Speaking of birds....

I had a week old baby mockingbird blow out of his/her nest. I will call him/her Scout.

Scout's feathers have almost all come in and Scout is starting to hop and perch. I have been feeding a mash, keeping her outside in a natural nest and minimize my contact. The parents are still very involved in her care, but will not feed Scout all the time.

Where would I purchase mealworms, crickets to start providing a natural diet? What should I feed Scout?

Do I let Scout fly off in hopes that mom will teach her the rest and join her nest? Or how would I enclose her to encourage foraging yet still give her freedom and safety?

Yes, I know it is one dumb bird that is annoying to some, but I am setting an example for my kids to be good stewards and it is important to them. I would appreciate any serious help and expertise.

I would crosspost in outdoors, but I don't think they will give me the help I am looking for.

Thanks!

I cannot answer your technical questions, though believe Petco and Petsmart carry live crickets, maybe meal worms.

I googled raising wild baby mockingbird, there were numerous hits. Also googled wild bird rescue Texas. There are several organizations you could contact for expert advice.

Petco, Petsmart. They have mealworms and other crawlys to feed.

As far as learning to fly you just rear back and chunk that thing like a Manning when he/she's ready! They'll fly. It's what they're supposed to do! Well, that, and come back to pester the cat......

Vet school can connect you with local wildlife rehabilitators.

The best thing you can do is leave it where you found it. The parents will continue to take care of it. But the hard truth is that a bird blown or jumped from a nest has almost no chance of making it, even with human "help".

Since the parents are still around and looking after the little one, things are probably ok, especially as you have it up and off of the ground in some cover. Just keep an eye on it (along with a little food), and you might contact a local rehabber just to be on the safe side and to make sure you are doing the right things.

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I have contacted most of the wildlofe rehabs for advice. I have not heard back as I am sure they are innundated with pleas just like every rescue group on planet Earth. I have also turned over wildlife to A&M when the animal is injured. I would like to do this one myself. The internet has been very helpful. You think going to vet school would teach me what I need to know, but theory and practice are two different things.

I was hoping if any of you have had any experience. I just don't know if I should let her fly off and wish her well or to keep her safe and continue to care for her. Scout has imprinted on me as has her caretaker. I don't want to let Scout fly off and then starve to death because she has never foraged or her family won't accept Scout back. It would be devestating to come this far and then have Scout die. I have to bring Scout in my bathroom at night because of cats and other predators. I really don't know how to proceed next. Interwebs has wildly differing opinions and research.

Thanks for the food tips.

We must always protect the babies ! Glad you are looking out, but in this case, best policy is to leave the bird in the hands of nature where you found her.

Can you please teach it not to poke holes in tomatoes when it grows up?

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Can you please teach it not to poke holes in tomatoes when it grows up?

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I was going to say the same thing. I used to love mockingbirds...until I started growing tomatoes; now I hate them so much. We tried the bird baths (oh, they're thirsty!) we tried plastic snakes, shiny things and loud things, fake owls (would have loved to attract a real one!) and finally installed bird netting-keeps them out but a hassle if you have a fairly large garden.
I threaten to harm them...I never would but I sure as heck wouldn't save one now. Rant over.

I hate tomatoes and like Mockingbirds. I just wanted y'all to know where I stand on that issue. The other thing is that, it took me reading the name Scout about 5 times to get the reference. I see what you did there.

You could watch some old Andy Griffith reruns. I remember Opie did a pretty good job raising some orphaned baby birds.

We actually raised 4 baby sparrows way back when I was in elementary school- as I recall, we moistened bread pieces in milk and fed them with an eye dropper till they were old enough then caught bugs for them. We trained them to fly by having them hold on to a finger and gently dropping the finger till they flapped their wings. Far as I know all but one made it- neighborhood cat got one of them I do remember it was very time consuming.