Expert: Roger Lederer - 6/3/2008

Question
Hi -
I have 2 baby Robins in my back yard. Their parents are around. At first I thought they had fallen from the nest, we put gloves on and put them back in the tree, not in there nest, it is to high up, but in a nest we made in a flat box. They birds keep coming out of the tree. I don't mind them there, but my Jack Russell terror wants to hunt them. We have been walking the dogs on a leash, until we figure out what to do with these little birds? The parents dive bomb us when we try to go outside so I know they are around. Is it common for them to be out of the nest, but unable to fly?  I cant tell if the parents are feeding them? but they are still alive and it has been 2 days? Sorry for all of the random questions, I just don't want my dogs to eat them, but I also don't want my dogs to be held captive in the house. I guess I am trying to figure out when and if they will learn to fly so they can protect themselves? I can send you a picture if that would help determine the age.
Any help or advice will be much appreciated.


Answer
Baby Robins jump out of the nest before they can fly and the parents take care of them on the ground until they can fly. Very typical. Do not put them back in their nest or in the tree. It will be a week or so before they can fly. It is a myth, by the way, that if you touch a young bird or nest or egg that the parents will abandon them. So gloves were not necessary. All you need to do is leave the birds to do their thing and keep the dogs away. Thanks for your concern.