Fledgling swallow / swift advice please

[ilovelibraries]

We have a fledgling swallow (possibly swift, not sure I know the difference) on our drive. It can barely fly - it flaps and does a little flight, but no height to it. It’s been there for an hour now. It’s very vocal, and it’s parents keep swooping down, possibly to feed it. We’ve been back an hour, who knows how long he’s been there.

I don’t know where their nest is.

Is there anything I can do apart from sitting on the doorstep, deterring any cats and willing it to fly?

RSPCA or a vet - poor bird, doesn’t sound good.

I hope he’s ok.

Just to give you hope we’ve had two fledgling situations this year (and none before this). First was a hedge sparrow we rescued from the cat. Kept the cat in for a couple of days while the mother came down to feed it, and saw it take its first flights.
Second was a wood pigeon - again rescued from bastard cat. We didn’t think he’d make it and put him in a rabbit hutch over night (it was after 10 when he was found). Next morning he hopped out, and cried for food. I spent the next few days worrying about him, but his mother brought him food, and at night he hid behind the shed. Gradually he moved higher and higher - bench, wall, fence, garage, and now he’s gone. I miss him.

I really hope that your baby will be safe. His mother knows where he is, and he’ll find shelter tonight. Our baby pigeon was out in really windy conditions, and I was so scared! One thing I’ve learned from my two occasions with baby birds, is that Mother Nature is wonderful, and wildlife is so instinctive, it puts humans to shame.

From what I’ve read, once a bird leaves the nest, they don’t go back. Not sure if that’s just pigeons though. I’ve read so much about pigeons lately!

Thanks for the replies. I thought I’d come back and give an update.

He was fine (I think). I didn’t realise that they can’t launch themselves from the ground. I picked him up and he flew away!

Oh well that’s a good outcome then! Lucky bird!

@Suzi888 I just wish I’d realised earlier . I sat watching it and willing it to fly for around an hour and a half before my husband sent a text suggesting I pick it up. I’d been avoiding doing that!

I would struggle to pick a bird up too! well done for doing it though, obviously have him a little push to fly haha!

Good news OP.
Swifts are one of the only birds who can't fly from the ground - you have saved it

@Ihaventgottimeforthis I was trying not to touch it as I didn’t want the parents to disown it. I’m not very knowledgable about nature .

@Suzi888 I actually bent down and cupped
my hands and it jumped in!