Hi- I've joined to help a Robin on driveway

Hi all, 

A lovely little Robin is possibly nesting in shrubbery between 2 driveways. It hops from one side to the other. 

I have no clue about birds except they are lovely and should be looked after. I live in suburbia, our driveway runs up alongside the house and our neighbour's driveway runs up next to ours. There's some established shrubbery to the back - close to the gardens. We both have full length clear plastic car port cover.

A little Robin has suddenly appeared, it's been about a week I've noticed it. It stays on the ground and is quite friendly. I can't tell if it's well though. I've read some other chats and I wonder if it's a youngster.(?) It's not small but the plumage looks ruffled-puffy. 

I've attached an image-albeit not a very good one. 

I'm concerned for 2 main reason's- the driveways are quite busy- the neighbour is sick and has visitors and health care parking coming in and out all day. My own driveway, I try to drive on slowly to give the bird enough time to get out of the way but can never be sure. Also, it hugs the side of my neighbours back door step. It's exposed to all sorts there- cats etc. I can't work out why it would sit and huddle there. 

I suppose my questions are : how do I tell if it's well? - I've put out food and water. I don't think it's in short supply. 

And is there a way I can encourage it to stay off the drive and head towards gardens and the back?

Many thanks for your time. Hope I can do right by the little thing. 

  • It's an adult Robin and sadly its not very well. I can't tell what's wrong. Potentially it's Trich. and there is very little you can do for this bird www.bto.org/.../trichomonosis
    But it may also have had a knock from a car or flown into a window and is still trying to recover and having food and water available in that case is a good thing.

    Cin J

  • In reply to Germain:

    Thank you.
    In the event it's trying to recover, is there anything can I do to help it convalesce somewhere safer? There are a range of safer options within 10metres of where it spends most of it's time.
    I've literally just watched a smug faced tabby stroll across my garden!

    Thanks again for taking the time to respond.
  • In reply to E5478:

    I would say that you place it a box on its own (covered) in a quiet area of the house with some warmth attached, and see what happens next. Along with some food ie mealworms (soak the mealworms in water so they expand) , and some water and leave it in a quiet area of the house

    Keeps the wee soul away from the local cat population life you have stated yourself. It could be (as mentioned here already) that it has hit itself on a window and it easy to do.

    Just see if it is okay, before any other decision is made - and then get advice from your local wildlife centre what to do next.

    Regards

    Kathy and Dave

  • I'm sure you weren't tempted, but clearly, don't bring a sick bird into your house! Could be trich, could also be avian flu. Who knows? As well as risking infection, the added stress of pursuing and picking up the bird might be terminal. I would also be very surprised if wildlife rescue centres would agree to take in sick birds in the current climate.
  • In reply to ItisaRobbo:

    Thank you Robbo for your answer..

    Sensible answer so I would change mine to the garden shed well away from the house - same procedure

    Of course there is the avian flu to think about too so that is not good either

    Regards

    Kathy and Dave

  • Thank you community, I really appreciate you all taking the time to give me some advice.
    I will not be bringing it into the house - not least as I have 2 small children and there's definitely not a quiet safe space in this house.
    I actually live quite near to Attenborough nature reserve. As it's now the weekend I'll pop in and see what their take on this is too.
    I saw the Robin yesterday and it appeared unchanged. I shall persist with feed and I'll soak some mealworm and leave them out.
    Many thanks once again for your time.
  • Keep us posted, and well done for making the effort to look after the robin. I know it often raises all sorts of questions - and understandably so - but at the end of the day, I think it's natural to want to help a creature in need.
  • In reply to E5478:

    Thanks for the update. I'd be interested to know what the volunteers/visitors say at Attenborough nature reserve. I don't believe anything more can be done in the current climate and what you're already doing is best.
  • Presumably the Attenborough reserve staff gave a similar opinion?