Some FAQs about young birds
From the questions starting to trickle in now about nesting birds, baby birds and so on, it must be April. Here are a few of the common questions we get this time of year -- and some answers from various experts at the Georgia Ornithological Society and Cornell Lab of Ornthithology:
Q. How long do Georgia’s birds sit (incubate) on their eggs before they hatch?
A. It depends on the species. For the field sparrow and red-winged blackbird, incubation may last only 10 days. For most Georgia songbirds, the range is 11 to 15 days. The black vulture has one of the longest incubation periods -- 48 days between egg-laying and hatching.
Q. Once baby birds hatch, how long do they stay in the nest before they grow feathers and are able to leave the nest (fledge) and fly at least short distances?
A. Again, it depends on the species. Baby cardinals and hooded warblers may be ready to fly (or at least attempt to fly) only nine days after hatching. For baby bluebirds and brown-headed nuthatches, it may be 18 days. For young black vultures, it may take up to three months to finally leave the nest.
Q. After the fledglings leave the nest, are they on their own?
A. No. Parental care of most baby songbirds is not restricted to the nestling stage, but extends beyond fledgling. In fact, the time and energy that the parents spend in caring for newly fledged young may be greater than during the nestling stage. The young of cardinals and bluebirds, for instance, may still rely on their parents two to four weeks after leaving the nest. Adult mourning doves may continue feeding their young two weeks after fledging.
Q. Why do the babies leave the nest so soon?
A. It is to their advantage to vacate the nest as soon as they can. While they are in the nest, they can be easy targets for predators. After fledging, the young birds are more spread out, and their parents can lead them to different spots every night, increasing their chances of survival.
Q. If I find a baby bird on the ground, what should I do?
A. The best answer is simply leave it alone because chances are good that its parents are nearby and will continue caring for it. If you have a cat, keep it inside or at bay. If you find a very young bird and the nest is within easy reach, it's OK to return it to the nest.
In the sky: The moon will be new on Wednesday. By Friday, look for a thin crescent moon low in the west just after dark, said David Dundee, an astronomer with the Tellus Northwest Georgia Science Museum. Mercury and bright-shining Venus are low in the west just after sunset. They will appear near the moon just before dawn on Thursday and Friday. Mars rises out of the east before sunset and sets in the west before dawn. Jupiter is low in the east just before sunrise and will appear close to the moon early Monday morning. Saturn rises out of the east at sunset and is visible throughout the night.
