Help with baby raven

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I don't know where to start. I expected this to happen but I am not prepared and I don't know what to do.

The/A baby raven left the nest today and ended up in my backyard. A backyard filled with feral cats.:17::17:

The parents protected the baby (I would say younger than a fledgling but not a baby)during the day but went back to their nest when it got dark.

When I got home I found the baby sitting on the lowest 2X4 running horizontally on my fence.

As I approached the bird at least 3 cats jumped over the fence so I know they were very interested in it. The poor poor thing. I was able to get close enough to pet/stroke it's back without alarming it.

If I let nature take it's course I think it would mean a horrible death for this baby and I could not let that happen without at least trying to help.

I toweled the bird with very little struggle and put it in an old cage I had in the back yard. I have put a bowel of water and a paper plate with mostly raw hamburger.

in the morning I will try to feed it again. may try some fruit or something else.

I have some pictures and will upload when I can.
I may try calling my avian vet and see what can be done in my area as far as rehab.

I can't keep him for many reasons but I don't want to see him die.
 
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LordTriggs

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what I would suggest is to find a wildlife rehab center and give them a call asking what they suggest. They would either suggest finding a safe spot to put them near the nest and to check on them every hour or so or to take them to a center where they can get the right care to allow them to be released into the wild once they're ready
 
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what I would suggest is to find a wildlife rehab center and give them a call asking what they suggest. They would either suggest finding a safe spot to put them near the nest and to check on them every hour or so or to take them to a center where they can get the right care to allow them to be released into the wild once they're ready

If there is one in the area the rehab center would be my first choice.

If I leave it alone (at night) the stray cats are certain to take it out.


thanks
 
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When I checked on my foundling he/she was (of course) still in the cage.
What was very surprizing was that the hamburger meet I left was completely gone. I DO hope the bird (need to come up with a name) ate it and it was not gone due to cats.


I sent an email to my vet and will call him as soon as they open. if anyone knows of a wildlife rehab center he will. There is a place 20 - 30 miles away that takes care of BIG cats, I have no idea if the would or can take on a young raven.

There are many ravens in the area and I am afraid no one will take much interest in "just one more bird"


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Kiwibird

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Is it illegal to own a raven in your state? Being they aren't exactly an endangered species, I personally wouldn't feel guilty to keep the bird for now and attempt to rehabilitate myself and if that proved impossible, to simply enjoy him/her as a pet. My grandma had many pet birds who had long happy lives she rescued from similar circumstances to what you described (back when no one cared if you saved a wild bird chick from certain death).
 

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Challenging request on my part, can you get the baby back into the nest??? If so, that would be the best route. Just my two cents!
 

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What city/state do you live in? I can find out where the closest wildlife rehab to you is that will accept a wild baby bird through the rescue I work at, we have to take babies like this to centers all the time that are dropped off to us, and I know a ton of people who work for the wildlife services that can find out for you...
 
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Yes it is illegal to keep it in California.

No chance of putting it back in it’s cage . It would take a fire department ladder to reach it.


I live in the high desert of So Cal. Palmdale/Lancaster.
I don’t know of any bird specific rescue in a reasonable distance away.
 
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If I could keep it I would but......

My CAG and Cockatiels would FREEK OUT . I must consider them first.
The parents are very upset. I have some video I may try to upload.

The baby looks to be doing better this morning. It’s perching on some junk furniture and making short hops.
 

LordTriggs

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I don't mean keeping them out overnight but just during the day in a place where you can keep an eye on them. RSPCA here says that if you can try and nail a plastic tub of some sort to a tree near the nest and leave the baby in their with something soft and just take a look every 15 minutes or so (when you get a chance) you could try that over the course of the day and see if the parents come to get baby
 
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I have called more vet's than ever, to the point the are referring back to the vet that referred them to me. like a snake eating it's own tail.

No dice. I found one place that would take in injured pigeons and doves but not crows or ravens .:(

I stayed home from work to come up with something and keep an eye on things.

this afternoon I saw a second fledgling out of the nest perched on the nesting tree. While I was watching I saw one of the parents fly up and feed the new fledgling. while this was happening the bird on the ground was fluttering his wings and begging to be fed.


I felt sick.:headwall: The parents are vigorously defending the grounded chick but wont feed him. I know he wont last much longer without food.


SO the only thing left to do is feed this bird like I did my baby Cockatiels.
If I don't at least try the bird will certainly die. I hope I did it right and did more good than harm.

will keep those of you interested posted on how things go.

As a side note:

The parents, when I get close to the grounded bird land close by and make powerful examples of what they want to do to me. With that long Hard Beak they pound on what ever they are sitting on. Usually it's the fence and splinters of wood come of with each jab of their powerful beak.
At one point I was near my house and they landed on the roof. The started taking out their frustration on my shingles with pieces raining down on me.

I have been face to face with them, no more than 2 feet apart. Magnificent birds. I got a photo at close range with my cell
 

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I'm on the edge of my seat to find out what happens to this poor little Raven. I know you're doing ball you can. I live in the NY/NJ area and they have something called The Raptor Trust where they take Ravens and the like. We donate to them yearly and we got to release an owl back into the wild which was awesome. Maybe give them a call, they might know someone in your area.
 

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I would have done the same thing and fed the baby too. Sure, this stuff happens in nature, survival of the fittest, circle of life and all that but witnessing the suffering of a helpless little creature suffering greatly and doing nothing to helps against human nature IMO. I'm glad you helped the baby out. Hopefully it is very close to weaning/eating on it's own and will soon head off to live it's life in the wild!
 
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Baby made it through another night.

I have given him/her a morning feeding. The syringe I am using is a little longer than my index finger and about the diameter of a dime. Gave it one and 1/2 syringe full at 98 deg F.

Its brother/sister that has left the nest but still in the tree is more well developed than the baby. Longer tail feathers are the most obvious sign.

I wonder if this baby was forced out of the nest for some reason.
 

Kiwibird

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Baby made it through another night.

I have given him/her a morning feeding. The syringe I am using is a little longer than my index finger and about the diameter of a dime. Gave it one and 1/2 syringe full at 98 deg F.

Its brother/sister that has left the nest but still in the tree is more well developed than the baby. Longer tail feathers are the most obvious sign.

I wonder if this baby was forced out of the nest for some reason.

May be the birdie version of the 'runt of the litter'. The human species is the only known species to actively attempts to keep genetically weak/sick offspring alive. Most of nature kills or abandons such offspring, even though it may have a chance of growing into a healthy adult with some quality of life. Glad to hear the baby survived the night and is accepting feedings. You may end up with something of a pet after all;) Ravens are wicked smart, I bet if this baby makes it he/she will stick around your house and may well even be friendly with you (for a wild animal) for the rest of it's life.
 
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Second baby is now walking around the backyard of my neighbor and a third has just left the nest but perching in the nesting tree.

did not get a good look at the third bird to see how well developed it is.
 

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Perhaps since all chicks have left the next within days of each other this is somewhat typical behavior for baby ravens? Parent birds don't "abundance wean" they boot their chicks from the nest as soon as they feel they're ready. Apparently with ravens specifically, they stay with the parents for some time after leaving the nest so this may be fairly typical and why the parents are still defending the chicks.

Females lay between three and seven pale bluish-green, brown-blotched eggs.[41] Incubation is about 18 to 21 days, by the female only. However, the male may stand or crouch over the young, sheltering but not actually brooding them.[72] Young fledge at 35 to 42 days, and are fed by both parents. They stay with their parents for another six months after fledging.[73]

In most of their range, egg laying begins in late February. In colder climates, it is later, e.g. April in Greenland and Tibet. In Pakistan, egg-laying takes place in December.[48] Eggs and hatchlings are preyed on, rarely, by large hawks and eagles, large owls, martens and canids. The adults, which are very rarely predated, are often successful in defending their young from these predators, due to their numbers, large size and cunning.[69] They have been observed dropping stones on potential predators that venture close to their nests.[74]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_raven
 
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Perhaps since all chicks have left the next within days of each other this is somewhat typical behavior for baby ravens? Parent birds don't "abundance wean" they boot their chicks from the nest as soon as they feel they're ready. Apparently with ravens specifically, they stay with the parents for some time after leaving the nest so this may be fairly typical and why the parents are still defending the chicks.

Females lay between three and seven pale bluish-green, brown-blotched eggs.[41] Incubation is about 18 to 21 days, by the female only. However, the male may stand or crouch over the young, sheltering but not actually brooding them.[72] Young fledge at 35 to 42 days, and are fed by both parents. They stay with their parents for another six months after fledging.[73]

In most of their range, egg laying begins in late February. In colder climates, it is later, e.g. April in Greenland and Tibet. In Pakistan, egg-laying takes place in December.[48] Eggs and hatchlings are preyed on, rarely, by large hawks and eagles, large owls, martens and canids. The adults, which are very rarely predated, are often successful in defending their young from these predators, due to their numbers, large size and cunning.[69] They have been observed dropping stones on potential predators that venture close to their nests.[74]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_raven

as a mater of fact one of the parents dropped a stone at me today.
did not hit me but came close. :eek:

can't blame them for defending their babies but I sure wish they would feed them.

I think they expect it to fly back into the nest tree but this bird just isn't ready or able to fly yet.

I hope it can soon.
 

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Thanks and much respect for your act of compassion, Wes! I'd be doing the same thing, helping just one of the many hapless creatures aboard this giant ark of life!
 

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