Expert: Miguel Rodriguez - 6/2/2011

Question
QUESTION: Mom and dad cardinal seem to be ignoring rescued baby today (feeding in past few days...since the other stronger baby made it to top of tree...they parents seem to be ignoring the nestling. Please advise asap. We're in Florida....worried about dehydration.

ANSWER: Please explain "rescued".

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Rescue=picked both up off the ground and placed in padded flower basket. Mom and dad fed for a few days...then when stronger fledgling made it out of "nest" mom and dad didn't tend to weaker. Took him in and began feeding egg white and cardinal mix and water #pureed in blender#. He is now thriving and is practicing. Any other thoughts or suggestions?

Answer
Well, if the parents continued to tend to them after you handled them, that is no longer the issue then.

I am not very familiarized with the brooding habits of these birds, but birds parents do motivate the hatchlings to leave the nest by no longer taking the food to them there.

I would recommend that after you see the bird starts venturing away from where you tend to it (by hopping or short flights), drastically reduce the frequency of your feeding, so hunger will drive it to start fending for himself.