House Sparrows were originally recorded in Eurasia, North Africa, and the Middle East but now live all around the world. Because there are so many sparrows globally, they are not a protected species. [2] X Trustworthy Source The Cornell Lab of Ornithology Research lab of Cornell University dedicated to interpreting and conserving the Earth’s biological diversity through research and education about birds Go to source This means there are no laws prohibiting them being kept as pets.
Always observe strict hygiene when handling the bird. Thoroughly wash your hands before and after care. Dispose of waste in a sealed bag.
Try to avoid the baby bird becoming imprinted on you. This means the bird assumes he is human rather than a bird and can lead to difficulties when releasing him back into the wild. [3] X Research source Do your best to avoid speaking to the bird. The goal should be to feed and care for the bird as if you are an “invisible force. "
The ideal temperature is 85- 90 F. Do not use terry clothes to line the nest as the claws and beak may become tangled to it. Put the nest in a dark, quiet place where it won’t be disturbed by children or pets.
If your aim is to release the bird back into the wild, then consider not weighing the bird as the more contact you have, the more likely he is to imprint on you. If your intention is to raise the bird as a pet, then go ahead and weigh regularly to check progress.
If the bird is not old enough to feed itself, break off small pieces, about half the size of your little fingernail, and tweezer feed it by hand.
Please note, do not give earthworms to captive baby sparrows. There is something toxic about earthworms that makes captive birds die. [5] X Research source Practical Wildlife Care. Lee Stocker. Publisher: Blackwell Science Instead, trying offering the smallest sized crickets (available from reptile supply shops). Another option is to offer clean white maggots, as sold by angling shops. Again, the maggot should only be fed when its gut is empty. The black line in a maggot his food in his gut, so wait until this black line disappears before feeding to the baby bird. You could also consider feeding dried insects, as sold for reptiles such as bearded dragons. Check your local pet store for supplies. If the sparrow is a nestling and not a fledgling, refrain from feeding it any insects and stick to the cat food diet. Insects such as flies can lead to fatal constipation in a young nestling.
If the bird is very young and does not have many feathers, feed every half hour. If older feed every hour or two. The bird will start chirping and gaping when hungry and will stop eating when full.
Keep the food clean of fecal soil, so clean the bowl at least once a day.
If the baby bird is not interacting with wild birds then it needs to learn the songs of its species another way. This will allow it to communicate with other birds when it is released. There are audio files available online that you can play for the bird. [8] X Research source
Wait until it has wing feathers, then if it doesn’t seem to know what to do then its probably isn’t ready. To test out whether he’s ready, take him outside and place him on the ground in an area that’s safe from predators. Leave the bird to its own devices for 20 minutes, if nothing happens bring it back indoors and try again another day.
If the bird is imprinted on you, then it cannot be released into the wild. It needs to continue as a pet. [9] X Research source
