Central Alabama
I found this baby below its nest, a ten-foot drop, right in the middle of an apartment stairway. Looked practically motionless but was alive. Peeped very quietly. I relocated it off the stairs onto the ground right below, but no longer on a footpath. Next morning, today, it had moved 6 inches from where I had placed it (and from where it decided to defecate). Ants were crawling in the soil right around it and it seemed to be sluggishly fending them off with its wings. The nest has been regularly inhabited by what has seemed to be the same (unknown) species. Today, it had maybe 3 other chicks in it, which seemed to look a little more mature than the one that fell. It should not have fallen or jumped with still-shut eyes (up to 5 days old?); maybe it got too crammed up there?
I figured it would be better off in (or at least near the nest, which was just too high for me to reach, so I made a little extension platform with small side rails on which I placed the bird, and thereby lifted him up, stuck right next to the nest. The parents are feeding the other 3(?) babies in the nest, but I have not seen whether they have attended to the baby sitting on my platform. I assume that location is better than in the dirt with ants (and local neighborhood cats). But you tell me.
Also, what kind of bird did I find?
I appreciate any input.
- J