Date: Fri, 22 Jul 2011 14:38:11 -0400
From: Kira Dirlik
Subject: Bird problem
Well, I’m glad it’s not vultures, but here is a new one for me. Every few years chimney swifts raise a brood in my chimney. I love hearing them. But yesterday this year’s nest broke (part laying on the fireplace floor) and the four babies are huddled together on the fireplace screen (which also has glass doors between them and the rest of the house). They all found each other at least, and are in a huddle with their heads slightly above the screen up toward the chimney (and obviously are unable to crawl back up further). Also the glass reflects so I can’t see them too clearly, but my huge concern is: are the parents continuing to feed them?
They are only about 3/4 grown, still have some apparent pinfeathers, but they are getting there. But clearly unable to fly at this point.
Is there anything I can do to help them? I hear them with their usual occasional group chirping (as before when the parents came with food), but maybe now it is just out of hunger. If the parent lands above them and I can’t see the babies’ heads, I don’t know if they are being fed. I probably just need to let nature take its course, but it will be horrible to see them drop one by one, if not being fed.
Kira