HELP Baby Sparrow

[rebbetzin]

Quote:
I just noticed your screen name... "Ticks" !! Goodness!! Those are such awful creatures!! I bet you don't have to worrry about a number designation after that name....

Maybe I should have named him Tom. I called him Humpty Dumpty. And that fellow didn't do so well in the Nursery Rhyme either.

 

[ticks]

yes. poor humpty dumpty

 

[redhen]

aww!!..sorry to hear he didnt make it!..it was a long shot to save him..espically with the fall...but thank god you took him in and made him warm and comfy till he passed..thanks.Wendy

 

[kees]

I'm sorry that your bird died...but he passed in a safe, warm and loving home. Even the best wildlife rehabbers are lucky if they have a 50% success rate. You did a good thing in trying to care for it. Unfortunately, it may have had something wrong with it and then was rejected by the parents.

 

[joebryant]

If this is an actual sparrow, please do everything that you can to save it; however, if it's what is called an English house sparrow (they're not sparrows; they're actually weaver finches) then you should consider letting it die. English house sparrows and European starlings are non-native birds that kill our native hole-dwelling birds by the millions. The expense of their and all other birds mentioned in Shakespear plays being brought here at the end of the 19th century and released in N.Y. Central Park was paid for by some lunatic millionair who loved Shakespear. Only these two super-aggressive species survived, and within 25 years they were to the West Coast claiming every woodpecker hole in their wake. They are not protected by the migratory bird act, and the government encourages their being trapped and destroyed. They literally kill the babies of other birds, kill the parents, peck and eject eggs, etc., when they're taking over a next box or woodpecker hole.

 

[fowltemptress]

I'm glad you posted that, joebryant. It's information that should be spread, and I would urge everyone to learn to identify the young invasive sparrows, so that they can know when not to try to save a fallen nestling.
If your baby bird was not a sparrow, I am sorry it died despite your kind efforts. If it was a sparrow, take comfort in knowing its death was for the best.

 

[rebbetzin]

hmmm we have a lot of red headed house finches, and little sparrows... I will look up what English House Sparrows look like and compare them to what I have in my garden. I have more hummingbirds and doves than anything else. We have a Red Tail Hawk in the neighborhood, so we don't have too many small birds.

I have a pair of, Gilded Flickers , which are a woodpecker. The males like to find something to pound on so they can make a horrible racket in the mornings to let other males know they have claimed some territory. They especially like to get on roofs and pound on vent pipes, ductwork, or evaporative coolers!! Makes a nice "wake up" call!!

The Smithsoian has a great site for Migratory Birds! I just found it... neat oh! I will see what my little "sparrows" are...

These are my house finches with the red heads.

http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Conservat...ured_photo/bird.cfm?pix=House_Finch&Submit=Go

My sparrows look alot like these fellows,

http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Conservat...ed_photo/bird.cfm?pix=House_Sparrow&Submit=Go


Are they the bad guys???

 

[joebryant]

Quote:
Cripes! Where's my pellet gun and traps when I need 'em?
Yes, those are English house sparrows (actually weaver finches). The male is the one that looks like it's wearing a black mask.
BTW, you should never try to kill a female house sparrow unless you're absolutely sure about what she is; the females look very similar to many actual sparrows. When you see her with the male, then you can be sure and kill them both.