Can Birds Move Their Babies?

[genevieve]

I apologize that this is not a parrot specific question, but I'm assuming the same principles apply...

Every spring, sparrows pick one or two of the hanging ferns on my balcony as the perfect place to raise a family. Yesterday I noticed that the eggs had started hatching. But today, the nest is empty except for one egg. Is it possible that the parents moved the babies? I'm assuming that the alternative is that a predator got them... so I'm hoping parents are capable of moving babies.

 

[parrotqueen]

I have never heard of a bird moving it's young before, not to say that its impossible; its just extremely unlikely. I honestly think it might have been a predator. Crows, lizards, and rats are some of the common predators that like to eat bird eggs.

Its likely that she'll see her empty nest and decide to either make a nest elsewhere, or just lay some more. Keep a lookout for predators, and try to scare them off.

I hope she'll lay some more for you, I know how fun it is to watch the babies grow up.

 

[genevieve]

I would guess that you're right and that a hawk ate the babies. :-(

But I'm sure that if there aren't anymore babies this year, there will be some next year!

 

[parrotqueen]

Sorry, but that's the only cause I can think of...

Well, it's still springtime. She could still lay some more for you this year, instead of waiting until next year. I had a dove nest at my neighbor's house, and we hand-made her nest. She stayed all through the spring every single year, and when she had a rotten egg; she always layed some more.

 

[Auggie's Dad]

Yup, definitely a predator.

Are these house sparrows? Any sparrow will replace a lost clutch, but house sparrows in particular can replace them very quickly. Even if the clutch survives they can have 4 to 5 clutches per summer.

I suppose also this means I have to get cracking (no pun intended) as I have to find local house sparrow nests for my field work.