
Last week, hubby was outside, preparing to change the oil in his truck, when a bird seemingly came out of the sky to flap around his head! He was flinging his arms around to get it away, so I stepped in to steer it out of his space. Well! It was a fledgling starling that apparently flung itself out of the nest in our upper gutter, before it was able to fly well. It landed on my shoulder, then started begging for food! It took it off onto my hand and put it on the ground. He started following me around, still begging! I didn't see any annoyed parent bird around, which seemed strange, but maybe she was out gathering food.
I was able to pick this baby bird up as much as I wanted, and pet him. I took him to the garden and moved the straw around to turn up bugs. The baby really loved grubs! He also gobbled up spiders and beetles. I gave him worms, also, but had to hand feed them to him. He wasn't too keen on them, but they did help fill his crop.
I held him up and tried to get him to fly. He would flap like crazy, but only could fly to the ground, not upwards. Eventually he went under the pricker bush for the night, which I thought was a good choice!
The next day, I didn't see my little feathered friend at first, but before I knew it he came back begging! I fed him as much as I could find. I was beginning to wonder if he would be a permanent boarder, but on the third day, he didn't show up, and I haven't seen him since. There are starlings around, so he probably joined a flock. It was fun while it lasted!
I was able to pick this baby bird up as much as I wanted, and pet him. I took him to the garden and moved the straw around to turn up bugs. The baby really loved grubs! He also gobbled up spiders and beetles. I gave him worms, also, but had to hand feed them to him. He wasn't too keen on them, but they did help fill his crop.
I held him up and tried to get him to fly. He would flap like crazy, but only could fly to the ground, not upwards. Eventually he went under the pricker bush for the night, which I thought was a good choice!
The next day, I didn't see my little feathered friend at first, but before I knew it he came back begging! I fed him as much as I could find. I was beginning to wonder if he would be a permanent boarder, but on the third day, he didn't show up, and I haven't seen him since. There are starlings around, so he probably joined a flock. It was fun while it lasted!
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