Brown Thrasher Family In Sun Room

by R.S. Fisher
(Lilburn, GA USA)

Brown Thrasher Chicks up close

We have two kids, two dogs, a cat, and five baby Brown Thrashers and two parents in our covered sun room at the back of our home outside of Atlanta, GA.

Actually now there is one parent left thanks to one of our dogs.

A small Jack Russell terrier, who has been trying for weeks to catch one of these flying "chew toys".

So, now we have the dilemma of one parent feeding these birds which are in a rack against the wall next to our back door.

I am concerned that the chicks will try and fly from inside the sun room, and the dogs will get to them.

The family and I are firm believers (well my wife and I are at least) that wild life is best looked at and not touched or interfered with.

My concern is that we may have to jump in and help raised these small birds if something should happen to the other parent.

I guess what I am trying to get to is this, What can we do or what should we not do in the event that the other parent bird leaves or gets killed and the chicks are left without any help to feed them or raise them.

I for one do not speak bird, and have no idea how to tell them when and how to leave the nest.

We have a great yard and a wonderful neighborhood with many trees and streams but also with cats, dogs, hawks, foxes and other "nasties" that would otherwise get to these small animals, and with our two kids wanting to make sure that they are safe.

I am left wondering what do we do and how do we do it?

Any advice or guidance on this subject would be greatly appreciated.

Bob Fisher
NE Atlanta Burbs.

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Comments for Brown Thrasher Family In Sun Room

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Aug 01, 2020

When to let them out on their own
by: Another thrasher parent

We have a brown thrasher next on our back porch, currently 8 days old.

They fledge in nature from 9-13 days, and once they can fly they're pretty much ready to go.

The parents would kind of teach it to hunt on the ground by moving leaves and dirt around, so you might try to simulate that if you can.

They're also "tough love" birds. Once the parents feel like they’ve learned enough to survive (and it's not long) they stop feeding them and start denying them. 😬 even to the point of intimidation to make them go on their own.

Hope that helps. I only learned of the species 8 days ago myself, but I've done some reading. Good luck.

P.s. Sometimes you can end up with friends for life that will nest with you every year, if they feel safe there. 😉

May 28, 2020

Birds in your Sun Room
by: Anonymous

Hi,
I can't figure out when you posted this but I wonder if you could keep your dogs secured--away from the birds--in order to support the family of nestlings.

I also wonder about reaching out to a bird rescue as wild birds need all the help they can get. :~)

Jul 04, 2014

Brown thrasher
by: Buddy Simmons

How do I know when to release the baby brown thrasher my wife found in the yard and has been feeding.

It now has all it's feathers, some tail feathers, eats like a hog and can fly like a champ, but my worry is that it may not be able to find food on its own.

I don't know if it can find food on its own, even though we have placed bird seed in the cage to no avail.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

If there is perhaps a wildlife conservation station anyone knows of near Newnan, Georgia, I would take it to them.

Thanks, Buddy Simmons

Jul 01, 2012

Back in nest
by: Leah

I agree with contacting wild-life rescue for them since there is the concern of dogs getting at them like they did with the one parent.

I was really happy to find this post because of the picture.

We have a nest in the underhang of our porch and today I found very young chicks had fallen out.

I managed to get them back into their original nest with their third sibling still in the nest.

I carefully picked up the chicks using some dried leaves and put them in a small yogurt container I had lined with some fallen nesting material.

The rest of the nest looked fine, but it was so high up I actually dislodged the whole nest very carefully and poured the two chicks back inside.

Then I carefully tucked the nest back under the overhang.

I've been watching and I've seen a parent visit with some kind of insect twice, so I guess they are okay.

I didn't have much interest in what kind of bird they were until now, but the nest image posted here looks exactly like the one on my porch.

Really good to know if they drop out again or if I notice they have been rejected that I could raise them myself with crickets, but so far they seem ok.

May 25, 2011

found baby
by: Anonymous

We have a baby thrasher that seems lost. It perched on a ledge all night last night. What should I do? Will mom or dad come back for it?

May 17, 2011

Brown Thrasher chick
by: Buster

As a kid, I raised many baby birds that had become orphans. I successfully released them back into the wild.

One bluejay stayed around for 3 years & would land on my finger when called. A sparrow just learning to fly, landed in a bowl of gravy my mom had just put on the table, just to mention a few memories.

I'm now caring for a brown thrasher chick rescued from a destroyed nest.

I'm feeding him the same as then, crickets from the bait shop. I crush the head of the unfortunate insect & the chick happily gobbles them up.

I've had this chick over a week now & he has doubled in size, eating about 30 crickets a day.

Jul 06, 2010

Baby brown Thrashers
by: Chris Garcia

Well I have something to add to your story, my dog, a chocolate lab found 2 baby brown thrashers on the ground and alerted us.

The mom nor the dad were anywhere around.

It was 11 PM and it was clear that they had fallen out of the nest.

Well we took them in; put them in a box with some straw and have been feeding them and they are doing well.

Normally my dogs (I have 5) go after everything that moves (except the chickens) but they did not go after those brown thrashers.

I have them in a bird cage in our sun room right now and feed them with a syringe with some food purchased at Pet Smart which is for all kinds of baby birds.

Good luck with your birdies; ours seem to be doing well so far. I love those birds and they are growing so fast.

Chris Garcia, Newnan, GA

May 29, 2010

Brown Thrasher Family in sun room
by: Cindy Calif. High Desert Mtns.

Wow.. I certainly feel your dilemma!

There's only one thing you can do for them to be safe and able to be released back into the wild. Call a wild-life Bird sanctuary!

I am sure if you googled one in your area they would have someone who might be willing to come and get the family.

Especially since your Terrier is trying its hardest to get a hold of them.

Is your sunroom enclosed? Once the momma bird or dad is in there the wild-life people could get them easier.

In any case, I would keep your dog as far away from them as you can. The babies look as though they are just about ready to fledge.

Keeping the dog away may just save the rest of their lives, or give them a chance anyway even with the natural predators that are around.

Best wishes.

I love the Thrashers. I have the Le Contes Thrasher, the Bendire's Thrasher and the California Thrashers, all in my yard! Well, they visit often.

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