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I put a baby bird that fell from a tree back in the nest, and the parents rejected it Was it my faul2007-11-24 17:22:31

Rumors about once you touch a baby from an animal the parents reject it.

Answers:

That is a myth, I agree. Birds nostrils are not used for smelling at all. They are used solely for breathing. The idea that if you touch a baby bird the mother will reject it because she smells you on it is not true. The baby bird was probably thrown out of the nest in the first place because the mother sensed something wrong with it, and it is a waste of her time and energy to take care of a baby bird that will not live anyways. Cold and cruel, but that's life.

"Birds do have olfactory nerves that vary tremendously in size and function. For most bird species, olfaction, or the sense of smell, plays little or no part in their ability to locate or assess the quality of food. "

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No, it was not your fault. You did what needed to be done. The rest is up to nature.

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well u should then take it to a vet and they ll guide u

but i dont know anything about that rumor??

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That's just a myth. I once help a mother wren raise her baby. We both fed it, sometimes one right after the other. It survived to be a healthy bird, despite my handling it from an egg. There was probably some other reason for the parents' behavior.

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yes it was. you touch it, birds smell humans on their babies and reject it. it was good intentions, but next time let mommy bird come get.

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Yes. They can smell you on the baby and they mistrust that smell. They may get over it and continue taking care of the baby, or they may not.

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Mabe not mabe it was one of thoes misbehaved baby birds

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that is very possible ,the human smell on the chick may be the reason