You are here:
- Home
- Recreation/Outdoors
- Birding/Wild Birds
- Birding
- injured baby sparrow
Birding/injured baby sparrow
Advertisement
Question
Our cat brought home a baby sparrow and it is injured under the wing and can not fly. We don't want to just put it back outside as there are many cats around out area and we don't know where the nest is. Is there anything we should do to feed etc. It is very alert but can only shuffle along the floor.
Please do not feed or try to raise it. In addition to being illegal it will bond to the feeder, never learn to forage or to recognize predators and will not survive in the wild. Make a big nest in a bush near where you found it and the parents may try to feed it. If not, let nature take its course. Birds have many predators and this is why they have so many babies. Predators get the sick, the slow and the stupid and help to keep the species strong.
If you are not able to handle this advice you can find a bird rehabilitator at http://www.sialis.org/emergency.htm
Related Articles
Answers by Expert:
Bluebird Bob Walshaw
Expertise
I can answer almost any question on Eastern Bluebirds and small cavity nesters such as Chickadees, Titmice, Wrens, etc. Also general questions on other songbirds. No pet bird questions please.
Experience
I have had a 100+ nestbox trail for more than 20 years, I do a lot of writing, public speaking and educational work in this field. My hands-on Bluebird talks include more than 1000 people each year.
Organizations
Oklahoma Bluebird Society, North American Bluebird Society, National Audubon Society, Oklahoma Audubon Society, Oklahoma Fur Bearers Alliance
Publications
Bluebird Magazine, Oklahoma Today, Fur-Fish-Game, Birds & Blooms, Nature Society News,Back Woodsman Magazine, Tulsa World, Broken Arrow ledger, Teaching Tolerance magazine,Trappers World, OK Hole Story, Birders World
Education/Credentials
Degree in Mechanical Engineering, an MBA, Graduate of the Home Study Course in Bird Biology from the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, Oklahoma Master Naturalist. I am also a pofessional speaker and writer.
Awards and Honors
Chosen as a public speaker for the North American Bluebird Society, Bluebird trail accepted as part of the Transcontinental Bluebird Trail, Chosen as a panel speaker at the 2006 NABS Convention.
Past/Present Clients
Many
©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.