Baby martin out of the nest

[Glenda Detling]

We found one of the babies from our colony on the ground yesterday. It has been hopping around and flying a little to low branches, etc. If we put it in a box for safety, what do we feed it? Does anyone have experience with actually saving and rehabbing a martin in such circumstances? We could use some advise.

[Guest]

IF YOU CAN FIGURE WHICH NEST IT CAME FROM PUT IT BACK OR PUT IT IN A NEST WITH SOME BABIES OF SIMILAR SIZE. YOU CAN GET YOU SOME CRICKETS AT WAL-MART.YOU WILL HAVE TO PRY THERE MOUTH OPEN THE FIRST FEW TIMES BUT AFTER THAT THEY WILL GLADLY EAT WHEN YOU HAND IT TO THEM. THE BEST BET IS TO PUT IT BACK IN A NEST. I FED A FLEDGLING LAST YEAR THAT HAD BEEN INJURED BY A OWL ATTACKE, SOME WING FEATHERS WERE MISSING AND IT COULD NOT FLY OFF WHEN THE FLOCK LEFT SO I FED IT CRICKETS FOR ABOUT A WEEK BUT SHE DIED SUDDENLY.

[Glenda Detling]

Thank you for your input. Most of our nests have fledged and this on looks like it had fledged, but got injured. At any rate, finding the proper nest is probably not possible. I'm hoping it will be healed by tomorrow morning. If not I'll try the crickets. Thanks!

[Tim Mangan-Kansas]

Glenda:

I am enclosing a link to a prior post showing how I feed crickets to nestlings. If you have to hand feed your nestling, I hope this helps.

Tim

[Glenda Detling]

I didn't get the link. The young one is now on our patio.

[Tim Mangan-Kansas]

Glenda:

Sorry, thought I enclosed the link the first time. Hope it works this time.

Tim

http://www.purplemartin.org/forum/viewt ... highlight=

[Glenda Detling]

Those are great pictures...very helpful. We had more jumper last year. Just this one so far this year and they are just about all fledged, now. Our little one was on the patio this morning, but soon was able to fly off. I think it made it to the colony. Thank you for that great tutorial.