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MattM · 07-05-2005, 07:13 AM

My wife and I are the proud parents of triplets. Like many other baby stories, this has its beginnings with a camping trip. We went camping this weekend and got all set up when I saw a baby bird floundering on top of the trailer. It was well out of reach. I called my wife to help and at the same time the bird rolled off the roof, across the window awning and was caught in my wife's hands. We assumed it fell from a nest, but we could not find one. By coincidence, the camp host was next door collecting fees. She called the park ranger who told her there was nothing they could do because the bird was too young. It had no feathers on its body and its eyes had not opened. We were told to set the bird down and maybe the mother would come and care for it. We knew that was garbage and if we left it, it would die. By another coincidence, the camp host told us that she had raised a baby bird over five years ago by feeding it dog food with a set of forceps. She said the bird did great and she still has it to this day. Well, we took the bird in, made it a home in a sandwich box with a washcloth and fed it some of our dog's food.

We went for a walk and came back latter to feed the bird. After it ate and settled down, my wife heard more "chirping" coming from the top of the trailer. She convinced me to take off the A/C cover and sure enough, there was a nest with two more baby birds. Unbeknownst to us, the mother bird had built a nest in the A/C prior to our trip. They survived a three hour trip to our camp site. We took them in and fed them also. My wife named them Moe, Larry and Curly. Like all good mothers, she can tell them apart. We stayed two nights and came home with the Stooges.

It’s been four days now and they are growing like weeds. Feathers are forming on their heads and wings. Their eyes are open and they are beginning to try and stand. We are still feeding them dog food but use a syringe now. It works great. We have no intention of keeping them as pets and plan on releasing them once they can fend for themselves. Can anyone give us some advice to prepare them to leave the nest?

The attached pictures are of the Stooges after their forth day with us.

JD85EXCELLA32 · 07-05-2005, 09:00 AM

I’m not familiar with the nesting birds in North Carolina but cat food or dog food soaked in water is ok! If at all possible see if you can determine what type of young bird you have and this will determine the proper diet. Also you might try contacting a local wildlife rehabilitator center as they are very knowledgeable and have the required permits to rehab wildlife.

(Quoted from local Sanctuary)

NESTLING: a nestling is the first stage of an altricial bird's life. They are featherless, unable to regulate their own body temperature, unable to perch and require a nest structure to support their bodies. If you find a young bird that fits this description they need to be placed back into their original nest or brought to a licensed rehabilitator. (Birds do not have a developed sense of smell and they will not abandon their young because of human touch). It is important to keep these young birds warm (90 degrees). Each species has specific dietary needs. Do not feed nestling birds milk, bread or whole worms. It is better to not feed than to feed them something that could be harmful.

BRANCHERS: Brancher or fledgling is the second stage of an altricial bird's life. At this stage the young bird has feathers, its wings and tail are short and it is able to perch and hop. These birds no longer live in the nest and their begging cries will draw their parents to their location for feedings. At this stage, these birds do not need human intervention. The best assistance for these birds at this stage is to protect them from domestic animals by restricting the animal from the area for a few days or by placing the brancher in a bush or on a low branch in a tree.

Keep me posted on their progress and take pix's