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Birding/Baby Female Cardinal

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Expert: - 8/20/2011


Question
I found a baby female cardinal about two weeks ago.  She is doing fine.  My condern is that when she is able to fly will she know how to take care of herself, find food, water etc.

Answer
Yee. You need to let her go immediately. If you found her out of the nest she should be flying by now. Chances are that when you found her the parents were taking care of her. She should be able to fly by now. The longer you keep her in captivity the less chance she will have of making it on her own. Thanks for your concern.

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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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