baby bird
Baby Robin shown here misplaced from nest; pic taken with iphone camera
Intro: My almost 3 month old Golden Retriever which is a bird retrieving water dog breed, retrieved his 1st bird recently and actually helped save a baby birds life!
These pics are taken with Nikon after baby Robin was placed back into nest
The story: I was in the driveway unloading new patio cushions out of the Land Rover when I noticed out of the corner of my eye my puppy picking up something (nothing new) and I sensed the item my puppy picked up this time needed immediate attention as I yelled out a firm "DROP IT!" Out popped out a tiny baby bird not yet old enough nor feathered to be leaving the nest anytime soon. Took pic of bird with iphone camera, took puppy in, called my neighbors who happen to be wildlife biologist and asked for their advise on situation how to handle baby bird. They advised if I could reach bird nest and bird was still alive to place bird back into nest. I grabbed a washcloth, returned outside noticing mama bird on tree branch looking down at her baby and as I bent down to pick up baby bird it looked up at me and opened up it's beak so wide to say "FEED ME!" Sweet little soul and glad it had an appetite as this told me it was probably going to be OK from the fall....so I gently picked it up did not notice any blood or broken pieces then placed it back into nest with it's other 2 siblings. I went inside to grab my Nikon camera changing the lens to take close up pics and just observe. Mama bird was already bringing in food to babies and checking on her fallen baby when I returned outside with my camera.
Koa my 2 month old Golden Retriever pup at our lake at dusk
Conclusion: Upon assessing and triaging situation, it appears that the little Robin fell out of it's overcrowded small nest of 3 babies. The small nest was built in a tree in our front yard and not very far up into the tree. I also observed mama bird getting upset with me after taking a few photos, she started to squawk at me to get back because she did not want baby stressed anymore. I also noticed there were other birds concerned with the situation as well on the electric poles near the tree. It seems it might be a village of birds to raise the babies! Birds do care about their young and do feel emotions. Just go outside and observe for a while, get in touch with nature and appreciate the lovely song the birds make for us.
Follow up:
Friday: This morning baby bird still OK 36 hours later (incident happened Thursday around 6pm)...will keep observing this family of Robins as the nest is low in tree and I do not want neighbor cats nor any other wildlife to get to baby birds, hope they make it to adulthood with full set of feathers.
June 13-17 Follow up:
Baby birds have flown from the nest...I captured the last one as mama bird was watching over it as it was still learning to fly, she was so protective to care for her little one, to give it encouragement, guidance - what a good mama bird she is!
NEWS: August 4th, 2010 - noticed 3 MORE BABY BIRDS HAVE ARRIVED IN SAME NEST! It's hot so I have placed a bowl of cool water for mama bird at bottom of tree for her.
Aug 7th morning - I found a baby bird on the ground below the nest looking up at me that had fallen from the once again over crowded nest! Our eyes met, my heart melted and I told baby bird I meant it no harm and I was there to help it get back into it's nest with it's family so I gloved my hand and then carefully put the precious little trusting soul back into it's nest, this time mama was very quiet observing the whole thing and thanked me afterward with sweet chirps! Cute baby Robins! I am considering placing a bird house in this tree or creating a safety ledge for the next bird family!
