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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think this baby crow will be abandoned by its mother now

15 replies

Snoringzzz · 27/05/2024 20:15

DH was walking in our local woods yesterday where he heard a bit of commotion on the ground / in a bush. It was a baby crow / fledgling who couldn’t quite fly, trapped in some brambles.

DH got it out carefully and placed it on the ground. There was another baby crow very close by so I assume the mum was close by too.

DH has walked the area again today and the birds are still on the ground, trying to fly a little.

I didn’t think he should have handled the bird as its mother will smell DH on it and abandon it / stop feeding it. DH says it’s nonsense as rare baby birds are caught and tagged and that doesn’t make the parents abandon them.

Anyone with experience know? Should we move the birds to a higher place? I think they’re probably very vulnerable on the ground from predators.

To think this baby crow will be abandoned by its mother now
OP posts:
WiddlinDiddlin · 27/05/2024 20:18

He's right. Handling baby birds as long as its quick and you put them somewhere sensible is absolutely fine.

Ideally you leave them alone but if they've got stuck some where silly, putting them somewhere safe is fine.

At that age they're hopping about learning to fly, they will be on the ground in minutes if you pop them up somewhere high.

Nottherealslimshady · 27/05/2024 20:23

The whole don't touch a baby bird becuase their mother will reject them isn't actually as common as made out. It'd have died if he didn't help it so he at least gave it a chance.

SmallGreens · 27/05/2024 20:24

He's right.

Errors · 27/05/2024 20:26

No advice but I appreciate the picture. Cute!

WiddlinDiddlin · 27/05/2024 20:26

Birds on the whole have a very poor sense of smell (excluding those that are adapted to pick up very specific scents). SO no they do not know you handled their baby and they're not bothered as long as you do it quick and get outta there.

Disturbing nests before eggs are hatched is something different andt hat can put them off but you'd still have to faff a fair bit and actually mess the nest up, not simply peek in and have a look or pop an egg back in or something. In that case it isn't your scent, its the fact the nest has been moved around/damaged that upsets them.

NeverDropYourMooncup · 27/05/2024 20:30

He was probably being watched all the time by Mum and the extended family. So they saw him saving their baby, who will be as fine as the other one now they're fledging and exhibiting perfectly normal crow behaviour.

He's now regarded as Righteous Among the Corvids.

hoarahloux · 27/05/2024 20:31

He should go back and leave a gift. They'll worship him.

As has been mentioned, it's a myth that touching baby birds will make their parents reject them. He's Crow Saviour now.

CassandraProphesying · 27/05/2024 20:31

Totally normal for fledglings to be on the ground. The parent will be helping them even if you didn’t see them (they’ll probably stay away whilst you’re there). As long as they aren’t injured and they have a good set of feathers they’ll be fine. No don’t move them higher, and yes they’re vulnerable but that’s just nature.

Sandwichgen · 27/05/2024 20:32

I have a feeling your dh is its mother now

cannonballz · 27/05/2024 20:36

no, it wont be abandoned - would a human mum abandon her baby because a dog had licked it or similar? That sort of behaviour would make no evolutionary sense at all.

And yes, the crows would have seen, and would have understood, and will remember your DH - possibly for 5or even 10 years!

And yes, sadly, they are vulnerable on the ground - survival of the fittest, and all that - the stronger cleverer ones will get themselves of the ground fastest

KreedKafer · 27/05/2024 20:37

Birds have very little sense of smell. Generally speaking, you can move them to a safer spot as close as possible to where you found them, if you need to. Under a hedge or something like that - the adult bird needs to be able to hear them.

What you shouldn’t do is hang around waiting to see if the mother returns - if she sees you, she probably won’t come back.

It’s different for mammals - if you find a baby deer, for example, definitely do not touch it.

Original poster
Snoringzzz · 27/05/2024 20:38

Thanks all, we’ll go and see tomorrow if they are still around. One was able to fly up to the lower branches of a tree today but one was still on the ground. Hopefully with every day theyll get better at flying 🤞

OP posts:
QueensOfTheVolksAge · 27/05/2024 20:50

Take some peanuts and mealworms, they will remember you for ever!

Sandwichgen · 29/05/2024 21:42

How were they today?

Original poster
Snoringzzz · 31/05/2024 06:48

Sorry to have not updated. Following day we went back and one had sadly died, it was on the ground. The other one was still around, flapping but managing to get onto lower branches. We’ve been back again since and that one has gone too now so I’m hopeful it found its wings and survived.

Mother Nature can be cruel at times.

OP posts:
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