¿QUÉ HAGO si me encuentro un PICHÓN?

WHAT DO I DO if I find a FLEDGED CHILD? Unfortunately, finding a baby chick is a very common occurrence, whether we live in rural or urban areas. Therefore, today we'll tell you what you should and shouldn't do if this happens to you. To begin with, we must keep in mind that there is a period in normal bird development during which they learn to fly, just as we had to learn to walk and then run. During this period, young birds are called fledglings, and it is precisely during this period that we most often find them on the ground, as this is where they usually complete their first attempts at flying. However, we must understand that, in these cases, the fledglings' parents are always watching over them, watching them, feeding them, and encouraging them to continue their learning process. For this reason, many of the chicks we encounter don't actually need our help, but are learning to fend for themselves under the supervision of their parents. The first thing we should do when we find a chick, before intervening in any way, is to observe the situation and do our best to determine if the animal really needs us, or if, on the contrary, it's a fledgling learning to fly. If we see that the individual is able to move, has its full plumage, makes short flights, and is alert, then it's most likely a fledgling. If we also see that it's in a safe place and that its parents are nearby and watching over it, then we'll know the animal doesn't need us and we can leave it alone. If we believe the bird is in danger due to the presence of other animals or because it is near a road, for example, we can carefully pick it up and place it in a nearby spot or branch where the risk is reduced and its parents can still find it. If, on the other hand, we see that the chick is still very small, with its eyes closed, no feathers, or unable to move, then it most likely fell out of the nest and does need help. In this case, we can carefully pick it up and try to relocate it to its nest. However, if this is not possible, we can make an artificial nest and place it on a branch or bush near where we found it, remaining alert for the arrival of the parents and their interaction with the chick. Remember that the idea that if we touch a chick, the parents will no longer recognize or care for it is FALSE. We can make an artificial nest using a cardboard, wooden, or even plastic box, and place straw, grass, leaves, blankets, or rags inside it to serve as bedding. If we don't see the parents nearby at any time, or if we notice that the animal is injured, then we should PLACE THE ANIMAL IN A SAFE PLACE AND CONTACT THE ENVIRONMENTAL AUTHORITY. For most species, a safe place can be a cardboard box with holes in it, with a bed of straw, grass, leaves, or blankets, located in a quiet, peaceful place, away from other animals such as dogs or cats that could stress it. If the animal is very young, it is essential to provide an external heat source, as they are not yet able to regulate their own temperature. To do this, we can fill a bottle with hot water, cover it with a blanket or cloth, and place it under the nest where the chick is, being very careful to avoid direct contact between the bottle and the animal to avoid burns. FOOD: This will vary depending on the species we have rescued, but generally we can offer the following: Carnivorous species (hawks, owls, barn owls, buzzards): raw pieces of viscera or chicken meat. Frugivorous or insectivorous species (songbirds such as bluebirds, sirens, and greenfinch): pieces of fruit, boiled eggs, and insects. Granivorous species (doves): commercial grain mixes for birds, birdseed, and rice. Nectarivorous species (hummingbirds): a mixture of water and white sugar in a 4:1 ratio. Finally, it is ESSENTIAL that we contact the environmental authority to report the case. Depending on the species and the specific situation, we may be able to receive more accurate recommendations that can best help the chick. If you've ever encountered a chick and didn't know what to do, we hope this information will be useful for next time. Tell us about your experiences in the comments!