Herring Gull chick - help (4 Viewers)

[deborah4]

Hi

My neighbour's just handed over a HG chick which she had in the tiny patio next door. It's been there for nearly 48 hours and was leaving it some chicken breast and some sort of dry food in the hope it would eat. I suggested she drop over into my garden as it's large enough for adults to land and take off in the hope a parent will drop in to feed it.

I dumped the dried food and have put out some cat food (will take food in before dark - don't want cats and foxes!). However, I didn't realise how young the bird was til she handed it over - it's way too early to be out and about. Down on head, no tail feathers but wings fairly strong. It's definitely appears too young to feed itself.

RSPCA say put it back on roof (which is impossible without scaffolding!) I'm inclined to agree it's better left in vicinity of parents rather than carting it off to be hand reared. I picked it up with the intention of feeding it and adults kicked up a rumpus, so left it. Problem is, don't know how long it's been without food. There's no way parents could have landed next door and it's been in my garden now for a few hours.

(have bunged out some food in the hope of attracting some adults into garden but none so far and they are now aware it's here after the rumpus, but where are they all when you want them?)

Any ideas please?

 

[KnockerNorton]

Can't you put it somewhere off the ground, on a neighbours roof perhaps? The adults will locate it by call. Otherwise, let it take it chances. Nobody will thank you for dumping it on them to hand rear, and as long as the parents are there it should not be removed.

 

[deborah4]

All the roofs are inaccessible, these are high 6/7 story Victorian buildings. I realise it shouldn't be removed from parents - it fell of the roof, don't know which one exactly - woman didn't say - bird was sort of dumped on me - thought it had a better chance where parents could access it which they couldn't next door as it's a basement high-walled small patio. Often get gulls in the garden - fledglings too but never had one this young. Was concerned it hadn't been fed for a long time - don't know how long the woman had it or even whether it was in her garden to begin with!

Plenty of adult gulls around but not sure whether any of them are the parents! Good chance it's been abandoned but won't try to feed it, will just leave it and hope for the best then - still has a better chance than it did next door!

 

[bbsbirder]

Im not sure which branch of the RSPCA your contacted but I know that this branch has a good record with rearing orphaned Herring Gull chicks. I know this as they ring the birds and I have seen them later in Buckinghamshire. July must be a busy month as all my records are of bird collected in this month. They could also give you advise on feeding.

Richard Thompson
Wildlife Officer
RSPCA
Mallydams Wood Wildlife Centre
Peter James Lane
Fairlight, East Sussex TN35 4AH
Tel 0870 906 1423


Kevin

 

[deborah4]

Thanks Kevin (it was my neighbour who said she'd spoken to RSPCA)

Phoned a birder friend, we're going to try and put it on my bathroom roof for the night - it's very very small though - only 6 x 4, but hopefully that will be enough to keep it out of danger.

Will contact the rescue no. you gave me in the morning for advice if it looks abandoned.

(an adult just landed in garden, wolfed down some food, washed it down from the bird bath and took off - didn't even acknowledge chick was hiding in bushes and chick silent!)

 

[deborah4]

Well we managed to get it onto the bathroom extension roof yesterday evening. Left a plate of cat food up there. An Adult landed and wolfed down that then took off but at least safe from cats. 5.00 am, woken up by rumpus - several HGs on extension kicking up. Heard a horrible thud on ground from garden. Went out and up fire escape. Chick gone from roof. Checked basement well. It was down there looking a bit shaken. Left a plate of cat food and backed off. Good news, it didn't appear to be injured and, even more encouraging - it helped itself to a few mouthfuls of cat food. But now has climbed up steps and on ground in main garden again. Lots of HGs with chicks round here, competition for food great and some has been nicked - there appears to have been some fighting going on. Not sure if parents have been involved yet, but it's hopeful and fingers crossed. Will leave chick to hide in bushes today then put it back up this evening if it's still around.

Meanwhile 2 survivors from third brood of Blackbird nest - both now can fly and mother still coming to door for sultanas and meal worms. Juvey Blue Tits, juvey Greenfinch and juvey Wren all in the garden still around feeders and on ground. Yesterday chased 3 cats out of garden. Will be so glad when breeding season is over!

 

[halftwo]

Valiant effort, Deborah. Hope it ends well.
Had a juv Wren sitting sunning itself on the garden fence lately, and the Coal & Great tits passing through (as well as Sparrowhawk ferrying ever-larger prey back to its nest - somewhere nearby almost fully fledged young must be ready to go).
H

 

[deborah4]

Thanks H.

It's certainly healthy enough and doing everything it should be doing (apart from flying yet!) A few screeches for 'mum'. 'Mum' didn't come, so it wandered around, tried to eat the tops off my daisies then took it's first wash. Had a good preen then back to the bushes.

If, it stays in garden and doesn't try to jump barrier that leads onto road, and if it doesn't take a half flight out of the saucepan into the fire, it should be OK - think it's a bit big for cats and there's plenty of adults around who'll chase them off (even if there are no parents coming down to feed it), they're a pretty socially cohesive bunch round here.

If anyone can tell me, by looking at pics, how many days before it's flight feathers are developed fully, it would be much appreciated!

 

[halftwo]

Looks big - but, sorry Debs, not too big for cats - mine kill fully grown rabbits - so that would be no match!

 

[SueO]

Good Luck, D. I sincerely hope you get a positive result after all your concern and kindness.
Sue

 

[deborah4]

Thanks Sue - it's doing OK but seems to be left to it's own devices for now. Been at work since lunchtime, got home and it had eaten the tuna I'd left out. Still in garden and after much deliberating, we've decided to let it take it's chances in the garden tonight. It has access to food, water and shelter and seems to be taking care of itself. Lots of down been pulled out this afternoon and looking very much better than yesterday morning! Leg and wing stretching and also ate a fresh lot of tuna followed by a good wash. Watched the birds on the feeders for a while and walked back into bushes. Has now gone to sleep.

OK EDIT!

8.00pm - adult landed in garden and chased youngster under the cover of bushes after it had been screeching in response to another youngster on a roof somewhere (a scolding I think!) must be a Parent or at least a surrogate!o

9.00pm - saucepan of water chucked towards two cats making their way over garden wall (sorry cat lovers)

9.15pm - youngster wandering around again and it's getting dark - now I know an adult has interest but so do at least 3 cats, decide to try again and get it on the roof extension. Unfortunately I'm now on my own, my earlier helper has gone home! Soo ... herded little 'un through bushes and down steps into basement well...... SHRRRREAARKKKK! Into the tub, tea towel covering it ... it's struggling but quietens down. Through house, then up the narrow rusty fire escape several levels with one arm over the top of tub and another gripping onto the one rail, sh*t if I drop it now :eek!: ... I HATE heights ..... get to roof level and let bird walk out of box. ADULT chuck-chucking on next roof. Bung up a bowl of water and small amount of tuna.

All is quiet and I'm off to bed having got up at 5.00am when it fell off roof this morning, then been to work and then been on cat watch since 5.30pm!

 

[deborah4]

Anxiety continues: Chick fell/jumped off roof again at 6.am. After a quiet night with one parent in vicinity. Another gull came along and chick came down and ran to it's usual hiding place behind bushes apparently unscathed by the 'fall' - watched it come down, wing ability at the moment is enough to break fall but not even to get off the ground a few feet. High wind and rain today, so hopefully cats aren't around. Off to work, so it takes it's chances I'm afraid. Still the more used to the garden/bathroom roof, the more likely it will stay around rather than try and climb out onto road, until it can fly so fingers still crossed.

 

[Mark Grantham]

Can't help with your anxiety, but from the size of your chick it'll probably be another week to 10 days before its big enough to fly...

Mark Grantham
BTO

 

[deborah4]

Can't help with your anxiety, but from the size of your chick it'll probably be another week to 10 days before its big enough to fly...

Mark Grantham
BTO

Thanks Mark - that news has just increased my anxiety tenfold

 

[deborah4]

Good Luck, D. I sincerely hope you get a positive result
Sue

Well sadly it hasn't ended too well.

Rang Fairlight this morning and had a chat with one of the RSPCA carers at the rehab. Despite me saying I didn't think it had been completely abandoned, given what has been happening over the past four days and no sign of parental feeding with two jumps off the roof, she advised almost immediately I should bring the chick in. Given it's age (thanks Mark), I was told Herring Gulls will remain protective, even swooping down but won't continue to feed chicks for any length of time if they are on the ground. Predation was the biggest concern for both of us, despite the Chick doing well in itself and feeding/preening etc.

I put up an argument against removing it from any potential parental interest but was convinced otherwise in this particular situation. I can't watch it 24 hours a day and it risks injury from repeated falls off the roof. Really hate doing this, but have no choice I don't think.

Am paying a friend to take me over to Fairlight this evening rather than it having to spend the night in a transitionary vet - they have a compound of HGs of similar age, and as Kevin suggested earlier, it's chances of survival would be much much more increased, especially as it's healthy. I'll make a donation for it's keep!

 

[SueO]

Hi Deborah,
I just checked in to see how you and birdy were doing. I was afraid after reading the first line that a cat got him. I think things have turned out very well for your charge. He probably would not have survived if not for you and now he has a chance to live and be free. I am assuming your rehab centers are like ours in California and the goal is to release the bird.
You've earned a few karma points in the Bank of the Cosmos.
Cheers, B
Sue

 

[deborah4]

I say ''sadly'' because baby birds just shouldn't be taken from wild unless injured or definately abandoned. The latter only being arrived at after much deliberation and after intense observation over 3 days along with two failed attempts to place on roof and no sign of parental feeding and predator issue. Even so, was still not convinced of 'case for abandonment' until a lengthy conservation on phone with a professional.

Just got back from the 3 hour round trip to Hastings to the Rehab.

Chick very quiet and calm throughout journey and also when I opened box to check it in on arrival ... not a peep, just standing on towel in the box eying me warily. Kicked up a mighty screech when picked up by Warden then one more screech when put into scales - so that was good!!

The duty warden then said she'd show us round the enclosures etc. First of all, Chick to be weighed... condition, weight very good - right for age, so tuna, chopped chicken and porridge did the trick! Chick was then placed in an indoor holding pen for the night which was already occupied by a slighter smaller chick the same age (who wasn't too pleased to welcome the new comer but Chick still calm and quiet in pen which contained what looked like a bowl of whitebait and a bowl of water. We then went on a tour and were shown all the Herring Gull pens, the avaries and pool enclosures. There were some 20 other healthy orphaned/abandoned/hand reared chicks in the pool pen (some floating around on it just for the heck of it) all of the same age as Chick who will be joining them after a check up with the vet in the morning. Some adults and older gulls in another pen and very young chicks in others. An outdoor pre-release pen with fledged HGs flying around. All separate stages for each rehab and around 70 or so Herring Gulls all in all. And all areas very gull-ergonomic. Were also shown passerines in incubators requiring half hour feeds etc, hedgehogs, and other wild birds. Fantastic place.

'My' Chick was given it's own code number for a temporary band immediately, so it's identity is known through the whole process then, before release onto Pett Levels, it will be BTO ringed and Centre ringed.

I was impressed and it put my mind at rest that the chick has now graduated from being a single homeless occupant of an urban B&B to a welcomed guest with lots of company at a five star hotel less than a mile from Pett Level.. Donated £20 to help cover cost of rehab and £10 for driver but worth every penny.

Got home, no distressed adults hanging round garden/roof .... nor any when I took bird, so phew! A few more pics from lunchtime - will phone for update on Chick's progress in a few weeks and get the ring no.

OOh er ... just realised the long ramble, it's been a little anxious past few days so forgive the overspill!

Stirling work going on there, well done the RSPCA and all the staff.

 

[Words]

Hopefully things will work out ok for it now. I've been watching a pair since a day or so old at work. It's been a fascinating 5 or so weeks.

 

[bbsbirder]

Hi Deborah,
Think you have made the best decision for the bird.
It was very interesting reading about your tour of the centre. As my previous post I have seen/reported many ringed birds from the centre in Buckinghamshire. Next June is a popular month for me to see birds released the year before. Maybe I will see 'your' bird next year in Buckinghamshire. If you let us know the centre ring No. I will look out for and post any sightings.

Kevin

 

[Mark Grantham]

For those who are confused, the two rings the RSPCA give to each bird are a BTO metal ring (wiht its 'official' number) and a coloured ring with an alphanumeric code. This code is really easy to read in the field, and relates to the bird's BTO number. This generates many more sightings than metal rings alone, and these orphaned birds really do travel far and wide after release. Anyone along the south coast should keep an eye out for them and either report them to the RSPCA or online at www.ring.ac

Mark Grantham
BTO Ringing Scheme