Mass Hysteria
I’m just about to leave for a trip to Arctic Norway via Paris, for two weeks but made one last trip to the 86th and West End Peregrine Falcons this morning.
(I learned that the TCC Nest has fledged and the one of the fledglings at Columbia University had to be taken to the Wild Bird Fund after being on the ground but was retuned to the nest site. Sadly, I won’t have time to follow up on these families until I’m back.)
The youngster who was on 535’s 6th floor balcony yesterday evening was still in the same location today.
I learned that it had flown over from the tower and missed its landing and ended up at the base of the “balcony” in the afternoon yesterday. The building doesn’t have real balconies but railings with a two inch gap between the ironwork and has window doors that open inwards. The apartment owner called the staff, who realizing the bird as in a tight spot. The staff got a 2×4 and opened the window so the bird could turn around and climb up to the railing and out of the tight space.
The fledgling was still on the railing this morning. It had moved over two windows to the shade and had been fed earlier in the day by the parents. It flapped at times and did lots of preaning. It was very alert, tracking sparrows and the parents when they flew by. There were no signs of injury. It flapped symmetrically, could easily move to face inward or outwards, and didn’t have droopy eyelids like you see with head injuries or poisonings.
A fledgling staying put for long periods isn’t usually a cause for concern, especially when it has had an adventure getting to a location. This may be the same bird that stayed on a windowsill overnight on fledge day.
Generally, you don’t worry unless the bird is on the ground or has an obvious problem.
Sadly however, lots of people in the neighborhood had decided the bird was injured and needed help. One person was convinced it was the adult female, and all of her children were going to die. The phones of the Wild Bird Fund, the NYS DEC, NYC Audubon all lit up with callers. Someone even rang the bell of the local firehouse. Sadly this wastes the time of these organizations and doesn’t accomplish anything. It also means that by crying wolf, if and when a real rescue is needed, help might not respond quickly.
It could be harmful too. Healthy fledglings do best if keep with their parents and an unneeded rescue can cause them to be separated from their parents. Sometimes the best outcomes are by doing nothing. Nature has given the parents and the fledglings incredible instincts to survive without human interference.
This nest is being monitored by the NYS DEC and many experienced birders. If you don’t know much about what happens when raptors fledge, get to know those people who are watching them everyday by talking to them. Learn to tell the adult female from the adult male. See if you can start to tell the fledglings apart. Learn where the fledglings are exploring and how far. You need to have these skills to know if something is truly wrong.
And sadly, prepare yourself for the worst. Birds have an extremely high mortality rate. Start with the expectation that if two or three of these fledglings make it, that it was a wonderful year. You’ll be a lot less stressed.
Update: I received word that the fledgling had left the ledge late in the afternoon.
