to try to save baby sparrow?

[medievalgirl]

There are hedge sparrows nesting in the honeysuckle just outside our window. Half an hour ago I looked out to see one of the babies standing on the ground, looking lost. He's obviously too young to fly (still more fluff than feathers) but he's not a newborn or anything. He's just standing there. Next door's evil cat could come over the fence at any moment. Is there anything I can do? Presumably if I try and put him back in the nest, I'll just terrify the whole family and the mother will end up killing all her babies or something.

PLEASE just leave well alone. They can't fly for a day or two after fledging and will be being fed by its parents. Case the cat away if you see it, but doin't touch the bird, its parents are close by, gauranteed!

Read this

Thank you, thank you. I was pretty sure that touching it should be a last resort. But it just looks soooo vulnerable sitting there. Which, of course, it is. Nature red in tooth and claw and all that.

Just looked at the link, Bigus, and it says you should intervene only if the chick isn't fully feathered. Well this one's not. They're saying return it to the nest. But surely this will just terrify the whole family?

I watched a robin family nest and fledge in our garden a few weeks ago and the single baby robin they had sat in my flower beds for 2 days whilst the mum and dad fed it every few minutes. I have Jack Russells and had to ban them from the back garden for the whole time. I put out mealworms and seed for them and was completely obsessed with this baby! I got nothing else done! I was a bit sad when it eventually flew away. Well im hoping it did fly away....

Is it like a fluffy pompom? Only put it back if you can see its skin between spiky looking feathers. If its round and fluffy looking, leave it alone i think.

have a look at the Best Answer on this Basically it says if it can balance on its own without toppling then you should leave it alone.

Thank you Bigus. Yup, it's standing on its own and I can't see skin. The main problem is that there is NOWHERE for it to hide at ground level in this bit of the garden. I don't fancy its chances. Just seen mummy sparrow bring it some food, though.