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Birding/Baby House Finch disaster

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Expert: - 5/29/2009


Question
We have a hoiuse finch who was raising her 2nd brood of the year in a nest outside our front door. Unfortunately, the nest got knocked down (with babies in it)accidentally earlier today by a maintenance man. The babies can move quite quickly, and can even "hop-fly" a little bit- but no flying. They have only a very few "baby" feathers left, but look SO tiny!! Should we replace the nest and the babies or just leave the whole thing where it is?? They (and the nest) are currently in a little side "planter" type area with a few large bushes.
Thanks for your help- we hate that this happened to "our" babies!!

Answer
If the babies hatched 10 or more days ago, leave them alone. They typically leave the nest before they can fly and the parents feed them on the ground until they can. So they might be just fine. I think you should leave the nest where it is. Thanks for your concern,

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Roger Lederer

Expertise

Any and all about WILD birds - the science of ornithology. Information about birdwatching, ecology, conservation, migration, behavior, banding, rehabilitation, feeding, songs, binoculars, identification, and careers in ornithology. No questions about pet or caged birds, please.

Experience

Have a PhD and over forty years as a professional ornithologist - research, teaching, author, speaker, webmaster of Ornithology.com . Have written thirty scientific papers, three bird field guides, a textbook in ecology and two recent books entitled "Amazing Birds" and "Birds of New England". Have traveled to over 90 countries watching birds.

Education/Credentials
PhD in Zoology/Ornithology; Emeritus Professor of Biological Sciences; former Dean of the College of Natural Sciences at California State University, Chico

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