Any songbird experts out there?

[Stoney Meadow Maple]

Found this little guy stiff as a board in one of the squares of my duck fence this morning. All I have here is duck feed, which I tried smooshing up, wetting and even tried with tweezers to get it to eat, nothing doing. I could get some dry meal worms. Would like To put him out for possible reunion with parents but it’s about 45 degrees and shady where I found him. He Has moved about a little bit towards the edge of the coffee can. Any suggestions??

 

[Qwerty3159]

Fledgling American goldfinch. It’s at the stage where it’s out of the nest and learning how to fend for itself while the parents continue to support and feed it. The cold probably shocked it as it seems late in the year for them to be breeding. I would return it outside immediately and watch it to see if any adult birds return, if not please bring it to a wildlife rehabilitator. Adult goldfinches feed the young seeds mainly, and it is best to let the feeding be done by the parent birds or trainer professionals. I admire you trying to feed it yourself (it’s the human thing to do! ) but the reality is this often does more harm than good as the birds require very specific diets

 

[Qwerty3159]

Also is he making noise? Try putting him somewhere close to where you found him near some cover where a hawk or cat won’t immediately grab him. If he’s making noise and the parents are within earshot they will come looking

 

[Stoney Meadow Maple]

He was making noise, he’s out in the sun now near where he was, I put him on the caboose porch as it was up a little higher. No sign of parents yet

 

[Qwerty3159]

I would call a local rehabber and ask their advice. My personal opinion is if you don’t see the parents by the late afternoon to bring him in.

 

[Stoney Meadow Maple]

Update, as of this afternoon no sign of the finch, not to say my cat didn’t get it, but the can was undisturbed so I doubt it. So my hope is it got rescued by it’s parents

 

[black_cat]

Update, as of this afternoon no sign of the finch, not to say my cat didn’t get it, but the can was undisturbed so I doubt it. So my hope is it got rescued by it’s parents

Let's hope!

 

[Magnolia Ducks]

Sorry but I'm fascinated by the caboose. How do you have this?

 

[deidreg]

Good job, @Stoney Meadow Maple! I've seen lots of fledglings while on lockdown and it's hard to hold my nerve when I don't see a parent. But it seems to work out.

 

[Stoney Meadow Maple]

Sorry but I'm fascinated by the caboose. How do you have this?

That’s my father-in -laws baby, we’re on a bit of a compound here, which were in the midst of buying from them as they are now snowbirds, currently it’s still his office, he’s not fully retired and he uses it when he’s here, long term plan is guest house/Airbnb they are in the little house when they are here and the caboose has a kitchen , shower and bathroom, I’ve been idly looking for a passenger or sleeper car to accompany it and want to put a deck out front like a train platform. I’ll get you some pictures tomorrow.