I was so pleased to realize that we had Ruddy Ground Doves nesting in this house, too.
Over the course of the pandemic, in the old house, I watched a pair raise two nestlings and then was heartbroken when on the day they left the nest, one seemed to fall on one of the last swoops just past our wall in the neighbors garden and was lost. I am forever haunted by the memory of how the parents searched and searched before leaving.
Today it seems it may have happened again, only the wee lost one is still very much alive and just… abandoned to its fate?
As I am not a biologist but rather a mom whose children have always brought home all manner of wounded creatures, (and who as a child did the same to her own mother) I have a history of not letting nature take its course, so please help me continue.
Obviously I am keeping the pups inside and hoping the parent(s) come back, but failing that, I will step in. The question is… how?
(Thank you in advance for understanding that “just do nothing” is not a response that would be helpful; thus if that is your impulse, I ask that you kindly refrain from responding.)
PD: I have already reached out to a local birding guide in hopes he may know of a rescue or have experience himself.
The parents are likely just out feeding. They often leave the fledglings briefly unattended but they should return. If it is in a relatively safe spot I would just leave him alone and let the parents take care of it.
That fledgling looks old enough to fly already. I think you’re doing the right thing by keeping it safe from pets (you could try putting it up on a ledge or in a tree if cats are around) and likely the parents will be around, although they might be a bit sneaky and you won’t see them easily.
Provide millet and water. but the problem is you may not be able to get close to it. Fledgling at this stage tends to be easily startled into flight. If it become tamed by humans, like if you kept it in a cage, it loses that fear or instinct and become vulnerable to predators.
An update: the parents returned a few times the first day to look at him (I have no idea if this is a male or a female but I have named him Esteban), but I did not see them yesterday.
Esteban is in an area that is enclosed by a fence that he can duck under but the dogs cannot get through. We set water for him yesterday. We considered putting seed out since the area where he has taken up temporary residence is largely plant free, however Esteban can easily scoot into the rest of the garden when the dogs are inside, and I have been keeping them in for long stretches.
He continues to be impossibly adorable but I resist the urge to go close to him.
Sadly, he does not appear to know his name is Esteban.
edit to add: a zanate just went after him and Mom (I like to think it was Mom) appeared out of NOWHERE to stop that.
Good job, Lucy! The parents ARE watching!
I’ve seen this in other birds, and in those cases it was only a few days when the family moves on. Maybe you’ll see a bit of flying practice first.
I just saw this! Mom called to him from the garden wall and Esteban made the sweetest peeping noises and tried to get to her. He can still only get about a half meter of lift. Mom (I just know it is Mom) then descended to Esteban, fed him and he crawled all over her and it looked like he tried to get on her back, hahaha. He spread his wings for her and she poked all over him, then tucked him back into a corner.
I guess Dad and the other nestling are wherever the new home is (or waiting on the wing?). I have only spotted one parent so far. (I think.)
