Expert: Julia Booth - 7/31/2008

Question
QUESTION: almost 3 wks ago a baby swallow jumped to the hay.and we watched him for two days not being fed. So we made a make shift nest for him. He was a gray fluffy mess when we took him in and now he has all his feathers. He is very alert with big eyes. He preens himself and tries to catch his own flies as they are on the hay. He is now fledging the nest we have made for him. Oh yeah we have fed him crickets, flies and Purina pup chow moistened. But how do we teach him to fly and catch his own food in the future.
He is very calm around us and jumps on our hand. He is not staying in the nest so I worry about something killing him should I keep him on the screened in porch? but then he wont be around all the other swallows.
Concerned   thanks

ANSWER: I'm impressed that your baby survived, actually. Raising wild swallow fledglings often results in disappointment.

To my knowledge, he should be ready to fly at about 14 days and will do so on its own. Sometimes, swallows that are born in nesting boxes are less willing to break out on their own and need a little shove from mom. If you think he's not even making an attempt, consider lifting him and kind of giving him a gentle toss into the air, a few feet above the hay. See if he opens up his wing, reflecxively. Unless there is something seriously wrong with it, the baby will rely on instinct and eventually take off.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: He is already fluttering his wings and skimming around on the ground. Today I took him out of the barn and placed him on the fence in the sun. He was beautiful stretching in the sun and just sun bathing while I caught flies for him. I now place the flies away from him so he sort of jumps to get them himself. He actually will try to catch flies as they land near him. Sometimes the other swallows swoop close to him. Will they hurt him? Will they except him into their community? What about flying over seas will he attempt this? Can he catch food in flight eventually like the other birds. I am so worried if I did the right thing. Some advice please. I really want this bird to succeed in his adventurous life.

Answer
Swallows generally live in large communities and should be accepting of your baby into their group. That's not to say that he won't encounter any opposition. But there is no practical reason why he would be rejected.

It sounds like you did okay. I'm always wary about telling people that it's okay to interfere with nature. When it's unavoidable is the only time. Birds know what they are doing and do not require human assistance. There's nothing wrong with giving them a little boost here and there.

I often have to remind people that birds have anywhere from 1-5 clutches every year. Of those, usually one offspring will survive to breed. That's the way it is. It's the reason they have so many. But if it were any different, there would be too many birds.

Good luck to your little swallow.