Expert: Miguel Rodriguez - 5/20/2011

Question
We have been caring for an Eastern baby bluebird almost since it was hatched 6 wks ago.  [The other 4 babies were killed in the nest but I don't know what killed them,] At this point the baby, which is now living in a large dog crate covered with netting, with grass sod, branches and leafy, tree-like boughs, has learned to find and eat meal worms and crickets that I drop in the sod, although he would prefer to have me drop them right into his mouth.  We have learned that this is when we should open the cage door and let him fly out..at least for excursions.  When we moved his cage to the spot that we thought would be good, other bluebirds who are his parents and whose birdhouse is nearby with 5 new eggs, have been flying around and landing on the cage constantly.  I felt this was happy recognition but my husband suggested that they might think of the baby as an interloper and try to kill him when he is released.  Is this a real possibility or do you think it unlikely?

Answer
That is an amazing accomplishment, definitely! Having cared for a chick like that is something that is no easy task.

Regarding if the neighboring birds can recognize or not the baby bird as theirs is a matter of debate, but I am pretty confident that they do not pose a threat to it. Leaving the cage open seems like a good idea if the bird already has it's flight feathers. What you should be careful is keeping marauding cats away.