So, I’m not looking for opinions about what I should have and shouldn’t have done when I found this baby sparrow. I don’t want a pet sparrow. I asked the animal shelter if they would take him but they told me they would probably just euthanize him… yeah. I wasn’t pleased either.
After reading around and viewing images on the internet my good guess is that this bird is 3 weeks old. He has all his feathers, they are not long enough for flight and some are still covered in that filmy layer that is always present with new feathers. 3 weeks is my guess.
My question(s):
At three weeks old, will this sparrow imprint on me? Can he be set free when he can fly?
I know that the first week is critical in determining if a bird can remain wild or forever be dependent on humans, but this bird is 3 weeks. He eats fine via a spoon/straw thing I use and is getting stronger and bigger everyday. I only handle him when absolutely necessary like cleaning the box.
Like I said, I really don’t want a sparrow. I think wild things should be wild. And honestly, I already have a dog and a cockatiel. I’m not looking for another buddy but Idunno, I couldn’t let it die with out at least trying to help it. I honestly didn’t think it would make it through the night but it has now been three days in my care and it looks pretty good. It is very active.
How I got the bird…
My dog found it and brought it to me completely unharmed. I found the nest and put the bird back. Next day, my dog found the baby bird on the ground again. I put him back, again. That whole day I never saw the mother and the bird was constantly chirping for food. I know my cockatiel and most birds have to eat all day long to survive and a baby needs food even more frequently. It had now been at least a day and a half since it had eaten. So, I took it out of the nest and feed it some food, a mixture of high protein dog food, applesauce, and egg which it seemed more than eager to take from me. Then, I put it back in the nest. Later that night when I took my dog out to go to the bathroom, he found the bird again, and brought him to me again.
Now I have the bird in a ventilated shoe box with a towel in the shape of a nest.
If anyone knows of a proper place that would take this bird in the Los Angeles/ Inland Empire , CA area… I would be more than happy to turn it over.
I seek helpful answers and I am extremely grateful for the time and knowledge that you share with me.
Thank you!!
