Baby Swift

[Neil Rigby]

My wife just rescued a young Swift from a horrible accident.

It was flapping around the road and when she went to resuce it, the Swift landed on a drain cover and was snatched from falling through the grill.

Fortunately it was saved which was a relief, but now we have a shoe box with a young swift which we think can't fly.

What do we do now. Any ideas?

[astafjevs]

Any idea where the nest is? Would returning it to it be an option?

[Neil Rigby]

Good idea, but I'm not sure where it is.

We see them flying around locally but I've not tracked them back to a nest.

I'd imagine it must be somewhere near where we found it.

These birds leave the nest and stay in the air for three years!

[Neil Rigby]

I've had a wander round and seen the Swifts flying around but no nests visible.

We contacted Folly Wildlife Rescue near Tunbridge Wells who advised NOT TO GIVE IT WATER, put some tissues in the shoe box for comfort and to bring it round.

I'll keep you posted.

[astafjevs]

Originally Posted by Neil Rigby

These birds leave the nest and stay in the air for three years!

Well, they're supposed to. Yours didn't.

I'm not sure what to suggest for a baby swift. Since they eat micro-insects I think you might struggle to feed it. Are you totally sure it can't fly?

edit: just saw your 2nd post. Good luck, fingers crossed for the poor little thing!

[Neil Rigby]

We'll leave that to the experts at Folly Wildlife Rescue.

Swifts have very weak legs and will need a bit of help to launch I'm sure.

Fingers crossed!

[clydebirder]

Originally Posted by Neil Rigby

My wife just rescued a young Swift from a horrible accident.

It was flapping around the road and when she went to resuce it, the Swift landed on a drain cover and was snatched from falling through the grill.

Fortunately it was saved which was a relief, but now we have a shoe box with a young swift which we think can't fly.

What do we do now. Any ideas?

Swifts can't take off from the ground, all it may need is put in the air

cheers, John

[Kate Rigby]

I took the swift to our local wildlife rescue centre, Folly Wildlife Rescue, in Eridge, Kent. They immediately fed it some beef mince which it ate eagerly. They then put him in with a group of other baby swifts all resting in a homemade nest, which was a small bowl covered in a nitted tea cosy - cute!!

The people at FWR said that he should make a full recovery and will hopefully be released in a couple of days. I can call for an update tomorrow. FWR is an amazing place - they rescue all types of wildlife, and currently had lots of fledgling thrushes, blackbirds, great tits, pigeons, crows. Plus have badgers, deer, hedgehogs etc. They have a website and online donations can be made. It's all run by volunteers.

[clydebirder]

Originally Posted by Kate Rigby

I took the swift to our local wildlife rescue centre, Folly Wildlife Rescue, in Eridge, Kent. They immediately fed it some beef mince which it ate eagerly. They then put him in with a group of other baby swifts all resting in a homemade nest, which was a small bowl covered in a nitted tea cosy - cute!!

The people at FWR said that he should make a full recovery and will hopefully be released in a couple of days. I can call for an update tomorrow. FWR is an amazing place - they rescue all types of wildlife, and currently had lots of fledgling thrushes, blackbirds, great tits, pigeons, crows. Plus have badgers, deer, hedgehogs etc. They have a website and online donations can be made. It's all run by volunteers.

That's great news, I know a couple who run the Hessilhead Wildlife Rescue Trust near Beith and they are the same.

Web Site: Hessilhead Wildlife Rescue Trust

They have a tame fox and badger who are too tame to release, they are both amazing animals who both accepted me in to their world.

BELOW: Fergus

BELOW: Daffy

[Twitcheruth]

Glad to hear that all went well with the Swift rescue......do keep us updated Kate!
Nice images John,Fergus is gorgeous!!