Worried that starling chicks are victims of helicopter parenting

[elephantmarch]

We don’t actually live rurally but I thought you may know.

For the last three years we’ve had starlings nesting in our roof. We won’t disturb them whilst they are nesting and it’s quite a nice problem to have....but they are getting too comfortable. They starting nesting in early April Iand are still there, chirping away, getting their dinners brought to them each hour . Is that normal? Surely their chicks are teenagers now. Do you think their parents are mollycoddling them? When should we expect to become empty nesters?

If you've had them nesting for the last 3 years, are they usually gone by now? Is this year different from other years? I have no experience of starlings, swallows, yes, and they don't leave until about September so I'm not really sure.

starling chicks being victims of helicopter parenting is a very unusual concept. Animals give birth/ hatch eggs care for their young as long as needed. Nature has its own way of dealing with young, animals don't have access to the internet so they probably prefer to go by instinct. It generally seems to work.

I am babysitting a gulls nest ( well watching) one week old. Am Reading that feeding goes on for many months and longer if the ‘baby’ can get away with it.
Have to say it’s been tough. Watched them on eggs for a month. Saw first of two within minutes of birth. Then tragedy re second who was victim of another gull. Now the rain and cold is worrying me re the little one left. Parents doing a lot of protection from crows etc. An honour. A drama!
Good luck with your starlings op. Greedy things ! It’s not a second brood is it?

@heronlanyon i think maybe they have. Rspb thinks that starlings should fledge the nest in 12 days but these ones are staying put. Oh no the poor full. Hold on in there little fella

@Absolutepowercorrupts I think these have been around longer than usual. I’m not much of a twitcher but pretty sure they are starlings , maybe I should take a closer look, they are sort of scruffy looking with a greenish hue

The eggs hatch at about 12 days, then they fledge at about 3 weeks, some can stay around for about a week after, so about 4 weeks altogether. They need to be constantly fed during this time, so helicoptering parenting is really not an issue. I lived rurally for many years and the best practice is to leave any wildlife to get on with what they do best. Don't interfere, back off and let them use their instincts.they have them, we've lost many of ours.