Some tips for the frenetic fledgling season

Fledglings are birds that are developing feathers and are about to leave the brood. They still have a reliance on their parents for food, but not quite as much as nestlings. During the frenetic fledgling season, it's common to see the 'starving baby' movement made by many young birds as they sit there in their nests: raised heads with jutting bills pointed upwards signals the requirement to feed. Fledgings are ravenous eaters; parents need to ensure their young are fed on average every 10 - 20 minutes for approximately 12 - 14 hours per day. That's a mammoth task for any parent, and it's not just any old food. Fledgling food must be nutrient-dense and high in protein to provide the neccesary materials for sustained, healthy growth.

Should you notice a fledgling bird in your garden that appears not to have been fed for a while, or is wandering lonely, keep an eye out and observe the bird(s) closely. It's often the case that you may miss the bird's feeding, because parents tend to feed their young rapidly; one quick glance away can mean you've missed the feed and assume the bird is struggling. In fact it's common for parent birds to juggle between several broods simultaneously, so they're probably just flitting about from here to there, keeping busy collecting food. Believe it or not, it’s actually an advantage for fledgling birds to leave their nests as soon as possible. From a ‘natural selection’ perspective, having a concentration of young birds in a single location, i.e. a nest, can be a major disadvantage.

Sometimes fledglings can be found on the ground in your garden. It is possible to put the bird back in its nest, but must be done with caution, and if you are unsure what to do the RSPCA, a national charity for wildlife, may be able to offer experienced guidance. It’s important not to remove the young bird from the wild. Doing so can almost certainly be detrimental to the fledgling, and as mentioned above there’s a strong chance the bird’s parents are out and about searching for food. If you’re absolutely sure the bird cannot be returned to the wild, it is advisable to contact a relevant authority i.e. an expert rehabilitator.

Have you ever seen a fledgling bird in your garden? If so, and especially if you have some photos, post here to tell us your stories.