Baby mocking bird

aww the poor thing

Oh what a shame Tracy , is the nest to high to put it back in the morning like you did the baby hummingbird , let us know how you get on with it ....!

Oh bless.......at least he's safe til morning.....

Beautiful little bird. Hope he is soon reunited with his Mum.

I'm very sad to say this little guy didn't make it. I called today and talked to a lady that said that the parents will still feed it and to put it back outside and to watch for about an hour to see if it was being feed. I saw both parents fly in the general area near it, but never feed it. It was really weak and by the time I went to take it to the shelter it died. I should have left it alone...but I thought for sure that one of the many neighborhood cats would've gotten it. I feel very bad and should have done my homework before I did anything.

This is part of a web-article that I found a day too late! Found at:

http://askville.amazon.com/long-baby-mocking-birds-stay-nest-flying/AnswerViewer.do?requestId=11297133

When the chicks are about 12 days old, they will venture from the nest and hop around on the ground or in low shrubs. During this transitional period (after leaving the nest and before they can fly), the young birds are still in the care of the parents, who feed them up to five times per hour. If found hopping around on the ground, they should be placed low in a tree or in a shrub and left alone. (I did this and it hopped back out) The parents will continue to care for them for several days until they learn to forage for themselves.

Many Floridians have experienced the wrath of the mockingbird defending its nest. Fiercely territorial, male mockingbirds have been known to recognize individual humans and will selectively attack them while ignoring other humans who pass by.

My karma for messing with nature will be that these mockingbird parents will hound me for the rest of my days. They're were already at the back door and window, peering in and cursing me.
I almost didn't share this experience with you guys, because I felt very bad about it, but I changed my mind in hopes that other's would learn from my mistake and educate themselves before interfering with nature's course :(

It's almost a no win situation sometimes, TG. You would have felt just as bad if a cat had got to the baby before the parents returned. Several years ago I had a nest of blackbirds in the garden and all three of the babies left the nest. I kept my dogs in thinking the parents would tend them but the next morning I found three little bodies on my lawn. No injuries, no scattered feathers, so I really don't know what happened but I still felt guilty that I hadn't done anything.

Nature can be cruel. But you tried your best.

It's sibling ended up staying in the nest for at least another week or two. So I'm sure that it fell from the nest and wan't ready. You're right Newfie, nature can be cruel! You're right too Gee, it's a no-win situation....