Evening star., 1948-07-05

Baby robins fell out of tree in a storm.
They were placed in basket, which the next
day was discovered to be in full sunshine.
WAS such location proper?" cores
pondent wanted to know.
No. 1t was not.
Too much sunshine will fairly cook young
birds
If the nest could not be found the basket
full OF robins should be removed to a shady
spot
This is essential Any one who has felt the
heat OF summer knows what it would be like
to be suspended in a basket in full sunshine
Even bird houses, such as those for Wrens
and blue birds. do best when shaded, at least
from the full force OF the burning rays
That is why the general advice is to face
houses in such manner that too much sun
will not be on them.
Since baby birds always are falling out of
trees either as the result of storms, or too
much adventuresome spirit too early, 1t may
be good thing to give some advice.
1t Is always best to put them back in the
nest. if it can be located-and reached.
many men and most women.
In such cases, the thing to do is to fix UP
berry box or small basket.
Lined with leaves or grass, or even with soft
paper tissues. such container does well
enough.
tree, or tied to limb in such a way that
1t will not slip.
Be sure it isn't in the sun, both at the time
1t Is put up and later.
Later, of course is paramount If full shade
cannot be secured by position, it may be pos
sible to put some sort of shade over the
basket.
If this is done. care should be taken not
to cut off air, or the incoming of the mother
and father birds. These will continue to feed
the young. if they can get to them.
Parent handling always Is best
Naturally
But if the parents are killed, or do not
seem able to find the young, the next best
thing must be done.
That is bringing the babies up 'by hand,
This offers many problems, some of them
scarcely to be solved, but most of them easily
handled by bit of patience teamed up with
common sense.
The young birds must be kept securely from
cats and dogs, also from some children
This is best achieved by putting them in
q big cardboard box, over which is placed
screen
Each bird must be taken out every hour,
and fed.
This feeding consists of poking a medicine
dropper full of water at the BILL after which
food is offered.
Baby birds consume a large amount of water.
1t seems to be as necessary as food
Food consists of bits of ground beef, liver,
yolk of hard boiled egg bread and milk, pab-
lum and milk, occasionally small pieces Of
raisin, and such small earthworms, beetles
and bugs" as may be secured.
There is no problem of knowing how much
to give, since the bird throat closes after it
has had enough.
After the bird is able to fly to the edge Of
the box, perch may be rigged up.
Then some fine earth should be placed on
the bottom of the box. The bird soon learns
to peck at the dirt, and thus gets nne grit.
No attempt ever should be made TO feed the
bird sand or other such material
Feeding is done during the daylight hours,
but not at night
Sometimes q drop of whiskey maybe given
rescued bird which seems to be "on its
last legs"
A drop or two of whiskey is put In little
milk and this is fed with medicine dropper.
If diarrnea sets in, all food should be dis
continued except scraped beef and small
worms and insects.