Blue tit fledgling on ground

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Patrick Bateman

Original Poster:

12,301 posts

180 months

Saturday 9th June 2018
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This afternoon I noticed a young blue tit was behind the wheel of the car, not long before leaving the house, just as well I spotted it!



Long story short, neighbour and I brought it round to the back garden and left it in the flower bed to help hide it, before setting off we saw that the parents returned and were going back and forward with food although the chick had come close to the house.

Been out all day and come back tonight to find the chick still close to the house but there's been no sign of mum and dad for 2/3 hours now. Seemed to be chirping a fair bit quieter than it was and not sure if the cold was getting the better of it. Put out a cardboard box with some shredded paper to give it some shelter and it's made its way in there.



Not sure how a fledgling typically sleeps (you can see its feet sticking out towards the bottom) but not sure if it's likely to make it through the night? It's around 10 degrees just now.

Could it be worth bringing it in to the conservatory for warmth and get up very early to see how it's doing then take back outside or best just to leave it?

essayer

9,481 posts

200 months

Saturday 9th June 2018
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I suppose it'd still be cold even if the parents were still feeding it.

Fledglings can hop about for a few days.

Personally I'd put your box out near the car and watch in the morning to see if the parents come back. He looks pretty plump - is he calling?

Patrick Bateman

Original Poster:

12,301 posts

180 months

Saturday 9th June 2018
quotequote all
Well the adults knew where it was round the back this afternoon, round the front really wasn't a good place for it to be!

As it is now, it's either sleeping or dead as it's very still. It was chirpy enough when it saw me although definitely more muted than it was this afternoon. It made its own way into the box and lay down on the paper. Based off another forum I've asked the question on it's best to leave it outside.

Don't know if fledglings sleep like that or not but I've put another cardboard box around it to help insulate it a bit better, can't do any harm, will see if it's still alive in the morning.

Turn7

24,073 posts

227 months

Saturday 9th June 2018
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Pretty much done what you can to be fair...I was wtaching the adults showing the Juvies where the food and water is at in our garden this arvo, so its defoo that time of year.

Patrick Bateman

Original Poster:

12,301 posts

180 months

Sunday 10th June 2018
quotequote all
Sadly it died. I suspect it may have died not long after the photo I took as it was in the exact same position this morning.

At least I gave it a bit of comfy shelter to go in.

Seemed such an energetic character too, I can only imagine the parents stopped feeding it for some reason.