Raised baby sparrow since it hatched. How can I prepare it to be released?

Question

About 5 weeks ago I found a little tiny just hatched pink thing wriggling on the sidewalk, so I brought it home with me and took care of it, not expecting it to live. By the large beak and tiny pink wings I knew it was a newborn bird. I've been taking excellent care of my little Humphrey for 5 weeks now and he's doing GREAT! He's a house sparrow. He flies around my room and sometimes follows me. He now eats on his own and drinks water.

I do want Humphrey to stay with me, but my parents insist on letting him go free. My backyard has tons of sparrows, but I'm worried that we've domesticated him so much that he won't survive in the wild. I have to release him, but is there any way to prepare Humphrey to be released within the next couple of weeks??

(I also got humphrey a pink leg band for him to wear so that if we see him we'll know)

Answer 1

If Humphryey does not fear people he will not probably survive after you release him.  A good way to check is to have a complete stranger walk into your room and see how he reacts.   Wild birds have to have that fear to survive.  The best thing would be for him to be put in a flight cage with other Sparrows getting close to release.  You could contact a wildlife rehabilitator in your area with a flight cage full of sparrows.  If your bird spends several days with other wild birds it would help prepare him for release.  Many times rehabbers will release the bird back in your yard and a few of his new friends too.

Answer 2

Good thing Humphrey is a House Sparrow..otherwise it would be illegal for you to have raised this bird.  All NATIVE wild birds are protected by law.  It will be very unlikely that he will survive if released without some sort of training.  Since he has been with you since birth he has no way to know how to forage for food, nor will he fear humans which can get him injured or killed.  A rehab will most likely not take him in for the proper training as he is a non-native species.  They would gladly take in a native bird and get it released back into the wild if at all possible.  At this point, you can TRY finding a rehab to take him, or just keep him as a pet since these birds are considered nuisances to the ecosystem anyway.  Look for a rehab here:

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

Answer 3

u just gotta let Humphrey spread his wings and fly away

Answer 4

Make or buy a bird box that you can put outside your room or in the garden on a tree. That way, you can introduce him to the outdoors while giving him the choice of leaving the box or not. Leave food out regularly. If other sparrows join him don't worry because he will have company.

Answer 5

Like the other people said, either find a rehabber, or keep him. Honestly, since you've had him since he was that young, your care is ALL he knows. He doesn't know how to survive outside, because this is something taught to them by their mother from birth until they leave the nest. Try to convince your parents to let you keep him, or to find someone else who can keep him. I raised a baby house sparrow that was attacked by a cat, and he's still with me. He loves singing with my budgies and is actually AFRAID of going outside, just like my 2 grackles (also rescues).

Answer 6

to tell you the truth, he is so used to you, he probably wont survive in the wild. i raised a baby spaRROW too, and i loved him. if you cant keep him, go to  www.starlingtalk.com and they have a forum for people wanting and getting rid of baby sparrows. you can post an ad there.  good luck.oh and where do you live? maybe i can take him!

Answer 7

Begin feeding him what he'll be eating in the wild--bugs, worms, etc. When the other sparrows are outside chirping, put him by the window so he can see and hear them. Also, call your county agriculture agent and ask him for tips.