Baby birds are adorable animals that are surprisingly difficult to deal with, because they are so small, fragile, and undeveloped, taking care of them can be a job for parent birds. These tiny creatures can be killed outside of the nest very easily, but what about dying in their nests? Why do baby birds die in the nest? This article looks into it
There are many reasons as to why baby birds may die in the nest, if a predator finds an unattended baby bird in the nest it may attack and kill it. The parent bird itself can accidentally squish the baby, the baby can die of diseases, the cold, heat and even parasites
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Why do baby birds die in the nest? 15 Reasons why this happens
A bird’s nest is meant to be a safe haven for baby birds. Unfortunately, baby birds are still at risk of dying inside their nests. Even if predators do not attack baby birds, there are still many things that can go wrong. Here are reasons why a baby bird could die in the nest:
Small nests:
The size of a nest can play a big part in determining the success of baby birds. If the nest size is too small to hold the birds, then baby birds can suffocate inside of it.
In addition, the nest may have been constructed using branches or thorns that can prick and poke baby birds and cause damage
Temperature:
Baby birds are fragile in many ways. A change in environment, like a change in temperature, can severely affect them. If baby birds get too hot or too cold in the nest this can kill them, they can die of overheating or hypothermia.
Temperatures that exceed 95 degrees Fahrenheit (35 degrees Celsius) can kill a baby bird
Predators:
Predators know that baby birds are weak, young, fragile creatures that cannot defend themselves, because baby birds are so fragile, there will always be predators looking to eat baby birds.
Predators will keep an eye on bird nests to figure out when adult birds leave the nest, once this happens, predators will snatch up and kill baby birds in the nest.
Predators that can attack baby birds include rat snakes, raccoons, and other birds. Parent birds will abandon a nest of baby birds if there is a predator nearby
Malnutrition:
A lack of adequate nutrients can kill any animal especially fragile and small baby birds. The less nutrient-dense a baby bird’s diet is, the lower their survival rate, if baby birds don’t get enough nutrients to grow they can die.
Dehydration:
All animals need water in order to stay alive, baby birds usually get this from their parent’s milk or from food. If for some reason, the baby bird becomes dehydrated, then it can die
The parents:
Being first-time parents can be difficult even for birds. If the first-time parents are very stressed out because they can’t handle the stress of having to raise a nest of baby birds, then they may kill and eat the baby birds. Alternatively, they may simply abandon the baby birds
High heights:
Not all birds benefit from living at high altitudes, living in high altitudes can be risky for baby birds. If a birds nest is positioned in a high location then the baby bird may fall out of the nest and die
Parasites:
Small organisms like parasites can be fatal to baby birds, even the smallest of insects like fleas, mites, ants, bugs, and flies can be deadly to baby birds. These parasites can suck the bodily fluids out of a baby bird and kill it quite quickly
Illness:
Birds can catch a variety of illnesses, if a baby bird cannot fight off a specific illness then this illness will kill it. In addition, if a parent bird notices that a baby bird is sick then it may kill it off in order to protect the rest of the family.
Anything from fungal, viral, bacterial, or protozoan diseases can kill baby birds
Deformities:
Parent birds want their baby birds to be as perfect as possible. If a baby bird is deformed in any way, then the parent bird may take it upon itself to kill the baby bird.
Deformities and genetic disorders communicate to the parent bird that the baby bird will not be able to survive on its own
Population control:
Parent birds have a limit as to how many babies they can take care of. If too many babies survive hatching, then the mother bird will figure out which is the weakest link and choose to kill that bird.
This may sound cruel but killing one will allow her to raise the rest of her babies better
Sibling rivalry:
Sibling rivalry could be the cause of the death of a baby bird. Siblings compete for resources in the nest and the largest siblings may kill off smaller siblings, pecking can happen and bullying can happen until a smaller bird dies.
This rivalry happens as a result of competition over parental attention or food
Dead parents:
Parents will not always abandon their babies on purpose, if parent birds die then the baby birds will be left stranded and have no one to look after them, this will cause them to die in the nest.
Baby birds are very helpless, especially at the beginning of their life, because they are so helpless, the loss of a parent will be disastrous
Accidents:
A number of accidents can cause baby birds to die in the nest. Because these animals are so fragile, almost anything can kill them, if a baby bird accidentally gets squashed by its parent bird then it can die.
It may also accidentally be killed by its siblings, this can happen not because of sibling rivalry, but purely by accident
Humans:
Humans can also be the reason why baby birds die in the nest. Some humans may try to be helpful to birds but others can simply be harmful to these animals.
Human activities like disturbances to the nest, vandalism, or contamination of the environment can cause adult birds to flee the area leaving baby birds to die in the nest.
What do birds do if a baby dies in the nest?
If a baby bird dies in the nest, the parent bird will push it out of the nest. This is necessary in order for the other birds living in the nest to survive. A rotting bird can attract parasites and even predators to the nest.
If the parent bird cannot push the dead baby bird out of the nest, the parent will bury it in the nest. They will also try to mask the smell of the rotting bird with the droppings of the other birds in the nest.
Do mother birds push babies out of nests?
Yes, mother birds do push babies out of the nest. It is a sad sacrifice but they need to do this to protect the remaining babies that are still alive and healthy.
In addition, mother birds will push her maturing baby birds from the nest in an effort to get them to take flight. This is an essential step for baby birds to take as they mature and become adult birds.
So, yes, mother birds can and do push their babies out of the nest but for good reason.
Do mother birds abandon their babies if humans touch them?
This topic has been debated for a long time, don’t worry, a mother bird will not abandon her babies if they are touched by humans.
The idea behind this myth is that a mother bird will smell the residue of a human hand on her baby and abandon it, but this myth has been debunked several times.
Many fallen baby birds have been helped back into their nests by humans and the mothers have been unaware.
That being said, it’s not always a great idea to pick up a fallen baby bird, the baby bird needs to learn to fly on its own even if it means that it falls down sometimes.
Do baby birds die easily?
Yes, baby birds die easily, these tiny animals are definitely high risk. Some birds will hatch without being able to see, they develop the ability to see only days later. This makes them vulnerable
These little animals are also very feeble and weak, this is because their muscles have not developed and thus are not strong enough yet. Their weak state makes them even more vulnerable to predator attacks and diseases, even minor accidents can cause them to die easily.
Conclusion
In conclusion, baby birds die in the nest because they are vulnerable to predator attacks, parasites in the nest, diseases, and getting squashed by their parents or stronger siblings. If a baby bird dies in the nest the parents will push it out or bury it in the nest.
Mother birds will push the babies out of the nest if the baby dies, starts to rot, and thus becomes a danger to its siblings. A mother will still be attentive and won’t abandon her baby if it is touched by a human.
If you enjoyed this article then you may also be interested in other bird related articles. Here are some articles that you may be interested in: Releasing baby birds back into the wild, a good or bad idea?, Do birds sleep in the same place every night?, Can pigeon eggs hatch without a mother on them?, Do all birds make nests?