Saved From the Dogs

by Debbi & Justin
(Flat Rock, NC)

Today, our dogs pulled a nest out of the brush pile in our back yard. Inside the nest were two newly hatched babies.

My son was able to rescue it from them and brought it inside expecting to be able to "raise them ourselves". I came to this website for help and after reading that "many bird deaths are caused by well-meaning people", we decided it was definitely best to take the nest back immediately.

At first we placed the nest into what we thought would be a safer location. We waited and watched from far off, but realized the parents were not able to find it. Since the babies were so small, we figured they were not able to make the noise required to summon the parents.

We thought it would be best to replace the nest back into the brush pile, even though the danger of the dogs would still be present.

We found a secure place to replace the nest, placed new brush over the top to add coverage, and put a blockade up around the perimeter to hopefully keep the dogs out.

Being fatally hurt by one of the dogs, one of the baby birds had perished prior to us replacing the nest, but the other appeared to still be alive and unharmed.

After we put the nest back into the brush pile, we sat and watched intently in the hopes that the parents would return to the nest.

They had already been back several times when the nest was absent, so I was a little afraid that they might have given up.

After about 20 minutes, we began to see activity around the location of the nest. I am happy to report that two birds are continuously going in and out of the brush pile, bringing food for the baby that is still alive.

With the help of your website, we were able to save at least one of the babies! Thanks!