Help.Baby Robin?
by admin
Filed under Feeding Backyard Birds
Ok, so Im in a predicament. Saw a cat climb into a tree and within minutes baby robins were on the ground..i was able to get one away from the cat. It has no injuries. I normally wouldnt have intervened, but it was soo sad. Anyway…my plan was to put the bird back in its nest. Well I tried that and that darn cat came back within a cpl of hrs, but i had been in the backyard reading and saw it happen. So, now i have a baby robin and I cant put it back in its original nest!!?? Been feeding it worms and have it inside now that it is nightime. This is not a fledgling, this is a nestling from what i gather…doesnt have all its feathers…
Can I put it in another tree in the same yard, possibly higher so the cat wont get it?? Should I nurse it out of harms way so it gets stronger, then do that…help??
- tngurl30
dont put it in another tree alone if u want it to live lol… it cant feed itself if it cant fly, and its mom wont take it back if shes still alive. also, other birds and the cat will probably find it and kill it
the best thing to do is keep it inside until it can fly then let it go.. and be sure the worms arent too big b/c they choke really easily (i rescued baby robins before and i had a problem with that)
Well, as far as I can see, there would be no point in putting it back in any of the trees because, if you’ve already touched the chick, then the parents won’t accept the baby. I think it would be best to nurse it yourself or contact a rehabilitation center or vet nearby to bring it to. Good luck!
-Lydia
The parents WILL take this bird back..the thought that they will not if it has been touched is an old wives tale and holds NO truth whatsoever..not sure why people don’t do their research instead of spouting off misinformation!! Birds have a very poorly developed sense of smell and will not care if their babies have been handled. I have handled literally hundreds of baby chicks in the nest to band them for my job and NEVER had a parent not accept it back. If you can manage to keep the cat out..you can replace the bird into the nest. Is this a stray or does the cat have an owner. If it has an owner tell them to keep the cat in and tell them the situation. Spray the cat with a hose everytime you see it in your yard. This will not harm it but deter it. If the cat keeps coming back your other alternative is to get the bird to a local wildlife rehab where it can be raised and released into the wild when it is old enough. Look here for a rehab near you:
Go to the above site, they have detailed explanations and a number to call to find a local center near you.