This is NOT a duck. But what is it? It's hurt and needs help.

Please redirect me to another forum if there's a better one. But this is the forum I'm familiar with, as a duck owner.

Someone I know found these two baby birds in her well.

A few days previous, she'd found another one. She called a wildlife rehabber, and he told her to put it in a box with some water and wait for the mom. The poor little guy drowned, because the rehabber didn't tell her she needed to put pebbles in the water.

Now she's got these two guys in a box outside (with pebbles in the water), waiting for the mom to come around.

BUT, one of them appears to have a broken leg. She said he can barely walk. Obviously he'll need to go to the rehabilitator, right? I was just hoping someone here could help identify them and give any tips and advice on what she should do for them before someone has the chance to take him to the facility. If it gets dark, should she take them inside, even though the mommy may be out there?

I know that in some cases we should just let nature be nature. But, it's really tugging at her heartstrings seeing these poor babies suffer, right outside her window. I'm in another state, and it's tugging at mine too. Especially since the last one died, she'd really like to help these guys out.

Also she's in southeastern Colorado.

(Deleted--reposted in the Emergency thread)

I would think having it in the box would prevent mom from finding it.

Have you looked at your DNR pictures of local birds to ID them?

These look like purple martin chicks to me - I would get a rehabber, because they need loads and loads of insects, or they'll - well - they need loads and loads of insects, and a rehabber knows what and how to fill their bellies.

On the other thread, people are suggesting that they're starlings. If that's the case, a rehabilitator probably won't take them. Hopefully the mom will come back.