What do you do with baby birds?

playfordtree · 14th March 2008, 11:34 PM

The other day i took down a Washingtonia, the head was full of pigeons(and pigeon crap).
After it had hit the ground i found 4 baby pigeons who were too young to fly away. (i dont know how they survived the 12metre fall to be honest)

Now while i think of pigeons as being "rats with feathers" it's not the birds fault that i destroyed their home.

Obviously the little guys are pretty much doomed, as the parents wont come back, and there was nowhere else to put them.
I dont have the heart to just wring their necks, so i took them to the Animal Welfare League.
As they are not a native species the AWL euthanaise them humanely.
This is still not a very nice option, but better than leaving them under a bush for a cat or ants to get.
(My previous employer would throw them straight through the chipper)

What do you guys do?

treeseer · 15th March 2008, 01:46 AM

depends on the bird. with pigeons i might say here kitty!

last week i put a nest of baby squirrels into another hollow in the same tree. they are invasive but not exotic,

don't be too quick to judge that the parents will not come back.

blair duncanson · 15th March 2008, 02:22 AM

Taking them to animal wellfare league sounds like the best option there. Most of time they will humanely dispatch them but this depends on type and age of bird. Some folk may have even taken them home and tried to hand rear them, unlikely they will survive but perhaps may alleviate any guilt. In Scotland when doing work for big landowners there is a close season on tree felling because of nesting birds, unless site meeting with tree inspection proves there to be no working nests.Inspection required also if tree is suspected to be a summer roost for bats, ie rotten cavities etc.
Chipper option seems pretty instant and a tad barbaric, you can also squeeze either side of the breast bone to stop the heart. Depending on circumstances you may want to start your own menagerie.!
Would be good to see any other suggestions.

Ekka · 15th March 2008, 03:33 AM

Well, we've had it happen a lot.

It's those top notch pidgeons usually ... but the adults are never far watching.

We have relocated the nest to another tree/place and observed the parents. Usually the parents are onto it and go to the new location.

If the customer is home we tell them to observe and if the parents dont feed or visit to take them to the AWL/RSPCA/WildLifeRescue people.

newguy18 · 15th March 2008, 05:24 AM

Every nest i've found was empty while i was pruning or removing trees,i'd probabley take them to an animal sancutary if i came across them.Playford your seriuos about what yuor old boss would do with them?

playfordtree · 15th March 2008, 05:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by newguy18

Playford your seriuos about what yuor old boss would do with them?

Deadly serious, it made my stomach turn.

KidInTree · 15th March 2008, 11:37 AM

usually swing over to a nerby tree and put the nest in it if nothing nearby in a bush or something.

ScottWojo · 16th March 2008, 04:36 PM

Here the english Sparrow and the Blue bird compete for the same nests. The English Sparrow nests about three weeks earlier than the blue bird. Sometimes the sparrow will actually build a nest right on top of a live nest of blue birds.

So the natural bird is the Blue Bird. and I build blue bird houses. The Blue Bird is getting difficult to find around here. I have built up the population in my area.

If I find a nest of sparrow eggs in a blue bird house...I will wait till night and try to capture the momma bird. Once captured I will Kill it and the eggs on the spot.

If I found a nest of blue birds in a natural hole in a tree. I would leave the tree untill nesting has finished. The momma birds will try to attack you as you approach the nest. So it will be clearly evident to you before you cut it down. If it is unavoidable, I would relocate the nest to a blue bird box and observe to ensure that the parents are keen to it.

If you touch a baby bird it will not die, thats old wives tales. If the bird is rare or protected go above and beyond. If the bird is unnatural to the environment KILL KILL KILL it.

Scott.

playfordtree · 16th March 2008, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by treeseer

with pigeons i might say here kitty!

What happens if it's a Vegan cat?

JayD · 16th March 2008, 10:07 PM

This is a hard one Playford,If there a pest..mmm..such as Indian minors, who are wiping out our parots,I'm inclined to neck them! But they are innocent babies so I will put the nest into a nearby tree from there on it's up to nature.

TreeDimensional · 16th March 2008, 10:18 PM

A rat is a rat, young OR old.

Therrin · 17th March 2008, 01:05 AM

Little bit of flour....

Little salt n pepper....

*licks lips*

playfordtree · 17th March 2008, 01:11 AM

Mmmmm........... pigeon pie.

droooool

arbdog · 17th March 2008, 04:44 AM

Its against the law to remove a tree with nesting birds here in the u.k. But if you wanna get paid we work on the tree. Ive sat there and said sorry to the poor little things just before ive cut the branch (pigeons mainly). I know its not nice but it happens! Bloke i used to work with cobbed them in the chipper, cruel to be kind sort of thing! A nesting bird has just cost a construction firm a million pounds as it nested on a site and delayed the job and they had to holt work till it finished. some american bird but i dont know what sort.

arbdog · 17th March 2008, 04:48 AM

And I didnt vote in the poll because I leave it to the ground staff to sort out. but it would have to be the nasty one if any. (and thats not me).

newguy18 · 17th March 2008, 05:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by playfordtree

What happens if it's a Vegan cat?

View Poll Results: What do you do with baby birds?
Take them home, hand rear them and call them George	0	0%
Put your climbing gear on and construct another nest in a tree nearby	5	29.41%
Take them to a Wildlife protection sanctuary	6	35.29%
Wring their necks, they're dead anyway	2	11.76%
Straight through the chipper, ya big nancy!	4	23.53%
Voters: 17. You may not vote on this poll

14th March 2008, 11:34 PM	#1 (permalink)
playfordtree Mature tree Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Adelaide Australia Posts: 337	What do you do with baby birds? The other day i took down a Washingtonia, the head was full of pigeons(and pigeon crap). After it had hit the ground i found 4 baby pigeons who were too young to fly away. (i dont know how they survived the 12metre fall to be honest) Now while i think of pigeons as being "rats with feathers" it's not the birds fault that i destroyed their home. Obviously the little guys are pretty much doomed, as the parents wont come back, and there was nowhere else to put them. I dont have the heart to just wring their necks, so i took them to the Animal Welfare League. As they are not a native species the AWL euthanaise them humanely. This is still not a very nice option, but better than leaving them under a bush for a cat or ants to get. (My previous employer would throw them straight through the chipper) What do you guys do? __________________ I Drink Therefore I am. Last edited by playfordtree : 15th March 2008 at 05:00 AM. Reason: spelt pigeons wrong (it's saturday, i've been drinkin')

15th March 2008, 01:46 AM	#2 (permalink)
treeseer Over mature heritage tree Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: SE USA Posts: 527	Re: What do you do with baby birds? depends on the bird. with pigeons i might say here kitty! last week i put a nest of baby squirrels into another hollow in the same tree. they are invasive but not exotic, don't be too quick to judge that the parents will not come back. __________________ Guy Meilleur \| Forensic Arborist \| Better Tree Care

15th March 2008, 02:22 AM	#3 (permalink)
blair duncanson Semi-mature vigorous tree Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: argyll Posts: 86	Re: What do you do with baby birds? Taking them to animal wellfare league sounds like the best option there. Most of time they will humanely dispatch them but this depends on type and age of bird. Some folk may have even taken them home and tried to hand rear them, unlikely they will survive but perhaps may alleviate any guilt. In Scotland when doing work for big landowners there is a close season on tree felling because of nesting birds, unless site meeting with tree inspection proves there to be no working nests.Inspection required also if tree is suspected to be a summer roost for bats, ie rotten cavities etc. Chipper option seems pretty instant and a tad barbaric, you can also squeeze either side of the breast bone to stop the heart. Depending on circumstances you may want to start your own menagerie.! Would be good to see any other suggestions.

15th March 2008, 05:24 AM	#5 (permalink)
newguy18 Part of the Furniture Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Live Oak Florida home of the crapiest trees you will ever see. Posts: 2,616	Re: What do you do with baby birds? Every nest i've found was empty while i was pruning or removing trees,i'd probabley take them to an animal sancutary if i came across them.Playford your seriuos about what yuor old boss would do with them? __________________ Have your say join us today. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xzkd_m4ivmc http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xzfzb...eature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-OqK...eature=related

15th March 2008, 11:37 AM	#7 (permalink)
KidInTree Sappling Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Orillia, Ontatio, Canada Posts: 13	Re: What do you do with baby birds? usually swing over to a nerby tree and put the nest in it if nothing nearby in a bush or something.

16th March 2008, 04:36 PM	#8 (permalink)
ScottWojo Custom Chainsaw Muffler Modifications Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 70	Re: What do you do with baby birds? Here the english Sparrow and the Blue bird compete for the same nests. The English Sparrow nests about three weeks earlier than the blue bird. Sometimes the sparrow will actually build a nest right on top of a live nest of blue birds. So the natural bird is the Blue Bird. and I build blue bird houses. The Blue Bird is getting difficult to find around here. I have built up the population in my area. If I find a nest of sparrow eggs in a blue bird house...I will wait till night and try to capture the momma bird. Once captured I will Kill it and the eggs on the spot. If I found a nest of blue birds in a natural hole in a tree. I would leave the tree untill nesting has finished. The momma birds will try to attack you as you approach the nest. So it will be clearly evident to you before you cut it down. If it is unavoidable, I would relocate the nest to a blue bird box and observe to ensure that the parents are keen to it. If you touch a baby bird it will not die, thats old wives tales. If the bird is rare or protected go above and beyond. If the bird is unnatural to the environment KILL KILL KILL it. Scott. __________________ ScottWojo HP Modified Chainsaw Mufflers\| GB Bar and Chain Distributor.

16th March 2008, 10:07 PM	#10 (permalink)
JayD Over mature heritage tree Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Sydney Posts: 886	Re: What do you do with baby birds? This is a hard one Playford,If there a pest..mmm..such as Indian minors, who are wiping out our parots,I'm inclined to neck them! But they are innocent babies so I will put the nest into a nearby tree from there on it's up to nature. __________________ Free Tree and Green Industry Link Directory

16th March 2008, 10:18 PM	#11 (permalink)
TreeDimensional Banned Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 385	Re: What do you do with baby birds? A rat is a rat, young OR old.

17th March 2008, 01:05 AM	#12 (permalink)
Therrin The Tree World Bandit Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Lancaster, Ca Posts: 1,254	Re: What do you do with baby birds? Little bit of flour.... Little salt n pepper.... licks lips __________________ Ken Fessia I.T.S.A. Tree Service (661) 916-4703

17th March 2008, 01:11 AM	#13 (permalink)
playfordtree Mature tree Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Adelaide Australia Posts: 337	Re: What do you do with baby birds? Mmmmm........... pigeon pie. droooool __________________ I Drink Therefore I am.

17th March 2008, 04:44 AM	#14 (permalink)
arbdog Semi-mature vigorous tree Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: england Posts: 97	Re: What do you do with baby birds? Its against the law to remove a tree with nesting birds here in the u.k. But if you wanna get paid we work on the tree. Ive sat there and said sorry to the poor little things just before ive cut the branch (pigeons mainly). I know its not nice but it happens! Bloke i used to work with cobbed them in the chipper, cruel to be kind sort of thing! A nesting bird has just cost a construction firm a million pounds as it nested on a site and delayed the job and they had to holt work till it finished. some american bird but i dont know what sort.

17th March 2008, 04:48 AM	#15 (permalink)
arbdog Semi-mature vigorous tree Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: england Posts: 97	Re: What do you do with baby birds? And I didnt vote in the poll because I leave it to the ground staff to sort out. but it would have to be the nasty one if any. (and thats not me).