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Birding/Releasing Baby sparrow

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Expert: - 8/18/2007


Question
I found the baby a few weeks back, he had no feathers on him what so ever. as the weeks went on he grew feathers and now everyone is telling me I have to release him , and the only thing is how will he know how to find food? Another thing is when I change his cage he flys to me and I have a hard time getting him off, and when i feed him he gets very excited and flys around his cage from perch to perch what should I do ?

Answer
Your friends are correct;  release him/her immediately. He will find food instinctively, no problem. The longer you keep him the more dependent he will be on you and the less likely he will survive in nature. Take him far from where you live and release him. 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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