Facts about birds

[oakenguy]

This just in: pigeons who've just left the nest are ADORKABLE, big eyes and long neck and "how the heck did I get here?!?" expression. I've never seen a bird and thought "GEEK!" before, but the little guy I met this morning changed that.

I hope he'll be okay. I have no direct experience, but I imagine that in the time of your birdlife when your total flights number between 1 and 10, phrases like "easy prey" and "sharp learning curve" pop up a lot.

(That's right, btw, this WAS posted while I walked to work. IPhone and multitasking for the win!)

Posted via LiveJournal.app.

Comments

[breakinglight11.livejournal.com]

Awww! Pigeon-babies.

[majes.livejournal.com]

There was one such bird in my driveway this weekend - completely freaked out, yet unafraid of people. I got a stick, put it under him (which he then stood upon) and moved him out of the driveway. I didn't want to touch him in case he was still of the age in which he was seeing his parents for food (so my person-scent wouldn't be on him). He was gone an hour later - hopefully not into the belly of a local cat.

::puts on the wildlife rehab hat::

[sistahraven.livejournal.com]

For the record, birds don't care about people-scent: they can't smell it, and don't care who has touched their offspring, so long as they get their babies back in one piece. Birds will raise offspring of other birds if someone places them in their nest; so definitely don't worry about touching a bird to get them into a safer, more covered spot.

So touch away. They don't know or care the difference. It's an old wive's tale that they'll reject their young if another scent is on them. :)

Re: ::puts on the wildlife rehab hat::

[majes.livejournal.com]

Damn old wives and their campaign of miss-information!

Thanks for letting me know.

Re: ::puts on the wildlife rehab hat::

[sistahraven.livejournal.com]

You're welcome! The more people know that it's okay to do so, the more little fledglings get put in safer places after falling. :)

The only danger comes to you if mom or dad takes umbrage to you trying to move them, but that's generally minimal (unless you're dealing with blue jays). Most birds recognize that dive-bombing a human is a silly endeavor, and will stay out of the way whilst you move the fledgie to a safe spot :)

[sistahraven.livejournal.com]

Most fledglings are being carefully watched by mom and dad during their first few flights. Moving him/her to a sheltered spot is 100% okay, and helps lower the steep learning curve quite a bit. So, for future reference, it's the thing to do. Mom and dad are usually watching nearby, and bringing food and such, but keeping it out of the eyesight of cats is usually a good idea :)

[brief-life.livejournal.com]

I saw a juvenile seagull on my way to work today with a similar perplexed "OMG, I don't know what I'm doing" manner to him. Seagulls are so cute when they're fuzzy, brown, big but still flightless, and making pitiful squeaking noises!