Baby Robin Question (1 Viewer)

[jenniferc]

I wish I would've found this forum a few weeks ago.

My daughter found a nest on its side on the sidewalk. The babies were brand new and almost falling out-just baking in the sun that came after a bad thunderstorm.

We brought the birds home. By the time we got there one had already passed. There was 4 total. Within the first week we lost 2 others. But one has been going strong. My daughter named him Sleepy.

He's flying now. Not far-but from tree to tree in the backyard. But he's still not forging for food. He comes back when he's hungry. And yesterday we had more storms. It got really cold. I heard him in one of the trees and went to him. He flew to me and we went back to the back of the house bc he was wet and hungry and he seemed a bit scared. When we got there he even flew to his cage. So I put him in and brought him in for the night. (I keep him in the garage bc we have 2 cats and a dog)

My questions are that he wants to be outside and fly. But once I put him out there, he seems confused, doesn't stop chirpping and stays close to the house. Other robins come to the yard but so far-no adoption going on with the adult robins. He's still not forging on his own. And since he went back to his cage last night-is he going to be able to show interest in being in his natural world on his own?

I never would've thought I'd be a foster bird mom!! :bounce:

 

[pduxon]

welcome to the forum Jennifer,

can't help you with your problem but hopefully someone will be able to help you.

 

[pauco]

Hi Jennifer, and welcome to BirdForum. I think you have now become a true foster mum to this little fella. I do think he has a real bond and see's you as his food source, and protector! good luck will you give us an update.
bert.

 

[Beverlybaynes]

Jennifer, a warm welcome to the forums from all of us on staff here.

Thank you for caring so much about the little fella.

Please contact a rehabber for advice. The robin has probably imprinted on you, which poses problems for him -- as you have already seen -- in learning to forage for himself. I truly don't know much about robins fostering robins (rehabbed but unreleasable birds of prey are often used by as fosters for all the orphans that come in during 'baby season' but I don't know about songbirds.).

I'm sure there are several rehabbers in your general area. You might consider contacting the Wild Bird Sanctuary in St. Louis, which should be able to give you a lead to someone with songbird expertise (they specialize in birds of prey; I don't know if they also 'do' songbirds).

It's possible that only another robin will be able to adequately teach your little guy how to stand on his own. But thank you, again, for caring for much!

Please do let us know what happens!

 

[Beverlybaynes]

P.S. I can see why you're so taken with Sleepy -- he's adorable!

 

[MObirder]

Hi from a fellow St. Louisan, jennifer! Wow, looking at how tiny he was when you found him, and what a cute big fellow he is now, I just can't get over what a good job you did!
I'm not knowledgeable regarding your questions, but I did want to comment that he looks quite a bit younger than the fledgling robins in my yard who are just now starting to forage on their own, so maybe he's still just too young and will start to show a little more independence after he matures a bit more.

 

[jenniferc]

Big Thanks to Everyone!

I just want to say Thanks for all your help. I'll call the Wild Bird place on Monday. I'm working on making my back yard more "bird friendly" so I hope to be hanging out here more often.

He's more and more interested in hanging out in the trees. He did come down tonight and get my attention for food. So I think he's doing better in that regard-I no longer find him to feed him, he's coming to me. I've put out another bird bath and songbird food to get him to start looking. And hope to bring in other robins and songbirds so he can watch and learn. He does watch everything.

Here's a couple more pics from today.

Jennifer, a warm welcome to the forums from all of us on staff here.

Thank you for caring so much about the little fella.

Please contact a rehabber for advice. The robin has probably imprinted on you, which poses problems for him -- as you have already seen -- in learning to forage for himself. I truly don't know much about robins fostering robins (rehabbed but unreleasable birds of prey are often used by as fosters for all the orphans that come in during 'baby season' but I don't know about songbirds.).

I'm sure there are several rehabbers in your general area. You might consider contacting the Wild Bird Sanctuary in St. Louis, which should be able to give you a lead to someone with songbird expertise (they specialize in birds of prey; I don't know if they also 'do' songbirds).

It's possible that only another robin will be able to adequately teach your little guy how to stand on his own. But thank you, again, for caring for much!

Please do let us know what happens!

 

[janine13]

He is very cute! It sounds like he is making the transition to foraging and living on his own. You did a great job keeping him outside to minimize the chance of imprinting. Sometimes, unfortunately, a certain amount of imprinting is unavoidable, but they will usually go their own way eventually. I have a male mockingbird that I raised last summer that comes by the backyard once in a while and begs me for mealworms. He is wild- he knows how to forage and hide from hawks and defend his territory- but he will always remember me as a source of mealworms. Keep in mind that it is always good to contact a wildlife rehabilitator before you raise baby birds because some require very specialized care. This is a good practice because it ensures the baby is getting the proper care. And, it is illegal to keep a migratory bird unless you have a rehab permit or volunteer for a licenced rehabber. If you find that you enjoy raising songbirds you can work in conjunction with a rehabber or rehab facility and foster babies at home, which is what I do.

Keep up the good work, and keep posting cute pictures!

 

[jpd217]

Hi, my wife and I did this very thing a few years ago. When he got to the stage your little guy is at we would feed him worms in the yard. We would often play with him, dangle the worm and then toss it a few feet away in the grass so that he would have to go after it. Seemed to work, after a couple of weeks he would find worms and bugs on his own. He also loved raisins. I have a friend who is a wildlife biologist, he banded him for us. For three years that robin came back to our yard every spring, but has not shown up for the past 2 years. Be patient, I'm sure yours will get the hang of being on his own.


Rob