Expert: Roger Lederer - 6/3/2009

Question
Hello. I have been raising a sparrow since my neighbor
brought her/him over. The bird had fallen out of his nest
somewhere in a pine tree and when she called the vet he said
that if she brought it in the bird would be put down because
she was a wild bird that was bleeding from the mouth. Sooo
my neighbor brought Jackie(the birds name) to me to take
care of. when she was brought to me the bleeding had stopped
and did not seem to interfere with her eating. I have now
had her for about 2 weeks. She eats soggy dog food and is in
a giant plastic container. My question is that I have read
about imprinting and some people have told me I won't be
able to let her go because she is the only bird I am taking
care of and there for had become attached to me. Can I let
still let her go? do I have to keep her? She is a wild bird
so I don't want to have to confine her to a cage, but she
jumps on my finger every time I feed her. I have really
tried not to hold her a lot. :(

Hannah

Answer
Good job raising her so far, but the sooner you let her/him go the better. She has to learn to make it by herself and the longer you keep her the harder it is going to be for her to adjust. Imprinting only works immediately after hatching, but I know what you mean. Besides, it is illegal to keep a wild bird in captivity.
In the future, and tell your neighbor too, wild birds very rarely fall from their nest - they jump out before they can fly and parents feed them on the found until they can fly.
Thanks for your concern but let nature take over - as soon as possible. Let her go as far from your house as you reasonably can.