Birding/baby finches?

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Expert: - 7/13/2007


Question
On our porch lantern we have a bird nest that had 4 eggs, 2 of them hatched and mama bird has been feeding them regularly for the past week - today she is no where to be seen. The babies are barely able to stand in the nest so I am sure they are not ready to fly- how often are they needing fed now and what do I do if the mother bird doesn't come back

Answer
Baby finches will leave the nest about 10 days before they can fly and the parents will feed them on the ground. You don't need to do anything. If the mother doesn't come back for a whole day, and you are sure of that, call your local wildlife rehab center for advice. 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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