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Birding/Robin fell out of nest

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Expert: - 5/26/2009


Question
A robin built a nest on top of a wreath on our front door.  The babies are about 4-5 days old and I found one of the babies (looking a little less developed than the others) lying on the ground, seemingly fallen out of the nest. I thought it was dead but when I scooped it up, it moved a little bit and opened it's mouth a little.  I put it back in the nest (kind of on top of the other 3 sleeping babies).  Was this the wrong thing to do?  Should I do anything else?  Thank you; I'm so concerned about these little guys!

Answer
If you are SURE it is only 4-5 days old, you did the right thing. If it is 10 days old or more, it should have been left alone. Baby robins will jump out of the nest before they can fly and parents will take care of them on the ground. If it was fully covered with feathers, leave it on the ground. If others jump out of the nest, let them be as it is time for them to leave the nest. 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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