My 3 babies were in the house cavity last night. I put one back in there last evening and I guess the other two returned on their own. This morning, two left and the little one stayed on the porch. The swarm of martins returned and he tried to follow, flew about 12 ft and went to the ground. I put him back on top of the house but the grownups were not being nice to him, trying to push him off. Evidently his mom and dad have not stayed around to defend him or feed him. I guess there's no tolerance for a small bird that doesnt learn as quickly as the others.
I took him to my house, fixed a box for him and put him in a small bird cage. He hung on the back porch while my husband and I worked in the yard. He sat on the roost but would not gape for me. I tried whistling but to no avail. I had to carefully pry his mouth open. I periodically fed him mealworms and crickets all day. It is now 6pm and he is opening his mouth for me. Thank goodness! He doesn't gape, he really snatches at the food, which is good.
I am going to put him back into the martin house tonight after 7pm or so, for bedtime. Maybe his brothers will come back also. Tomorrow he can try to fly again. Surely he'll be able to do it before long. I feel strongly that he needs to be associated with the martin house and the other birds. I have raised lots of baby birds and all have been able to leave successfully, even the ones that got a slow start.
update...They're baaaack
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Guest
Please tell us what happends tomorrow. I am interested to see how it turns out.
thanks
sharon
thanks
sharon
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Guest
My heart broke a little this morning when I found my baby dead and cold in the martin house. I had once again put him in there last evening to let him sleep with his mom and family who return each night.
He seemed ok yesterday. I let him practice flying..with no success at all and he ate crickets and a few meal worms. His appetite was good and he was enthusiastic.
I have no clue what was wrong with him. Something was not right. Maybe thats why his mother stopped feeding him and why she would try so hard to shove him off the porch. Nature has its ways I guess.
I tried to find a Wildlife Habitat yesterday and there is nothing here in our area. The vet gave me a number for a woman who was 70 miles away but she could not offer me much advice. Martins are a whole different ball game.
Maybe next year will be better....
Ann in TX
He seemed ok yesterday. I let him practice flying..with no success at all and he ate crickets and a few meal worms. His appetite was good and he was enthusiastic.
I have no clue what was wrong with him. Something was not right. Maybe thats why his mother stopped feeding him and why she would try so hard to shove him off the porch. Nature has its ways I guess.
I tried to find a Wildlife Habitat yesterday and there is nothing here in our area. The vet gave me a number for a woman who was 70 miles away but she could not offer me much advice. Martins are a whole different ball game.
Maybe next year will be better....
Ann in TX
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abernathys
- Posts: 220
- Joined: Tue Jul 06, 2004 8:40 am
- Location: maxwell/texas
Ann-I'm so sorry to hear about your baby.
Every year I plan on losing at least one baby to reasons unknown. You still had babies that fledged, so please just think about the good, they will be back next year. I lost one this year that just couldn't fly as well as the others and the single males would knock him to the ground constantly, I found him dead one morning after his first day of trying to fly. It is so sad. You did the best you could for him... Hang in there!
Sandy
Every year I plan on losing at least one baby to reasons unknown. You still had babies that fledged, so please just think about the good, they will be back next year. I lost one this year that just couldn't fly as well as the others and the single males would knock him to the ground constantly, I found him dead one morning after his first day of trying to fly. It is so sad. You did the best you could for him... Hang in there!
Sandy
PM lover