Found Baby Mourning Dove; RIP

[Jessika]

***bump*** I know someone has to have some advice...

[Scooter's Mom]

I will send your message to my aunt, who has raised doves before. She may not reply immediately as I don't know if she gets online every day.

I don't have any advice for you as I am not familiar with them.

[moosmom]

I found a baby bird when our two yard cats were taunting him. I picked him up. He was young. But as a vet tech I knew once told me, the mama is around somewhere watching. Since there was no where to put him (all pavement) out of harms way, I put him in a grassy area across the street. Within 30 minutes the baby was gone. He eventually flew on his own (I did't see any feathers sticking out of the cat's mouths, which is a good sign).

If you can find te nest, put on rubber gloves, and replace the bird back. If's that's not possible, do what I did. He'll find his way.

[Jessika]

There was no nest anywhere, which could be because of the horrible gusts of wind we'd had the day/night before. And as I said, we left him outside yesterday all day until it started getting dark and cold, and mama hadn't been around in hours and hours.

I was told mama was outside today, so we brought him outside in the box and placed him by the tree we found him at and are keeping an eye on him to make sure the neighborhood toms won't get to him first. If mama doesn't show up for awhile, we'll bring him back inside for the night.

Thanks guys

EDIT: I also read on many many many bird websites that birds do not have as strong a sense of smell as many think, so even if you handle the bird the mama won't be able to "smell" you and won't abandon him as many may believe. There have been stories of humans handling babies and returning them outside a few days later and the mom still comes and takes them back.

We do wash our hands after handling him, though.

[Jessika]

Baby was out there for a couple of hours before it started getting dark and we'd decided to bring him back inside with us again. We thought Mama was nearby, but I guess we were wrong...

We bought some Dove specific food for him today and he *appears* to be eating.

I would still like some more specific tips on how to feed him, though... I don't want to join a "dove" or "bird" forum just to ask one question when I know there are people here who have dealt with this type of situation before...

[Jessika]

To anyone that may have cared or even noted this thread's existence, the baby has passed away today after many unsuccessful attempts at reuniting it with its mother.

I feel awful, but if we had left it out there overnight it surely would have died a much more cruel death.

RIP, baby birdie.

[moosmom]

Jessika,

You did the best you could for the poor baby. It's not your fault. Nature can and IS very cruel at times.

RIP little birdy.