Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!cornell!uw-beaver!uw-entropy!scott!amber
From: amber@scott.stat.washington.edu (Amber Tatnall)
Newsgroups: rec.birds
Subject: wild bird questions
Message-ID: <2137@uw-entropy.ms.washington.edu>
Date: 1 Aug 89 21:51:48 GMT
Sender: news@uw-entropy.ms.washington.edu
Reply-To: amber@scott.ms.biostat.washington.edu
Distribution: usa
Organization: Biostatistics Department, U of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
Lines: 29

Apologies to David Mark!  I'm a new bird on my life list -- a Rufous-cheeked
Goose.  Well, maybe we've all seen or been one of those!  In any case, there
are things to be learned in this world.  Maybe you all can help me with 
another one: 
 
It seems to be that time of year when friends who know I birdwatch ask me 
about young (!) birds who "fall" out of the nest.  These birds usually have 
feathers, they are not injured, and the parents still are very much 
interested in them, since they get upset when a human approaches.  I have 
heard that this is the parents' way of getting the bird to fly.  Does anyone
know if this is the usual way that birds are taught to fly?   
 
I have also heard of cases where well-meaning humans have rescued the young 
bird and then, on calling their local Audubon Society, have released them.  
The parents do not reject the bird.  Is it a myth that a parent bird will 
reject a baby bird that has been touched by a human?     
 
         ___     
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        \_ _/     
       /))) \     
      /))))/ \        Look!!  On the wire!  It's a bird!     
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/_/   /     \      Amber Tatnall, Seattle, Washington        
=====^=======^=======   amber@scott.ms.biostat.washington.edu