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ctt1wbw · May 30, 2009, 08:31 PM

So. We're eating at the grill when we see a baby blue jay being stalked by one of the cats. The adult blue jays are going nuts and then the cat (not OUR cat, mind you) attacked it and had it in its mouth. We got the little guy out and put him in the middle of the yard so the adults could see him, but by then they wouldn't have anything to do with him.

So now I have the little dude in a box inside a few towels. So now what do I do with him? I guess the ASPCA would take care of him?

Anyone know what they eat? Or taste like? Haha, just kidding.

Eriamjh · May 31, 2009, 03:58 PM

Looks like you have some regurgitatin' to do.

ThinkInsane · May 31, 2009, 04:10 PM

Check the phone book for a wildlife rehabilitator in your area. They'll know how to care for it. A few years ago, I found a seagull with a broken wing, so I stuffed it in a box and took it home to figure out what to do with it (for the record, they bite. They bite hard in fact). I contacted animal control to see what I should do with it, and they gave me some numbers. They also told me it was illegal for me to keep it and a felony to euthanize it with a brick. They also said there are a ton of regulations, both state and federal regarding wild birds, and that there have been folks whose good intentions had led to fines they never would have imagined. Best to turn the little fella over to a licensed rehabilitator that can get him back where it belongs.

Good on you for the rescue

ctt1wbw · May 31, 2009, 06:36 PM

Thanks.

I had him overnight but decided to put him back up as far as I could reach into a tree. He (or she?) started squawking and flapping its little wings. The adults found him, however there is a ruckus with a cat out there. They are divebombing the crap out of the cat, but the baby blue jay is okay. The adults are all over him (or her) and I got some good pics. I'll post some after I get them uploaded.

But I think everything is going to turn out okay for the little fella (or gal).

Shaddim · May 31, 2009, 06:36 PM

I tried to "do the right thing" with a raccoon once, it was about 6-8 weeks old. The little guy had been abandoned by his mom and was wandering around my trashcans for a couple days. So I took him in and fed him and let him camp in the garage. All was well, but I figured he would probably grow into something that could be difficult to handle, so I looked into turning him over to the local wildlife shelter. Well, they didn't want him and referred me to Wildlife Resources, they don't care for abandoned babies, just injured critters. The animal shelter didn't want it either, they claimed he was a danger to the other animals.

So, I contact Wildlife Resources and the woman there cops an attitude with me, claiming that if I tried to keep him I'd be fined. I tried to explain to her that I was just a foster parent until I could figure out who to turn it over to, but she refuses to listen. By this time I'm getting pissed off, so I told her to send someone out here to get the damned thing, to which she replied, "that's not our job". She then recommended that I just leave him somewhere in the woods. WTF?! The thing would probably still be drinking it's mother's milk. Well, I told her to piss off and send me a bill, I'd find someone to take care of it.

Anyhow, eventually I did find a couple who took in such orphans, but it took about a month.

ctt1wbw · May 31, 2009, 06:37 PM

Originally Posted by Eriamjh

Looks like you have some regurgitatin' to do.

Ummm, well.... not sure about all that as of yet. I hope the adults get him (or her!) back inside the crib soon.

ctt1wbw · May 31, 2009, 06:39 PM

Originally Posted by Shaddim

I tried to "do the right thing" with a raccoon once, it was about 6-8 weeks old. The little guy had been abandoned by his mom and was wandering around my trashcans for a couple days. So I took him in and fed him and let him camp in the garage. All was well, but I figured he would probably grow into something that could be difficult to handle, so I looked into turning him over to the local wildlife shelter. Well, they didn't want him and referred me to Wildlife Resources, they don't care for abandoned babies, just injured critters. The animal shelter didn't want it either, they claimed he was a danger to the other animals.

So, I contact Wildlife Resources and the woman there cops an attitude with me, claiming that if I tried to keep him I'd be fined. I tried to explain to her that I was just a foster parent until I could figure out who to turn it over to, but she refuses to listen. By this time I'm getting pissed off, so I told her to send someone out here to get the damned thing, to which she replied, "that's not our job". She then recommended that I just leave him somewhere in the woods. WTF?! The thing would probably still be drinking it's mother's milk. Well, I told her to piss off and send me a bill, I'd find someone to take care of it.

Anyhow, eventually I did find a couple who took in such orphans, but it took about a month.

I wonder if people like this actually have the good intentions of the animal at heart, or the cha-ching of the money coming in from fines.

ctt1wbw · May 31, 2009, 06:52 PM

Okay, here's some pics from this afternoon.

Blue Jays

ctt1wbw · May 31, 2009, 06:54 PM

Cut me some slack, at least. I have a used Nikon D50 and low end Quantaray 70-300 mm lens. I gotta get a new lense. New glass, I guess the term goes. I am NOT a pro.

ctt1wbw · May 31, 2009, 07:16 PM

Nom nom nom!

AKcrab · May 31, 2009, 07:42 PM

Did the baby make it back to the nest, or was it already out of the nest?

ctt1wbw · May 31, 2009, 07:42 PM

Okay. So. There's two of the them now. I found another one walking around, put my finger down on the ground and just plopped up on my finger. He wouldn't let go as I tried to put him next to his home boy in the tree. Cute little suckers these things.

However, it's too dark now for photos.

ctt1wbw · May 31, 2009, 07:44 PM

Originally Posted by AKcrab

Did the baby make it back to the nest, or was it already out of the nest?

It had fallen sometime Friday afternoon late, and then was attacked by the cat. Right now, him and his bro are sitting up high in a bush, as high as I could reach. We have huge oak trees here and I can't see the nest.

AKcrab · May 31, 2009, 07:53 PM

I guess as long as mom and dad are feeding them, they should be fine. They look like they must be pretty close to leaving the nest and flying.

ctt1wbw · Jun 1, 2009, 04:57 AM

I just went outside to check on the pair. They are both still on the same tree limb I put them on last night. The adults are still attending them. I am wondering if the adults can bring them back to the nest? The youngsters still have fuzzy feathers, about half developed. I wonder how much longer til they learn to fly?

ctt1wbw · Jun 1, 2009, 05:35 AM

Well dammit all to hell. I just checked on the pair and one just died. It got down to 45 last night. I wonder if the cold killed him. I frakkin knew I should have brought both of them inside the house... dammit.

starman · Jun 1, 2009, 07:24 AM

Do birds abandon their kids? We had three hatch, two flew away with the parents, and one is still in the nest.

ctt1wbw · Jun 1, 2009, 08:27 AM

Well, now. The other baby is gone. I hope he made it back to the crib.

andi*pandi · Jun 1, 2009, 09:39 AM

aw, too bad about the one. out of the nest it probably was cold.

Good on you for trying though.

reader50 · Jun 1, 2009, 11:22 AM

Originally Posted by ctt1wbw

I just checked on the pair and one just died. It got down to 45 last night. I wonder if the cold killed him.

Their feathers (insulation) look reasonably developed. So it's equally possible it succumbed to cumulative blood loss. The cat might have gotten a claw or tooth in before the rescue team arrived. Something small and hard to spot.

ctt1wbw · Jun 1, 2009, 02:20 PM

At least I tried. I was hoping the pair would make it to live to dive bomb cats in the future.