Birding/fledgling robin

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Expert: - 8/3/2009


Question

Baby robin
If the mother quits feeding a fledgling that cannot feed itself yet, how long will the fledgling live? I have one by the house that I have watched carefully all day, and no mom yet.

Thank you

Answer
If it is a fledgling, the mother will try to wean it off food as quickly as she can. The fledgling should be ok if the mom quits feeding it. Mom usually stays hidden so you might not have seen her. I notice you have the bird in captivity. Please let it go immediately. It has a better chance of surviving in the wild than being fed by a human. If it gets used to being fed by a person it might not ever make it in the wild. I appreciate your concern, but please release it right away.

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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