Expert: Julia Booth - 7/3/2008

Question
Hello Juilia,

I was cutting down a bayberry bush in my back yard tonight.  After removing the branches that I had cut, I noticed 6 baby birds on the ground with their nest.  Boy did I feel terrible.  I had gardening gloves on and carefully picked up each one and returned them to the next.  I placed the nest in a spot in the bush.  I didn't get to cut the rest down.  I did hear the adult birds in a nearby tree scolding.  I just checked on them and they are still there and alive.  Four of them are very small and one is larger.  What I would like to know, will the parents return to the nest even though I had to place it in the same bush, but in a different spot and will they survive the night?  I am an adult in my forties, so have some knowledge of animals, actually, I can't stand to see any animal hurting.  What should I look for as to whether the parents will or have returned.  I know I won't be getting much sleep tonight know those poor babies are out there and it was because of me that they are in the prediciment they are in.  They are a common sparrow.  The inside of their beaks are an orangish color.  They have a downing fluff and look like they just hatched recently.  Help.
Debbie

Answer
I'd put them back as close to the original site as possible. I see no reason why the parents would not return.

The thing about birds abandoning nests touched by humans is an urban legend.

The larger baby is probably a cowbird implant.

If you can take a picture of the babies and send it to me for ID, that would be fine too.

Juliabohemian@aol.com