So four days ago my wife’s sister discovered two nestlings on her doorstep, one bird had already died but one was still alive. Not knowing where its nest was (most likely in the eves of her house) she picked it up and took it with her to their shop where it spent the whole day I’m guessing without any food before she handed it to me.
Don’t get me wrong I like my birds but I’m not so sure I like the idea of being responsible for something so small and fragile and part of me thinks you just have to let nature take its course at times. Still it was in my hands now and I had to try and help it somehow so grabbed some live food on my way home(mealworm and waxworms) and began feeding it. Once home I made a makeshift nest in a tupperwar container and dug out an old plant propagator that I thought could help keep its temperature regulated. Initially it wouldn’t gape for a feed so I had to ease its beak open and feed, this was from around 17:30 and I continued through til 02:30 as it had gone so long with out food.
I then tried to get some sleep thinking it would no way last the night before waking at 06:00 completely knackared😴 only to discover it was still alive.
I then did some research guessing it was most probably a House Sparrow and what was the best approach in hand rearing the little fighter. Finding out what food was best I then supplimented the live food with crushed soaked catfood, hard boiled egg and powdered egg shell and also ordered some vitamin supplimented. I continued feeding every 30-40 minutes through its second day and it appeared to be responding well but then refused to eat for a period of four hours and to be honest I thought it was giving up, only to begin feeding once again 😅 That night the last feed was around 22:30 before we both retired.
Day 3 and up at 07:00 it was ready and waiting for its first feed now gaping quite well when a little noise is around its makeshift nest and today I could already see a difference in growth with some tiny pin feathers beginning to form(gotta be doing something right)
Feeding resumed again at regular intervals and it even came with me for my late shift at work where it became a bit of a star with my colleagues.
Now it’s day 4 and it’s business as usual with the feeds and other than my daughter complaining of the smell of hard boiled egg coming from the fridge it’s still going strong and time will tell if this tiny thing now dependant on me will make it all the way🤞
Day 5
So I will try and update this post daily with the progress of the nestling, feeding resumed just after 7am this morning and all appeared well with some more growth visable and definitely more eye visable especially when feeding. Quite frequently makes little chirps in between feeds.
Day 6
Bit of a funny day so far, it just doesn’t seem as perky as yesterday, no chirping or frantically trying to feed and to be honest I’m not sure if it’s beginning giving up. Since getting home from work however it has appeared to perk up a little bit more.
I also came across this little fledgling on my drive home from work today hopping in the road, so had to stop and put it up and into the foliage to give it a fighting chance.
Day 7
Still fighting and feeding and looking quite a bit fluffy and feathery, it’s also been doing some flapping and preening motions to so all good today.
Day 8
Another day another feed, things are still going ok with the nestling, still taking food eagerly.
It’s also beginning to show more interest in itself having the odd flap and preening it’s new downy feathers.
It’s eyes are now often open and I’m guessing nows the time it will begin to imprint on me, I am trying to keep all contact it has purely on a feed basis but the likelyhood is it will still imprint. Although I do have a healthy population of sparrows around my house with youngster so if it makes it to fledging then I will do all I can to introduce it into that population.
Day 9
Day nine and another shift at work for the nestling, that’s its 5th shift this week and all I can say is, its a good job my colleagues are a laid back bunch 😂 It’s still feeding well and looks like it’s growing as it should.
Day 10
It’s made it to double digits 😂 and on its second week at work, like me I swear it’s happier once we get home. Not much to report to be honest, things still appear to be going ok.
Day 11
Been very chirpy today and practically standing and projecting itself up like a rocket at times when it comes to a feed, it’s feathers appear to be filling out a little more each day too. Today was also spent knocking together a small outside cage in preparation for when it’s nearer fledging and getting it accustomed to the world and other Sparrows.
Day 12
Had a little catastrophe today, after buying some small brown crickets to incorporate into the odd feed, I went and left the lid slightly open 😂 thankfully I managed to round up all the escapees without any of my family noticing, or at least I hope I have 👀.
On the Sparrow front, feather growth still continues to look good and I’m hoping come next week it’s somewhere close to fledging as I have ten days annual leave which would tie in nicely with attempting to integrate it back into the Sparrow population 🤞.
Day 13
Well I had the morning off duty today and left it on my good wife’s hands while I worked an early shift, I don’t think it missed me.
Day 14
Hmmm so it’s taken me two weeks to realise this isn’t a Sparrow but a House Martin, some bird watcher I am 😂 in my defence I’ve never seen House Martins at my Sister in laws House or ever had the pleasure of hand rearing one. I just need to do some digging now and maybe try and find a rescue centre that could give it a better chance as I’m sure it would fair better in the company of other House Martins.
Still every good story needs a plot twist thrown in 😂 I’m hoping as it’s diet was still made up from a large portion of insects its health hasn’t been dramatically affected. House Martins fledge around 23 days so at least it will have some extra time to get to fitness with those that know a little more than I.
After doing some digging I was recommended a place called Follys Wildlife Rescue in Tonbridge, its a good hour and a half drive from mine but if its worth it to make sure it has the best chance of making it.
Day 15
It’s my final day of caring for this little champion and if its taught me one thing in life then I guess that would be don’t ever give up. This bird had more than likely fallen about 4 metres onto concrete (its nest mate died) then spent 8-9 hours without food before it was handed over to me. Despite all the shit life threw at it in its tiny little life it still managed to hang on and survive and to add insult to injury, it even had the embarrassment of being called a House Sparrow too😂
It will be nice to have some normality back in my life and not plan everything around feeds but I wouldn’t change anything, I’m not so sure I want to do it again mind you although I am a sucker for any animals in need so never say never.
Day 16
It was the last morning I got to see my feathered friend looking up at me eagerly waiting for it first meal of the day and no sooner had it eaten we set of the 60 mile journey to Follys Wildlife Rescue just outside of Tonbridge, after a couple of pit stops to feed on the way we arrived an hour and a half or so later.
The rescue had a Covid drop off system in place which meant filling out some paperwork before placing your wildlife in the crate before ringing the bell for assistance. A worker then came out and collected the little thing, we had a brief chat and I asked if its possible for an update but due to the current situation there they have not been updating on any rescues, although she would ask if her manager if its possible on this occasion. She did also say there are another three House Martins of similar age it will be nursed with.
So that was that, I may never know how it may fair in its next stage of life but if its first sixteen days of life are anything to go by, I’m pretty damn sure it’ll soon be skipping through the sky on its way South for winter in no time.
Update
So on the same day I dropped it off, I sent a nice message via Facebook to Follys Wildlife Rescue asking if I could still get updates, I also sent the little time lapse video below.
Two days later I received a nice message back and it sounds like the little House Martin rescue is doing just fine.
Swifts & Things 