Young Blackbird In The Garden

[Big Jenny]

On of my cats caught a young blackbird this morning, but soon lost interest and didn't kill it. It recovered fairly quickly, but I think it has lost a few tail feathers and doesn't seem to be able to fly. It has hopped round the garden all day, crying for its mamma and following other birds about. They just ignore it. It wont let me get anywhere near it, and doesn't appear to have eaten anything all day. Perhaps it's too young to feed itself? Is there anything I can do for it? I can't imagine it will survive much longer on its own, but wanted to give it a fighting chance.

BJ

[Ouzel]

You may not like this, BJ, but I think you will just have to let nature take its course - having said that, I hope the young bird survives .. fingers crossed.

[mastercraft]

Why don't you stop letting your cat outside?
If my dog chased cats and maimed or killed them, she would probably be classed as a bad / aggressive dog. If she did it continually she would no doubt be put to sleep via the authorities.
You have a killer on your hands, not muzzled and not on a lead... think about it.

[Big Jenny]

Oh yes, mastercraft, believe me, I've thought about it, but as a cat lover it's something of a dilemma. My two cats are 14 and 8 years old, and have gone outside right from the word "go". The 8 year old was a stray who turned up on the doorstep, and subsequently moved in, so he wouldn't take kindly to be confined to the house. They both spend a lot of time indoors, but like to go outside from time to time. We don't have a lot of trouble with them catching birds, just very occasionally. It's in their nature to hunt, and I accept that, but in this particular instance I don't like to see the little bird crying for its mamma and being unable to do anything to help it. In a way, I wish the cat had completed the job and not left the bird alive. It's still hopping about crying this morning, but wont let me near it. Does anyone know if missing tail feathers will ever re-grow. I think that's what's stopping it from flying away.

BJ

[murraymints]

jenny..you just have to sit back...I have seen blackies with few tail feathers

[maggiebee]

Just following their instincts Jenny. Afraid young blackie will just have to take its chances, nature can be cruel at times. My cats have always roamed and brought the occasional "present" home.

[Big Jenny]

Hubby has just seen a pigeon feeding the little bird. I was surprised. The pigeon has disappeared now, but perhaps it'll come back later. I have also seen the little bird pecking round the bottom of the bird table, so it seems to be capable of feeding itself. Just wish it would learn to fly.

BJ

[Prudie]

I find blackbirds are the worst for having that couple of days when they can't fly but have come out of the nest. Maybe if you make sure it has stuff to eat on the ground it will keep it going unti! strong enough to take off. The pigeon thing would be unusual but great if that's happening.

[paddyk]

We get fledglings in out garden sometimes. The RSPB advise you to leave them if not in immediate danger. If I've attached the link correctly it gives all the advice. Some chicks fledge on the ground for a couple of days eg Jackdaws (we had one this year) Not sure about Blackbird fledglings but you can google this info. Blackbirds are good parents so it is very likely they will be around

[paddyk]

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=3&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjLm5GX34HOAhVGC8AKHczCDW4QFggrMAI&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rspb.org.uk%2Fcommunity%2Fwildlife%2Ff%2F3070%2Ft%2F16193.aspx&usg=AFQjCNHXJsVSVs2pYXrdU9Sqi4cP5dajAw&bvm=bv.127521224,d.ZGg Media URL: http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=3&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjLm5GX34HOAhVGC8AKHczCDW4QFggrMAI&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rspb.org.uk%2Fcommunity%2Fwildlife%2Ff%2F3070%2Ft%2F16193.aspx&usg=AFQjCNHXJsVSVs2pYXrdU9Sqi4cP5dajAw&bvm=bv.
Description:

[paddyk]

Havhttp://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=3&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjLm5GX34HOAhVGC8AKHczCDW4QFggrMAI&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rspb.org.uk%2Fcommunity%2Fwildlife%2Ff%2F3070%2Ft%2F16193.aspx&usg=AFQjCNHXJsVSVs2pYXrdU9Sqi4cP5dajAw&bvm=bv.127521224,d.ZGg
Have got the link to work now. This gives some really good advice

[Ellipsis]

This is the link paddyk is trying to post:

http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/wildlife/f/3070/t/16193.aspx

[Big Jenny]

Thank you paddyk. I've read it all and feel a bit more hopeful now. Just as long as I can keep the cats indoors, or out the front of the house, so the little bird can hop about the back garden safely. It's still squawking its head off. I don't know how far the cat brought it from its parents and nest. If they were very near at hand, I think they would have heard it squawking and come down by now.

BJ

[mastercraft]

You are obviously a irresponsible pet owner. I hope you feel some blame when you look at the blackbird.
I'm sure you would like your cat to be dragged up to a dog owners doorstep as a 'present'? After all, it's only natural for dogs to chase cats.

[Hopkirk]

Ignore Mastercraft, he's just being a pratt.

[Hypognosis]

@BigJenny

Paddyk's link has this, rather pointed, piece of advice

"It can be tempting to try to ‘rescue’ a baby bird apparently in trouble. Here are some things to remember:

•The adult birds are much more skilled at looking after their offspring than humans will ever be!
•It’s very likely that the bird’s parents are nearby, waiting for you to leave the area."
(my emphasis)

Personally, I scatter dried mealworms on the grassy areas and blackbirds hop to and fro, gathering them up. I would suggest trying this as a bag would be only £3 (likely less than the price of a round trip drive to a wildlife rescue centre) and, if it succeeds in drawing out the parent birds from their hiding places, at least you know the fledgeling is still being supported.

Don't worry, if not. It may just mean the parents are onto their second brood. Then again, I saw first juveniles, of this year, over two months ago and have already seen one in adult black feathers but with a brown, not yellow, beak so, if this incident is recent, it may be a second brood youngster.

[Hypognosis]

To be pragmatic about nature, if you saved a chick from a wild predator, it still needs its meal and will simply kill another, in an area outside the boundary of your control.

In evolutionary terms, bold individuals will glean food where others fear to tread but will be predated preferentially. The shy, skittish ones will escape harm more often and the species becomes harder for predators to locate, perhaps to the stage that they have to switch to another prey species. (I'm oversimplifying and we know they take whatever they stumble across).

I admit that, even if I'm right, many still find it icky to watch and don't like the feeling that they could have interved but didn't. We could all do without the guilt trip, on top.

As for your cat, uneaten food in the bowl = no outdoor venturing.
Use string, toy mice, long blades of grass or anything else which the cat likes to chase and play at hunting with it until it gets bored (5-10 mins), every day. Satisfy its urges, tire it out and your birds should get a bit of peace.

[ladybirder]

Keeping cats in from just before dusk until after dawn during the mating season will save a lot of young birds' lives. They are not "streetwise", are filling up for the night and then very hungry first thing in the morning and are so vulnerable to predation at this time. Birds have a hard life and I believe we should do all we can to make their lives easier.
Some Live meal worms (they need the moisture) left under nearby bushes would help, if it's not too late.

[jambutty]

I agree with mastercraft and MY post gets removed,but his two stay - weird !!!