Help. Bird nest with live birds and mother is gone now.

[diddlydudette]

Well, I started not to say anything but 1/2 hour later I was on my porch and peeked out toward the nest. All was on the ground again and nest was empty. There was a deer in my backyard at the time so I'm thinking the deer ate the birds. There were 2 little birds and an egg yesterday in the nest. I was so happy to see the mom bird back at the nest and then1/2 hour later, the birds are all gone.Sorry this wasn't a happy ending.:-(

[gouligann]

Awe, that's sad, but that's nature.

Nope, deer don't eat protein, so I doubt it had anything to do with disturbing the nest.

I'd tend to blame a racoon, squirrel (yes they eat meat), cat or weasel.

[animalcrazy]

Originally Posted by writerwife

Wonderful! I went thru a very similar thing recently. Thought mom disappeared so did some research and then mom returned.
(by the way.. most of what I read said to take canned cat food or dog food, thin it a bit and feed with a dropper and don't give them water at all)

I raised a baby black bird on cat food. It was a lot of work. It ate half a can a day from sun up to sun down for weeks. I have a whole new respect for bird mothers and fathers. I love to help them out if there are fledglings in the yard. I'll feed them worms when I find them in the garden. We usually have robins and black birds around.