So I have a quick question… I live in Canada, the weather is pretty warm here, but the last two days we’ve had stormy weather. I noticed the other day that there was a little bird n our backyard on our deck and thought he was learning to fly. I did some research and it is in fact a baby robin.

He has feathers and is trying to fly, but he doesn’t quite make it. His parents come and feed him as I video taped it because I thought it was too cute lol. But I am a bit concerned because it is still here in the backyard and is stuck out in the storms all alone.

I was going to try to catch it and put it back in his nest (as I know where it is), but at the same time I don’t want to scare it… I just don’t want it out in the storms

Should I just leave him? I checked on the comp and know he’s a baby robin and is learning to fly, I just feel bad for it.

Hope to hear soon, thx

I am unfamiliar with Australian birds so I can’t identify the bird you describe. However the condition of the nest may be a characteristic of how the bird builds its nest.

Here in the States we have a bird called a Mourning Dove who is grey-beige and resembles a pigeon. (See http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Mourning_Dove.html) Mourning Doves build nests so flimsy that you can see the eggs through the bottom. There are pictures of their nests at the link above. Maybe there is a similar bird where you live & that’s who is nesting in your garden.

Regarding the nest almost falling: As you say, the nest is so flimsy that touching it may harm it. I think there’s really not much you can do except keep an eye out if a nestling falls to the ground. If so, you can put the baby bird back up in the nest (if still there) or in the tree near where it came from to keep it safe from predators and close to its parents.

This blog entry gives some general tips on how to help baby birds (focusing on American Robins). Our local rescue league phone numbers won’t be helpful but there is probably an animal rehabilitation place near you. You may need to keep their number handy.

And a followup to the “Robin Rescue” blog (above). Some mother birds are just not meant to be parents. The robin whose baby I rescued kept picking terrible places to build her nest, the nests kept falling apart, the eggs got too cold, the babies died in attempt after attempt. I helped once – and then realized the mother bird didn’t have the skills necessary to raise a family. My help was pointless in the face of her incompetence. Alas.

Good luck to you!

Sam

http://www.animalrescue.org/cms/name/Wildlife+Center

They take in many many baby birds a year. I believe their phone number is 412-793-6900. Their website has information on what you can do if you find any wild animal in need of help.

Something might have happened to the parents but be very cautious about making that assumption.  Birds are secretive when they come and go to their nests because they don’t want their nests and chicks to be discovered.