I have found this recent exchange very interesting, but I have a question
for the experts who have participated in this exchange.  I know that robins
--at least -- do not abandon their young even after a touching.  I once
stumbled on a robin's nest while working on my house.  I barely touched the
nest and was fearful I had doomed the young, but happily the mother was not
offended and feed the young until they could fly away.  On the other hand, a
small finch-like bird made a nest in a fern in a hanging basket on my porch.

I moved the basket, discovered the nest, and then carefully  did not touch
the nest.  I replaced the basket and yet the small bird did not return to
hatch the eggs.  Any ideas why this bird abandoned the nest?

On 6/15/07 3:59 PM, "David Aborn" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> The idea that parent birds will reject young that have been touched is a
> myth. Most birds have a very poor sense of smell. In addition, the parents
> have invested so much in their offspring by the time the young have hatched
> that the chances of abandonment are very low.
> 
> This whole episode brings up another issue. It is not unusual for the young
> of some bird species to leave the nest before they can fly. This does NOT
> mean that they are orphaned. The parents know where the young are and will
> care for them (as Alice pointed out). The only reasons you should intervene
> are 1) you are SURE the parents are dead or otherwise not caring for them
> and 2) if the chicks are in danger. If they are in danger (e.g. there is a
> cat or dog stalking them) then either get rid of the threat (chase the cat
> or dog away) or put the chicks in a safe place, such as a bush or other
> cover. IF, AND ONLY IF, YOU ARE SURE the parents are not around should you
> take them to a rehabilitator. Every year, rehab centers are flooded with
> young birds that people think are orphaned when they are not. The parents
> can care for the young much better than humans can, and many young birds
> taken to rehab centers do not survive.
> 
> David Aborn
> UTC Ornithologist
> Dept. of Biological and Environmental Sciences
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: UTC Staff E-Mail List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of
> Frankie Roeser
> Sent: Friday, June 15, 2007 3:25 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: [UTCSTAFF] ALERT--baby mockingbirds in the road
> 
> AliceYou should never touch a baby bird with your hands.  The mother
> will smell you and never feed them again.
> 
> Frankie Roeser
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: UTC Staff E-Mail List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of
> Alice L Tym
> Sent: Friday, June 15, 2007 3:00 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: [UTCSTAFF] ALERT--baby mockingbirds in the road
> 
> There are baby mockingbirds out of the nest between the new engineering
> building and the fine arts building. Please don't run over them (they
> look like little gray rags that occasionally flop). Put them in the
> grass--the mother will come feed them. Thanks.
> 
> * UTCSTAFF home page:  http://raven.utc.edu/archives/utcstaff.html *
> * unsubscribe:  mailto:[log in to unmask]  *
> *   subscribe:  mailto:[log in to unmask]    *
> 
> * UTCSTAFF home page:  http://raven.utc.edu/archives/utcstaff.html *
> * unsubscribe:  mailto:[log in to unmask]  *
> *   subscribe:  mailto:[log in to unmask]    *
> 
> * UTCSTAFF home page:  http://raven.utc.edu/archives/utcstaff.html *
> * unsubscribe:  mailto:[log in to unmask]  *
> *   subscribe:  mailto:[log in to unmask]    *
> 

* UTCSTAFF home page:  http://raven.utc.edu/archives/utcstaff.html *
* unsubscribe:  mailto:[log in to unmask]  *
*   subscribe:  mailto:[log in to unmask]    *