From everything I have read, it is believed nestlings receive enough water through their insect diet. Late in the season, when temperatures are so high, surely that can't be enough?
Has anyone observed on a nestcam feeding activity where no large insect or bolus exchange can be seen? Can a parent perhaps pass a mouthful of water this way? I have seen a few parents dive down to the pond for a drink and head back to the nest almost immediately, and that is what got me wondering. But obviously I haven't seen any sort of water exchange, nor do I know if it is possible or even necessary regardless of the heat; just curious.
drinking water for nestlings
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Guest
From personal experience raising orphaned tree swallows I can tell you that as the babies get older their requirements for water grow. From age of two weeks until fledging they do seem to require some additional moisture with their food. Without the supplemental moisture we have observed sudden loss of coordination and listlessness which reversed when supplemental moisture was provided.
WARNING: This is not to imply that the baby birds should ever be given straight water which can easily cause them to drown. What we have done is to dip the food we feed them in water to supply additional moisture after they have reached about two weeks of age. We also add small amounts of liquid avian vitamins to the water to help ensure that nutritional needs not furnished by the diet are met. We feed a combination of small crickets, meal worms, scrambled egg, and moist cat food.
Again, if you are working with a rescued baby bird do not attempt to give them straight water from an eye dropper as this can prove fatal.
Your question regarding what the parents provide when feeding the young is a good one and I do not have an answer for that. I can only provide the above information based on my own experience.
Jeff
WARNING: This is not to imply that the baby birds should ever be given straight water which can easily cause them to drown. What we have done is to dip the food we feed them in water to supply additional moisture after they have reached about two weeks of age. We also add small amounts of liquid avian vitamins to the water to help ensure that nutritional needs not furnished by the diet are met. We feed a combination of small crickets, meal worms, scrambled egg, and moist cat food.
Again, if you are working with a rescued baby bird do not attempt to give them straight water from an eye dropper as this can prove fatal.
Your question regarding what the parents provide when feeding the young is a good one and I do not have an answer for that. I can only provide the above information based on my own experience.
Jeff
It is my understanding that the parent birds dip in water weting their feathers and returning to water the nestlings from water stored in the feathers. Just what I have heard.