Expert: Roger Lederer - 7/14/2008

Question
I found a baby sparrow in a field about 4 days ago.  I didn't realize that I should have left him there because he looked so helpless and wasn't very active.

I brought him home and put him in a large box.  I gave him some water through a eye dropper as well as some meal worms (which I have heard as high in protein). He was very thirsty.  At first I had to force him to take the worms.  Now he cries for food frequently.  When he sees me, he knows I feed him and will sometimes cry even more.  Yesterday he ate, probably, 25-30 worms?  Is that normal?  Should I be feeding him other things to get him used to eating in the wild?  How do I get him to drink water?  He doesn't do anything with the tiny water bowl I put in the box.

Anyways, the baby does have feathers covering him entirely as well as some fuzz on his head and upper body.  He flaps his wings but I have not seen him fly yet.  He sort of glides downward, trying to fly, when I hold him 3 feet or so above the ground.  

My main concern is that I want him to be able to be free.  I don't want to just let him go because I don't think he can fly yet? How will I know when he is ready? (And how will he find food and water?)

I live upstairs in an apt. and have a nice size enclosed balcony.  I have lots of potted plants and I just put the baby bird out there, thinking it would be a good place for him so he could get used to the outdoors. He is perched on a gardening tool?  Is this the best place for him to be?  What is my next step?  Help!  

Answer
As you stated, you should have left the bird alone; you removed it from its parents who were feeding it. The longer you keep it the less likely it will make it on its own. Contact your local wildlife rehab center for advice or go go www.ornithology.com/rehab.html for more information. But release the bird where you found it as soon as you can.