How do I teach a fledgling robin to forage and fly?

Question

We were doing some yard work at our rental property and found a couple of the baby birds from the nest on the back porch, dead, on the ground. I took a look in the nest and saw two more dead. We went to throw the nest out (it really smelled) and my boyfriend noticed one of the birds was still alive. We pulled him out and put him in a box with towels. We were sure he wasn't going to live but couldn't just leave him there.

Now he's doing great! He's eating every 20 minutes and preening himself. I'm not quite sure how old he is but he has quite a few feathers, some still in the little case surrounding them. He will perch on my gloved finger and hop around inside his box, but when I put live worms in front of him he won't even try to get them. He will only eat if I feed him by hand.

Any suggestions on how to teach him to forage for food, and when the time comes, fly?

Professionals or very knowleadgeable bird people only, please.

Answer 1

This is why we should not bother bird nests or remove egg's or baby wild birds.

Parent birds teach babies to fly by example and/or by pushing them out of the nest.

We can not teach a bird to forage because we can't teach  them which is safe to eat and which is not. This is what the parents and flock do and teach.

Frankly, you don't know much about avian species.

All birds, wild and exotic birds are hatched with instint's for survival, then the parents and flock member's teach the fledglings everything they need to know to get along within the flock and to stay alive and not become prey for larger birds, cat's, people, Etc.

This baby you have can not survive in the wild unless a wildlife avian rehab takes over ASAP.

Answer 2

You really need to get this bird to a local wildlife rehab.  They are experts and can get it the proper diet (worms may not be a good or safe diet for this bird species) and the proper training (foraging skills) to survive in the wild.  Look here for a rehab near you:

http://www.tc.umn.edu/~devo0028/contactA...

Also, it is actually illegal for you to keep this bird in your possession, all wild native birds are protected by law.  You did a great thing by saving this bird..but now it would be best to turn it over to an expert so it can be released back into the wild if at all possible.

Answer 3

He will learn to fly on his own, and foraging for food is instinct.