AboutJonathan Wright Expertise I can answer questions about wild mammals, as well as other wild animals. I can also answer questions on extinct animals and zoos.
PLEASE DON'T SEND ME ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT PETS. IF YOU ARE REALLY WORRIED, YOU SHOULD CONTACT A VETERINARIAN. PLEASE DO NOT ASSUME THAT UNPAID PEOPLE ON ALLEXPERTS ARE AVAILABLE 24 HOURS A DAY AND WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH ADVICE THE MOMENT YOUR ANIMAL GETS ILL. Find out how to look after a pet before you get it. It is unfair to keep an animal in inappropriate conditions and give it the wrong food. If you can't keep an animal in good conditions, please don't bring it into your home. I'm not a vet and I don't have any expertise in animal medicine and care. I don't agree with people taking animals out of the wild and then expecting other people to give free advice on how to look after them. It is cruel to take animals away from their parents, who are able to look after the babies and may look for them, while putting their other babies at risk. You may need a licence to look after some animals. You may be breaking the law by keeping wild animals; please check with a local wildlife organisation.
IF YOU FIND AN INJURED ANIMAL, PLEASE CONTACT A WILDLIFE VETERINARIAN OR CHARITY AND LET TRAINED STAFF LOOK AFTER THE ANIMAL. DO NOT TRY TO LOOK AFTER AN INJURED ANIMAL IF YOU DO NOT KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING.
Please do not remove eggs from nests. The mother birds will know the right temperature for the eggs and will not sit on them if the temperature is warm enough for them to develop naturally. It is illegal to remove eggs of some species and, unless you have an incubator or a broody hen, the egg may not develop. If you are allowed to touch the eggs, you can candle them (check details on websites) to see if the eggs are fertile. If the eggs are not fertile, they will not hatch.
I do not agree with fights between different animals. Please do not ask me questions about them.
Experience I have a zoology degree and have been interested in animals since I was two years old. I am a zoo volunteer at London Zoo. I have appeared on a BBC Radio Quiz, 'Wildbrain'.
Organizations World Wide Fund for Nature. Zoological Society of London. London Bat Group.
Publications Newsletters of London Zoo volunteers and the London Bat Group
Education/Credentials BSC degree in Zoology. 'A' levels in Zoology and Chemistry. 'O' Level in Biology.
Question I found a robin hatchling about two weeks ago the mother had kicked out of the nest. I replaced the bird into its nest but she kicked it out again, i believe the nest was simply too crowded for three babies. I took it in and have been feeding it meal worms, earth worms, strawberries, blueberries and raspberries every 30 minutes. hes starting to flap his wings around and looks curious about leaving his makeshift nest. i would have brought him to a wildlife rehabilitation center but there is not one in my area. what should i do next i want to make sure i introduce him into the wild right and teach him what he needs to know before turning him out on his own. and info i would greatly appreciate.
Answer Dear Louise
Thank you for your question and for looking after the robin.
I don't think you need to teach the robin anything. Hopefully, it will have the right instincts to know what to do. It is best to let it free when it is fledged and beginning to tryto fly. It is a vulnerable timefor robins, but all robins need to go through it and it is best that your robin sees itself as a bird and does not become dependent on you for food. It needs to be able to find food for itslef, so it may be an idea to hide some food in the garden and see if the robin finds it. Hopefully, it will be able to find some other food as well.
As it gets more used to spreading its wings and finding food, hopefully it will gain independence and fly away to make a nest for itself. It seems that bird organisations won't take healthy birds - I expect that the workers would be unable to look after every little bird that people find and have to make choices about what they cando.
