The case in summary: • Ornithologist Terje Lislevand at the University of Bergen says that most baby birds do better on their own with their parents nearby. • Ann Mari Selje is a volunteer with Bird Advocates, a Facebook group that gives advice on how to care for injured birds.• Bird Advocates is the largest of several help groups for birds in Norway, with almost 10,000 members.• Selje warns that some of the proposed the relief measures that people can write in the group can do more harm than good, especially when it comes to taking baby birds home with them.• Sylvia Eliassen in Swan Aid Bergen encourages people to leave healthy and unharmed baby birds alone, dispelling the myth that baby birds that are taken on by humans are rejected by their parents.• Lislevand adds that it is common for baby birds to die, with as few as 10 percent surviving the first year, depending on the species. The summary is made by an AI service from OpenAi. The content is quality assured by news’s journalists before publication. Ornithologist Terje Lislevand at the University of Bergen has seen examples of well-intentioned aid measures not always being in the bird’s best interests. Outside the Grieg Academy in Bergen, a young seagull has ended up on the pavement. A helper has put up a poster on the wall and made a sort of arbor to give the baby seagull shade. But a pallet frame has also been set up around the child, which makes it impossible for the child to move outside. – No, this was not good, says Lislevand. It’s nice that people care about the seagulls, but when both parents of this chick are around, they can’t move it to a better place either. – But the streets in Bergen are not good for a young seagull, are they? – They should be allowed to run around freely and the parents must decide. It is not certain that this pavement is the best place for a young seagull. There are many people who want to help, and that is good, says ornithologist Terje Lislevand. Photo: Brynjar Osgjerd / news Fuglevakta’s tip: Unless the bird is injured, you should leave it alone. If, for example, the bird has crashed into a window, you should see that it is okay before you move it to a safe place where it can get to the hooks. If you find a baby bird that has fallen out of the nest, leave it alone. Presumably it is the parents who have coaxed it out because it is getting old enough to fend for itself. If you find a bird that is clearly badly injured, you should seek out someone who has knowledge of killing birds. Veterinarians are covered for the killing of wild birds and can take care of this. If you are bothered by birds crashing into your window, an alternative could be to buy bird of prey silhouettes. If you encounter a mother duck in traffic, you should call for help and have the road closed until they have passed. If you pick up the ducklings, you risk the mother running away, and you are left with a flock of ducklings yourself. Are you in doubt? Get in touch with someone who knows about birds. Source: Fuglevakta Help, but help the right way There are many people who want to help. Swan Help is followed by 2,600 people, Måkevakta’s help group has 1,500 followers, but definitely the largest is the Bird Advocates’ help group with almost 10,000 members, in the whole country. Here they help each other, and the birds, with small and large things. Photo: John Inge Johansen / news – I think it’s great that that group has grown as big as this one has. At the same time, it is also somewhat important when you are there, that you do not believe everything that is said. Remember that “most people” are there, says Ann Mari Selje. Swish – swish – and the flock of pigeons around her take a lunch break in Nygårdsparken in Bergen. Selje is one of many volunteers who help the Bird Advocates. Last year, a Tromsø bird filmed a seagull eating a pigeon. “Kidnapping” of baby birds The relief measures that are sometimes presented on social media can sometimes make things worse. – Yes, there are not always positive things, necessarily. But then someone would like to contact you privately or try to explain in the help group. Summer is what we might call kidnapping season. There are many cute little baby birds that are taken, that do not need to be taken in, says Selje. At the aid group, she gives advice on how to care for injured birds, and if someone has found an injured pigeon in Bergen, there is a high probability that it has been rehabilitated with her. Photo: John Inge Johansen / news – I like pigeons best when it comes to rehabilitating injured birds, I feel they are easier to handle, and they don’t make as much noise as the seagulls, says Selje. The sound is probably important to think about, since she lives in a block of flats. Don’t bring baby birds home She hand feeds the pigeons, waits until they have eaten the seeds before giving them new ones. They land on her in droves. It also gives the opportunity to check the wings and legs, because some birds may have injuries that are not so obvious. Dua (Lipa?) is going to rehab. Photo: John Inge Johansen / news – Here we have someone who will be allowed to come home with me, she says suddenly. It has an injury in its foot. This line of thinking is supported by Sylvia Eliassen in Swan Aid Bergen. – Young birds that are healthy and unharmed should be left alone. Gulls are nest escapees and a number of other species are also down on the ground before they become capable of flight. If they are in the middle of the road, you can easily lift the baby seagull or baby bird up with your hands, she says. But many people believe in the myth that children who are cared for by human hands are rejected by their parents afterwards. It is wrong. Sylva Eliassen in Swan Aid Bergen is ready to treat baby birds: most often they should stay where they are. Photo: Svanehjelpen – Let the parents see the cub where you move it to, and put it down on the nearest safe grassy area. You should never take healthy and undamaged baby birds with you. The seagull chick that was confined has been moved out. Photo: John Inge Johansen / news Most baby birds die anyway Ornithologist Terje Lislevand says that it is not a good idea to bring baby birds home. – It is not wise. In most cases, these are baby birds that would have managed quite well on their own. Even if it doesn’t seem like it, the parents are nearby and have full control, says Lislevand. At the same time, he presents a grim statistic: – It is very common for baby birds to die. The vast majority of baby birds die during the first year. There are few who survive as a percentage, somewhat depending on the species, perhaps as little as 10 percent. If we are to intervene and do something about it, it will be an impossible job, he says. The day after the interview, the young seagull has been moved. Published 13.08.2024, at 18.28
ttn-69
This is how the bird rescuers in Bergen work to ensure that baby birds or injured birds do not die – news Vestland
