Expert: Julia Booth - 6/28/2010

Question
Swallows built a nest in one of our bird houses. During a very warm day yesterday we erected a umbrella over the house to protect it from the heat. Yesterday afternoon a parent flew to the nest but did not enter. Neither has been back to the nest since. This morning I removed the umbrella but have not seen a parent. I do hear the baby's chirping. Did we doom these baby's by trying to do a good thing.
Thank you

Answer
Did you doom them? It's possible. But we have no way to prove it. So it's pointless to dwell on it.

What I can tell you is that nine time out of ten, when someone thinks a baby bird has been abandoned, they are mistaken.

Unless you did a 24 hour stakeout, you really have no way of knowing whether the birds have been abandoned. You say they haven't been back to the nest since yesterday. But it's unlikely that you kept watch all night long.

Swallows can remain in flight for extended periods of time, perching for only a matter of seconds here and there. They are in constant motion. Their visits to the nest, once the eggs have hatched, are very brief, just as long as it takes them to feed the babies and they're off again.

If you can, just put them back in the nest. The belief that they will be rejected due to their scent is a myth. Continue to monitor the nest for the next 24 hours. If you are 100% sure the parents have not been back, let me know and I can help you track down a wildlife rehabber in your area.

Providing them with shade was a good move. So thumbs up on that.

If you need anything else or more information, let me know.


Julia