Found a young bird in my yard...

[Lamplight]

Earlier I saw my cat looking at something on the ground in the yard, and he was acting very strange. I walked over to where he was and saw a young robin just sitting there. He (maybe she?) has not yet gotten his full color, but you can see a little orange on his chest. He looks ok, but I have no idea if my cat hurt him or not. :( I found him at about 8:00 and he still has not moved. I hate to leave him in the yard because we have neighborhood cats that roam around at night, and one would be sure to get him. I put my hand near him and he turned his head upward and opened his mouth, as if waiting to be fed. :( I'm not sure what to do, if anything.

[Belmondo]

Boy, that's a tough one.

I'm sure you must have an wildlife rescue organization in your area. They can probably tell you what to do.

[Lamplight]

Yeah, I may have to look into that tomorrow. I couldn't decide if I should put him somewhere to keep the cats from getting him, or leave him be and hope he flies away. I tried to feed him but all I had was bread and he didn't want it anyway. :(

[Scottes]

Do you have a fishing place in the area? Or pet store that caters to some exotic pets? Mealworms are a perfect choice for a robin.

Stinks though. I'm not sure who could help for "a meer robin." If that was a raptor there'd be someone to help. :(

[CyberDyneSystems]

... probably a goner I'm afraid :(

I just went through the same thing with a Sparrow.... no you can't bring them to a wildlife shelter type place if you are looking to have it cared for.... I know from first hand experience that it will be fed to the raptors. :?

[stopbath]

Shuffle the little bird into a box, and relocate the tyke into some shubbery or thick garden so it can hide and recouperate. Leave it close by to where you found it if possible so mom and dad can find it. They will likely be by with some food for it soon.

Try not to handle the bird so that parasites or what not don't transfer to you.

After it recouperates enough to hop about and finish learning to fly, your little buddy will be off on the wing (perhaps back to the nest, maybe not...)

We had a young bird a month ago hanging out in the driveway. He moved off into our doorway and stayed there (in the open) We put him in the garden behind a big shrub. He dashed under the shrub and stayed for a little bit. Gone in the morning, but no signs of a struggle!

Good luck with your fledgling.

[Lamplight]

Well I ended up putting him in a box lid overnight (I used gloves) and placed it on an outside shelf between some thick plants I have so he would be kind of concealed. This morning I gave him a couple of crumbs of bread and a little water and he seemed to be acting normal so I put him back in the yard. A few minutes later when I left for work he was gone so I'm assuming he either managed to fly away or hide under the bushes. I guess I'll see when I get home this evening. Thanks for the advice guys. :)

[stopbath]

yeaaah! 8) 8)

Photos?

[Belmondo]

Well I ended up putting him in a box lid overnight (I used gloves) and placed it on an outside shelf between some thick plants I have so he would be kind of concealed. This morning I gave him a couple of crumbs of bread and a little water and he seemed to be acting normal so I put him back in the yard. A few minutes later when I left for work he was gone so I'm assuming he either managed to fly away or hide under the bushes. I guess I'll see when I get home this evening. Thanks for the advice guys. :)

Fingers crossed.

[Scottes]

yeaaah! 8) 8)

Photos?

Well, at least Stopbath's got the priorities right. :)

[Lamplight]

yeaaah! 8) 8)

Photos?

I'm ashamed to say that I didn't think about it until earlier. :oops: :lol:

[Tom W]

Hopefully, the little guy will be OK.

I know that my old cat was quite the hunter, but the problem is, he'd bring his dead prey in to show me! He managed to leap up into the air one time and pick off a swooping blue jay in the front yard. I didn't feel bad about that one, as I don't have much love for that particular species.

I've noticed that well-fed cats still like to hunt, but they do so in a playful manner, as if the prey were a toy. Perhaps that is why your bird wasn't killed.

[stopbath]

yeaaah! 8) 8)

Photos?

Well, at least Stopbath's got the priorities right. :)
:oops: Well, I was gonna ask for a blood sample, but my cup is full. So photos... drat. Now I'm thirsty. :shock:

[Lamplight]

I've noticed that well-fed cats still like to hunt, but they do so in a playful manner, as if the prey were a toy. Perhaps that is why your bird wasn't killed.

Yeah, the only animals I've seen my cat actually eat is insects. :D Anytime I've seen him "play" with some sort of animal, it is usually just batting it around a little with no teeth or claws involved. I'm hoping that's all he did to the bird. :)