Posted by Terry on May 15, 2005

Q: I found a baby bird early this evening. I heard a rucus going on and saw a Robin, Blue Jay scuffle. As I looked, I noticed a Blue Jay that seemed to peck a a baby bird.

Hmmmm! Was this the Robin's bird or the Blue Jay's bird or perhaps a baby Sparrow. Anyway, I ran off the Blue Jay and Sparrow and headed to the garage for a box. Upon my arrival, I merely laid the box so the baby could and did hop into it. There is a bird house just above where I found the baby bird. I looked inside for other residents but saw none. I left the box alone after a while to see who would return. I saw a Sparrow near by and so I went about my business to the other side of the yard and kept watch. The Blue Jay then returned and sat on the fence nearby and stared at the box. Anyway, I'm not sure what this bird is.

I don't believe it's a Blue Jay. I read that a mother Robin will transfer the baby Robins to the father's nest so maybe she dropped it? But, more likely than not, it's a Sparrow because I think the Sparrows were staying in the bird house. So then ... would the Robin or the Blue Jay try to hurt, kill or eat the baby Sparrow?

I wish to put it back out and let it's mother take care of it but, I'm very concerned about (Robin & Blue Jay and what ever) preditors. It's in the house tonight ... only 47 degrees out. He's in a box with a piece of a t-shirt in it and he seems to like that very much. Oh and ... he's pooped all over all ready!

Thank you for your help.

Terry

A: I agree that it sounds as though it is a sparrow (House Sparrows like to nest in nest boxes). A baby Blue Jay that has feathers looks a lot like the adults and a baby Robin looks similar to the adults although they have a spotted breast.

Sounds to me as though the Blue Jay found a young fledgling sparrow that it was hoping to eat. Blue Jays can be very agressive predators although I'm not sure what the Robin was doing in that interaction.

My best guess is that the sparrow is a fledgling and would be well taken care of by its parents had the Jay not found it. Feeding these little tikes is really a big job so I'd strongly recommend returning it to the bushes near the nest box and release it there. There is a good chance that the parents will take up feeding it (your handling the bird will not deter the parents). Actually, there is a good chance that your baby's siblings are nearby too.

All in all I think you saw a bit of nature we don't like to think about - predation. I am one that wants to rescue animals that are being preyed upon but have to keep reminding myself that this is part of nature and is normal and best left alone. Hope all goes well for you and that your baby does make it. I'm glad to see that you're concerned about wild animals, we all need to care about their overall well-being.

John Wiessinger ( May 16, 2005)