that that was probably a good idea to call the wildlife rescuers.

Now I'm going to have to see what it says about those birds. We don't really see those. We usually only see wood peckers at my house.

How does it feel to be done with school for the semester?

[mysteena.livejournal.com]

It feels AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!