Baby Loggerhead Shrikes

While biking along the Seminole Wekiva Trail along International Parkway in Lake Mary, Florida, I came across two young birds that must have fell out of a nest. They couldn't fly, and just sat chirping in the middle of the pavement. On the way back, I found another pair that were in the grass just off of the trail. From the look of these birds, and from some searching online, my initial thought was that they could be Chickadee Chicks. I have been corrected several times that these are actually Loggerhead Shrikes.

The mother wasn't around, and I didn't see any nest. I wasn't quite sure what to do with these birds. I ended up leaving them alone after I took pictures. Hopefully the birds survive, although it's probably quite unlikely.

Visit http://floridaeveryoneforgot.blogspot.com/2008/04/chickadee-chicks.html for more pictures.

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• loggerhead
• shrike
• chickadee
• chick
• bird
• baby
• pet
• sad
• cute
• adorable
• dramatic
• prairie
• dog
• florida
• wildlife

[gymell]

They are fledglings, not chicks that fell out of a nest. The parents feed them after they fledge so they were likely around and taking care of them. Usually if I find fledglings out in the open I'll try to put them in a nearby bush or somewhere that's a little safer from predators. What you saw a completely normal part of the process for young birds. They are awfully cute! And correct that they are shrikes.

[XObrittandbriXO]

ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!! they're adorable ....i want one!

[TheCuteBirds]

@XObrittandbriXO I have one. OWNED

[ThePaleAmethyst]

@pfam999 Those are fledgling birds, one step down from adults, and by no means totally defenseless. They are in the stage of their life where they no longer spend all their time in the nest and start to really learn to care for themselves and become independent. The parents watch over them and continue to care for them as needed.

While it may seem cruel, not handling them is better for the bird's health, and they weren't in direct harm's way.

[pfam999]

I was going to say something angry because you are just evil. Leaving those chicks to there deat on the pavment. Wrong wrong wrong. Next time try hellping them. )>:

[RPfishh]

oh my gosh, they're sooo cute. They're doing that food begging thing that just about every songbird does. Hehehehe they look so fat.

[GoneBazaar]

How cool! They just stood there wanting food or something.

[waywardmuse]

What cuties!

[mountaincritter]

Yup--I've worked for two (licensed) avian rehabilitation centers and I can assure you that you did the right thing by leaving them as they were. Gymell is right--it's just part of the normal fledging the process. Adorable footage, btw. I've never encountered a shrike before.

[XObrittandbriXO]

aww their adorable!!!