Hello. This is my first post on here.
A pair of pigeons built a nest in our maple tree, and we've had 2 lovely fledglings. They flew from the nest last Saturday, but this morning one of them is back and is just sitting on the lawn. It's alive, but I don't know if it has a problem flying. What should I do? The mother was here earlier, but she just looked at it and flew away. Is it too young to give it pigeon seed? I'd hate anything to happen to it as we have a lot of birds of prey in the area.
snowy
Hello Snowy,
When fledglings leave the nest they are not always particularly graceful when it comes to flying and it takes them some time to not only get the strength in their wings, but also to master their co-ordination. It is therefore not unusual to see a fledgling just 'sat', waiting for its parents to find it.
If the parents are around (and it sounds to me like they are) and this young bird is not hurt in anyway, then the best thing to do, is to leave well alone. If this young bird is of a reasonable size and feathered, it is fair to assume that it has been well fed and looked after. The parent birds will not only feed this youngster, but will encourage it to fly, protect it from predators and teach it how to find food for itself. If there is plenty of cover in the form of trees, shrubs and hedges, then this young bird will be able to tuck itself out of harms way.
Hi Snowy
I see Mrs T has already answered your question but I just wanted to say hello and welcome to the forum. I am sure you will enjoy it here as there are lots of knowledgeable and friendly folk to chat with.
The necessity of bird-watching is a really good reason for avoiding all forms of housework.
The dust will still be there tomorrow - the birds may not be!
I second that!! ;-)
"All weeds are flowers, once you get to know them" (Eeyore)
My photos on Flickr
Both MarJus and Squirrel are quite right. The RSPB Community is a great place to chat to friendly folk, ask questions and post thoughts. I do hope you enjoy it.
Claire
Welcome from me too - hope your little visitor is okay and will get to grips with the big wide world very soon
Regards
Kerry
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kezmo6310/
Thank you for your kind welcome.
I'm sad to say that the little pigeon died in the afternoon. It just sat there, and we kept an eye on it through the window. We wonder if it tried to get back to the nest and hit the tree. The mother didn't come back at all.
We buried it under a tree in our animal and bird cemetery in the little wood!! We now have 5 birds and 2 feral cats buried there.
That's a shame. Must have had something wrong with it. At least it seems that the other one fledged ok?
Oh Snowy - I am so sorry to read that. It's always heart-breaking, isn't it? Fingers crossed for the other one now.
I have to admit that I cried! Haven't seen the other one at all, so yes, fingers crossed.
This pair of pigeons seem to come back every year, and it's the first time that they've managed to raise any babies since we've been here. The first year the nest was so fragile that the eggs and it fell out of the tree; the next year one egg hatched, but there was a strong wind and the baby fell out. Third time lucky!
Oh Snowy! I'm so sorry - poor thing. I would have cried too.