I live in a house that is surrounded by trees and shrubs -- mostly pine, cedar, and juniper, various varieties. The area seems to attract many birds each year. Cardinals, Blue Jays, a black bird (not crow, and it doesn't have a red spot on the wing), and several other smaller birds that I don't recognize. But I digress a bit.
I am writing because I need advice. Early this morning I heard a loud commotion outside, made by many of the black birds squawking. I went out quickly, and discovered that my cat had captured a baby bird on the ground. My cat is declawed (I didn't do it; he is a stray I rescued), and very gentle. So even his hunting is rather mild. He may have been mostly just looking at the bird. It looks like I got there before the bird was injured. There is no blood, and the baby bird can keep its wings folded. (I say this because I've seen birds with injured wings, and the wing just hangs.) I am keeping the cat inside until I can be sure the parents of the bird have found it.
But that is where the problem is. This was several hours ago, and the bird is still calling, but no adult birds are responding. What should I do? How long should I wait before deciding the parents are for some reason not going to attend to the baby? I read somewhere the suggestion to feed a rescued wild baby bird cat food, until it is found by its parents. Is this what anyone on this forum has tried? And if I do it, how is it done? Put the bird in a box, and some cat food in with it? Or what?
Any suggestions about this problem of the baby bird would be very welcome and appreciated. Thanks!
I am writing because I need advice. Early this morning I heard a loud commotion outside, made by many of the black birds squawking. I went out quickly, and discovered that my cat had captured a baby bird on the ground. My cat is declawed (I didn't do it; he is a stray I rescued), and very gentle. So even his hunting is rather mild. He may have been mostly just looking at the bird. It looks like I got there before the bird was injured. There is no blood, and the baby bird can keep its wings folded. (I say this because I've seen birds with injured wings, and the wing just hangs.) I am keeping the cat inside until I can be sure the parents of the bird have found it.
But that is where the problem is. This was several hours ago, and the bird is still calling, but no adult birds are responding. What should I do? How long should I wait before deciding the parents are for some reason not going to attend to the baby? I read somewhere the suggestion to feed a rescued wild baby bird cat food, until it is found by its parents. Is this what anyone on this forum has tried? And if I do it, how is it done? Put the bird in a box, and some cat food in with it? Or what?
Any suggestions about this problem of the baby bird would be very welcome and appreciated. Thanks!