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Birding/Motherless Baby Birds

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Expert: Bluebird Bob Walshaw - 6/15/2008


Question
A sparrow type (we think) bird laid three eggs in her nest in a potting shed we have. Unfortunately my husband found the mother dead this morning. The babies hatched at least a week ago and of course are opening their little mouths to be fed. The father was around this a.m. very upset. Is he capable of feeing them and if not is there anything we can do to try to keep them alive? Thanking you in advance.

Answer
Usually one parent can raise a brood. If not please let nature take its course. It is a normal human impulse to want to feed baby birds, but actually it is cruel as they bond to you and can never go back to the wild. Contact me again if you have Bluebirds.

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Bluebird Bob Walshaw

Expertise

I can answer almost any question on Eastern Bluebirds and small cavity nesters such as Chickadees, Titmice, Wrens, etc. Also general questions on other songbirds. No pet bird questions please.

Experience

I have had a 100+ nestbox trail for more than 20 years, I do a lot of writing, public speaking and educational work in this field. My hands-on Bluebird talks include more than 1000 people each year.

Organizations
Oklahoma Bluebird Society, North American Bluebird Society, National Audubon Society, Oklahoma Audubon Society, Oklahoma Fur Bearers Alliance

Publications
Bluebird Magazine, Oklahoma Today, Fur-Fish-Game, Birds & Blooms, Nature Society News,Back Woodsman Magazine, Tulsa World, Broken Arrow ledger, Teaching Tolerance magazine,Trappers World, OK Hole Story, Birders World

Education/Credentials
Degree in Mechanical Engineering, an MBA, Graduate of the Home Study Course in Bird Biology from the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, Oklahoma Master Naturalist. I am also a pofessional speaker and writer.

Awards and Honors
Chosen as a public speaker for the North American Bluebird Society, Bluebird trail accepted as part of the Transcontinental Bluebird Trail, Chosen as a panel speaker at the 2006 NABS Convention.

Past/Present Clients
Many

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