Question:This immature bird (probably female by markings, young but not a baby) has shown up in my all cement courtyard at work. There is some lawn furniture for shade. Some older birds (parents?) have been hanging around chirpping at her. I keep water and seeds out there for her. She can fly. She flies about 20-30 feet, but doesn't get much elevation. Do I have her moved out or just wait for her to fly out on her own?
Answers:
If she is flying, but not getting much elevation, she is a fledgling. Baby birds fledge (leave the nest) several days before they can fly. They need to hop around on the ground and climb low branches until their wings strengthen enough for flight. The parent birds continue to feed and care for the fledglings until they are self-sufficient.
Once she has mastered flight (give her a few more days), she will fly off with her parents.
If it appears that she is injured, or not getting enough to eat, you can contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. You can find one here: http://www.tc.umn.edu/~devo0028/contact.
I'd leave her there, as long as she is able to eat and survive, it would be best for her to learn to fly on her own instead of moving her.
Thats like so many star trek episodes. That is the quintessential moral dilemma. What you decide to do or not do defines you as a person. Good luck finding your own way!
Wait for her to fly on her own. You said her parents are there, chirping her on, so she seems to be "trying out her wings". You also said you're providing food and water, so she might want to linger a little longer than she should, owing to the fact that food is provided and she doesn't have to scavenge for it.
Unless there are obvious problems with her there, or her health is in immediate danger, just admire from a distance and let nature do it's thing.
I would see if there is a animal rescue place that would help the bird in case it is hurt. Or call a local vet and see if he has info on a rescue place for birds and help the bird.
if she doesn't know how to fly yet, then she is still quite young...if you touch her and get ur smell on her, she will be rejected by her parents. Just let nature take its course, and she should be fine...
I say to leave it there, too. Even if the parents get to it, they couldn't get it back into the nest. Depending on the type of bird, it may need worms, not just seed to survive.
What breed are the "parents"? Maybe you can see what their diet is and put some of that out there. When it's ready, it will fly away and join the flock.
Well I would either call animal control or wait for the mother bird to take care of it.
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