A day in the life of a swift's 'adoptive parents'

Рет қаралды 42,555

5 жыл бұрын

This summer, BirdLife Malta received a record number of 10 swifts (both Common and Pallid) after being found by members of the public. The young fledglings, which were found out of the nest, were then cared for round-the-clock by BirdLife Malta staff and volunteers until they were strong enough to be released.
Although we receive many injured wild birds every year, during the summer swifts are the most common birds in need of help. This species visits us each year to nest in areas like Mdina, Sliema, St Julians and San Ġwann. Some of the young fall from their nest but, unlike sparrows, the parents abandon them completely. Thanks to the support of the public, many of them are handed over to BirdLife Malta and we then have the opportunity to take care of them, until they are able to survive alone.
Here is a video we produced recounting a day in the life of the a swift's 'adoptive parents' - from when the young fledglings were received right up to their release. You can read more here: bit.ly/2Q38BkA.
Footage by BirdLife Malta, Sandra Maria Cuevas, Kinga Kupska and Veerle van Werde. Editing by Kinga Kupska.

Пікірлер: 117

@thejiggler7780 3 ай бұрын

Another cool thing about swifts is that they're closely related to hummingbirds and do the same backwards stroke that hummingbirds use to get extra lift as they move their back into place after flapping, making them super agile

@Ptitsa-hawk 26 күн бұрын

Omg

@gatisg6701 4 жыл бұрын

Thank you for doing this! 👏

@paulharvey2396 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for this. Powerful emotional appeal will help change consciousness - swifts have been declining very much in the last 100 years.

@davidfrancis6491 2 жыл бұрын

Wonderful we are lucky enough to have swifts flying above us every year i love watching there air acrobatics

@tobe3940 Жыл бұрын

So precious! Thank you so much for rescuing them and for sharing this with us!

@lalitantwal3975 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you

@philipdavies2783 3 жыл бұрын

Well done you all have very kind hearts ❤

@issyjas3309 2 жыл бұрын

That’s Beautiful and inspiring. For too long now Malta has been perceived as a country known for the death of birds…….these types of video give hope and faith that it’s never too late to change

@PixelatedExistence Жыл бұрын

Great video, my favourite bird, amazing flying machines. I live in the UK and love watching them fly. I took a young swiftlet that was on the ground to a rescue centre myself some years ago, it was heavily infested with louse flies, which I removed. Horrible parasites that seem to plague some swifts. It takes a lot of dedication to look after a swift to hopefully enable it to be released before the migration back to Africa. Well done to these young people for helping these precious creatures.

@tommyvictorbuch6960 3 жыл бұрын

Fascinating bird, a very close relative to the hummingbird.

@Ptitsa-hawk 26 күн бұрын

Really??

@tommyvictorbuch6960 25 күн бұрын

@@Ptitsa-hawk yes.

@kristinerancane7249 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you! Very helpful! Hello from fellow swift parent in Latvia. 🇱🇻

@maryclairfitzpatrick8135 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks so much for sharing this- the Swifts are truly beautiful and amazing. Wonderful work you are doing.I have nests on my property for them and they return every summer.They will leave soon and I will miss them :( Such joy nature can give us, we must care for it

@chitteshkumar5636 2 жыл бұрын

I have the bird

@tonywalker9860 2 жыл бұрын

One of my favourite birds

@superswiftsboltonbury848 Жыл бұрын

Rehabbing Swifts is a lot of hardwork and important to give them the correct diet with supplements but so rewarding to be able to release them at a good weight and in full health. Fabulous to see the great work you are doing saving your local grounded Swifts 💚

@fakharjabbar7880 3 жыл бұрын

Ma Sha Allah keep the good work on greetings from Pakistan 🇵🇰

@sherrybopcherrypop 3 жыл бұрын

I tried to save a baby swift in 2018. It wasnt a proper fledgling yet. I got it to live for another month but then it passed away. I was so upset :(

@kittybecker-smits154 11 ай бұрын

The ❤

@shameermasood2887 4 жыл бұрын

Thankyou ♥️👀

@naturalreach4316 2 жыл бұрын

Lovely video

@dawidjagusiak 3 жыл бұрын

I picked up one of these guys of the pavement in UK and took it to a veterinary not knowing what to do with it, I hope it will receive good care.

@kenspencer2984 2 жыл бұрын

we have a nesting box in the garden just next to the house(big box tennis size hole), the same family come back every year. They are usually high up the air playing all day, when we go out the the garden and the family is above they fly around us in high speed in "head" height making these swift (swooshing) high speed noises as if they were playing around us, greeting us even. Over and over again they never stop you can almost reach out and grab one because they are so near your head when they fly by. I have heard that this is not very common for these birds so I wanted to share the story.

@Wintermarina 3 жыл бұрын

No no no throwing in the air! Expand your arm and wait until the bird is ready to take off.

@MariaSerrano-ns6pt 6 сағат бұрын

Very helpful!! A have a swift in care in Southern California. Are you soaking the insects in water? Is that the best way to provide water? I would love to chat with one of your experts.

@NadiMarauder 4 жыл бұрын

I been take care of one for 2 weeks now, I found him very week in the road.. However I dont have scale or other equipments.. I been feed him and give him water he now seems really strong .. How I can I know when is time to set him free? Im afraid he will try to fly and end up lost in the floor again

@ritatocta7583 3 жыл бұрын

How has that adventure been? Have you sent him free? Do you still have him? I'm setting one free today! Wish me luck 💞!

@mus_vlog 3 жыл бұрын

hey i really need your help i found one legged baby swift and i do not know what to feed them

@thejoyofloving Жыл бұрын

there's a baby swift in our home from the past week or above. Writing this from Hyderabad, India, Asia. We found the bird on 15th of May, (summer) on the stairs of our apartment. It was a small bird (baby I suppose). We gave it water through a dropper. In fact we didn't even know what bird it was and only after some googling we found it was a swift. The first two days we fed it only water at times. It was little energised. Even After learning that it eats insects,we could not provide it because we had no insects here. And moreover we weren't sure if it can digest Coz babies are usually Fed by mothers partially digested food. We have been giving it some grains of boiled rice and boiled egg white. I even gave it black ants from our balcony which were about 7mm It always seems hungry, whenever we pass beside it, it comes closer to us and opens mouth. Any suggestions on what to feed it? Can I feed live worms(if so what should be the size of the worm) in how many days will it be able to fly. It's fully feathered. Weighs 11gm. Can you please suggest what to feed it. And when will it be ready to fly (at what weight) I have looked for many videos which may help, but found nothing nor got replies from anyone. I thank God I finally found your video, as we are also adoptive parents to a baby swift. Please suggest what to feed it and at what intervals

@FacTrend7 3 жыл бұрын

Hii Mam What should we eat them ? I found a common swift bird Please tell me what should we do for this baby. And Baby bird can't open his beak Plz tell me what is the reason behind this ?

@zeeitechriver 2 жыл бұрын

Only flying insects. Strictly no other food. www.swift-conservation.org/hand-rearing-the-common-swift.pdf

@pt.koloniwaletindonesia1026 5 жыл бұрын

Where the place

@smokey4664 2 жыл бұрын

just rescued one that fell from fascia this morning. iv made him a make shift home. and gave it worm that was cut into a few small pieces. is this ok for now. and what else shall I do now. any suggestions would great. my main concern is that maybe it's injured.

@unnatihasrajani9412 Жыл бұрын

Can you please help us. We have found a swift and we do not know how to handle it. In rainy season 😶

@thejoyofloving Жыл бұрын

Me in the same scenario here

@sk76__ 4 ай бұрын

i got a same bird on roadside , its still baby i know nothing about birds what i should do now ?

@vishwapancholi118 4 ай бұрын

Hello can you please tell us what should we feed?

@IRelentlesSI Жыл бұрын

I've pick up one on my work he got stock on grease of the extractor, I clean him up ang feed him rice and water I don't know if I should let it go in the park or keep it for care for a while he can't fly yet I think bad part is I only feed him when I get home, he is like this one on the video same size

@IRelentlesSI Жыл бұрын

Got him flew today 😁😁😁😁 I'm relief and a bit sad first I left him on the ground but he only jump around so I went to a high ground and let it flew, I was so nervous that he might fall off to that high but I was so happy when he flew 😁😁😁😁 I'll never forget it even though I only took care of him for a few days 😁😁😁😁

@sofianemesis5234 Жыл бұрын

I found one of them. I kept it for one month and a half but it died yesterday. Im really so sad 😔. I tried hard to take care of it...my little sweetheart

@maireadmaguire7509 Ай бұрын

Grateful you tried fellow Soul 🙌🏼

@anneyindee1123 3 жыл бұрын

I picked up 2 young that fall off the nest yesterday. How do I feed them? They are not eating, we gave cricket, worms and insects they are still not eating.

@DanielPereira-vc9ms 2 жыл бұрын

I know its been a while, but in case anyone comes looking for this comment in the future: If they're really young, you have to grind insects into a paste with water and feed through a syringe.

@anneyindee1123 2 жыл бұрын

@@DanielPereira-vc9ms thank you they grew up and we release it. I'm so glad they made it.

@shailytomar1417 2 жыл бұрын

Hi Anne same thing is happening with me will you please help me what you Fed them my swift has not eaten anything since morning.

@zeeitechriver 2 жыл бұрын

@@shailytomar1417 I know its to late to add this comment, but swifts are strictly insectivorous. Crickets, houseflies etc do good. You need to remove the hard parts like a crickets bristly legs, wings etc and feed the rest of it. The bird may not self feed so you may need to open the beak gently with your fingernail and insert the food. I know its yucky (grinded insects) but that is what will make it survive. Also ensure the food is fresh, else it will rot and make the bird sick.

@johnn1052 2 жыл бұрын

I have a young Swift, it does not want to eat and is very inactive, any advice would be helpful, what temperature is best for them?

@zeeitechriver 2 жыл бұрын

Hi John, just avoid cooler temperatures. I would say 28-30 celsius is good. If it doesn't feed by itself, you have to slide your fingernail very gently in its bill and open it up. Insert a small portion of the insect to a side of the mouth. If it touches the birds tongue in middle, she will throw it away by shaking its head. Be very careful because the bill is too delicate, you may use blunt tweezers to hold the insect. I was taking care of one but couldnt arrange enough food, and sadly it died in a couple of days. Please avoid any food except flying insects. Crickets and houseflies are fine. Just remove the hard bristly legs and wings. This link is has some information around feeding them. www.swift-conservation.org/hand-rearing-the-common-swift.pdf

@zeeitechriver 2 жыл бұрын

I believe being inactive means it is feeling weak.

@heinrichfourie9340 Жыл бұрын

I picked up a little guy and he was almost to give up hope.I made him a nest and not sure what else I can feed him or give him to make him more comfortable….any advice

@thejoyofloving Жыл бұрын

What happened to the swift that you rescued? Coz we too just rescued a swift 10days back, donno what to feed it

@heinrichfourie9340 Жыл бұрын

Sadly he didn't make it through the night because he was to far along and after all we tried doing for him.i did research what he can eat and it will eat most types of insects im not sure where you are located but at local pet stores they might have insects that is sold and bird friendly

@thejoyofloving Жыл бұрын

Am from India. Thanks for the reply

@ritatocta7583 4 жыл бұрын

How much insects do you give them at a time? Thank you.

@YujiUedaFan 3 жыл бұрын

In the wild they're given a "cookie" that's made up of a lot of small insects and flying spiders. In the video they're given fewer bigger bugs.

@tobe3940 Жыл бұрын

I read their parents give up to 20,000 insects to their babies daily. And they should eat every hour so I assume that means a lot.

@madhurag1922 2 жыл бұрын

Found one at my window. Pl show how to feed this bird. Mine doesn't eat anything

@tobe3940 Жыл бұрын

Apparently if they're not eating on their own they need to be force fed the appropriate amount (one or two medium sized crickets for example every 2 hours) meaning you need to very gently (the beak is fragile) open the beak and slide the insect inside the mouth towards the upper part and towards the throat. Some of them will push the food out if their tongues catches the insect halfway so that's why the food needs to be slid in towards the upper part of the mouth.

@Rotateco 3 жыл бұрын

I need some help on this bird I find like this bird injured in Jordan Middle East and I don't know what to feed him I cannot buy a worm or insect from any local store here So can you please tell me what to feed him instead of insect

@zeeitechriver 2 жыл бұрын

Its late to comment, but try to find houseflies, crickets, cockroach. Any house insect. Remove its hard parts like legs and wings and crush the rest of it. Feed that.

@kampramod999 2 жыл бұрын

What Is Food, To Give Baby.

@elliewalton9889 4 жыл бұрын

What insects do u use ? I’ve just found a swift chick outside my house I’m in the uk I’ve rescued one before but it was an adult that had been attacked my a cat I feed it mashed up crickets not sure what to feed a tiny little chick ?

@NJ-vk1dg 4 жыл бұрын

Mealworms without heads, and crickets without legs. Good luck.

@paulinelivingston5347 4 жыл бұрын

I am just in the same position as you found a swift for the first time as well ... It's a 4 week old one I have been told. Am on day 4 of looking after it.... A good tip I got given about the cricket am using micro ones at this moment is freeze the whole box of them down. So when they stop moving you can pull the legs of them and then defrost them in some water 3/4 at a time. As this will also help hydrate the bird at the same time as well.. I have also gotten some bird vitamin powered from the vets just to sprinkle a little bit over one of the cricket at meal time to help build its strength up.. these are such beautiful loving birds who deserve a good chance in life. Am in love with mine all Ready....

@s.stefanova390 4 жыл бұрын

I have two. The first one had 19grams when was given to me, about 10 days ago. The second had 17grams and is now a week with me. I found a good website with a lot of information. www.mauersegler.com/food/?L=en . I bought 1000 crickets acheta size M and keep them alive in two big plastic boxes - feeding and looking after them too. Every meal time I will catch the number of crickets needed, smash the heads (hoping they suffer less) and then cut the legs (usually they don't have wings yet). In the very beginning, when the swifts were smaller, I would cut the heads of the bigger crickets too and the wings. In the website you can find information about the portions and the food. As I use the crickets alive, i dont have to give vit. B supplement, but if you do use frozen.... read the website... good luck!

@-zekozakarneh489 4 жыл бұрын

@@paulinelivingston5347 i found a one two and i thought it was a sparrow cause when I find it it was really small and i didn't know, today after 17 days i knew it was a swift, i was feeding it smashed cat food soaked in water, it eats a lot and it's very active and the feathers grew nice, dried insects are not available and it's hard for me to catch insects :(

@wowsydrowsy7170 Жыл бұрын

@@-zekozakarneh489did it manage to survive on cat food

@the0glitter 3 жыл бұрын

What do you feed him?

@dimitravasileiadou9771 3 жыл бұрын

They eat worms and incects

@supranjansaha454 2 жыл бұрын

Hey..I am from India..I got s swift baby nestling bird fallen on ground..tried to find its nest but couldn't find one so ultimately decided to rescue it. I did some research about their diet found that they feed on insects..so today its been 3 days I am trying to feed it some worms and small termite eggs. But the baby bird isn't gaping for food..each time I have to force its beak open to feed it.. trying to feed it every hour. Plz help anyone. Thanks.

@zeeitechriver 2 жыл бұрын

Same experience with me too. They need to be fed by opening the beak. Unfortunately I couldnt arrange enough food (insects) and it passed away this morning. Check this document, it has some required info: www.swift-conservation.org/hand-rearing-the-common-swift.pdf My best wishes. Keep up the good work.

@thejoyofloving Жыл бұрын

We have rescued a baby swift ten days back, we are just fortunate that it opens it's mouth to eat. Its always hungry but we don't know what to feed it and if it can absorb anything that it eats

@creativevideosfunnyvideosv6442 2 жыл бұрын

today same bird entered in my house, is it a good sign or bad. and it is unable to fly, it is shivering. we feed them some water, and grain.

@zeeitechriver 2 жыл бұрын

NEVER feed grains to swift. It will fall severely sick. They are strictly insectivorous.

@zeeitechriver 2 жыл бұрын

Feeding other types of food will upset digestive system and may also do organ damage.

@tobe3940 Жыл бұрын

Is it a good sign that the animal sees you as their savior? Well absolutely. They came to you since they were feeling frail and needed help. Nothing better in this world than an animal trusting you and voluntarily coming to you for shelter. What honor more than that?! Not every human being deserves to be the subject of an animal's trust and kindness. Wished I was you.

@samridhinema1881 3 жыл бұрын

Hi...I wanted to know how to get their mouth open so that I can feed it.

@pinexpizza 3 жыл бұрын

have u got the amswer yet?

@shrimp7337 3 жыл бұрын

Pick up the food in your fingers or a pair of tweezers to shape it like their mothers peak and put it above their mouth/head and if they are hungry, they should open up

@zeeitechriver 2 жыл бұрын

Open the beak by inserting your fingernails on one side. Maintain the gap with your thumb on one side and forefinger on the other side. Hold the insects in a blunt tweezers and insert on a side. You will see tongue in the mid. If you leave the food there, the brd will throw it away. Gently push it from any one side (you will see moth cavity on both sides of the tongue). Push it in but take care not to hurt the biord. Also their beak is too delicate and can break if force is applied. Be careful.

@amanbhatt6183 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks for video 😊 I have one nd now she can fly should I free her

@ritatocta7583 3 жыл бұрын

Yes!

@amanbhatt6183 3 жыл бұрын

@@ritatocta7583 I did☺️

@raxen1890 2 жыл бұрын

What you feed it ???

@zeeitechriver 2 жыл бұрын

Insects. Crickets, flies, moth larva. Remove hard parts like legs, antennae, large wings. Crush the rest and feed. 2-3 medium sized crickets every 2 hours.

@tobe3940 Жыл бұрын

@@zeeitechriver If they eat the insects with the wings and legs, what issues can be caused due to that? Could we crush and mix those hard parts in some boiling water and when cooled give that paste to them by any chance?

@user-eh3bd6wp4h Жыл бұрын

مين اجه من ست ساره 😂💔

@jayho9909 4 жыл бұрын

Good job if anyone want this message me

@aaradhyabisht4394 3 жыл бұрын

Yesterday my dad got one house swift Baby bird on street🤩🤩so I m thinking what to feed him/her?

@zeeitechriver 2 жыл бұрын

Feed only insects. Crickets and houseflies are fine. Strictly no grains, rice or bread or things like that. If you need more info, please Check this document, it has all the info: www.swift-conservation.org/hand-rearing-the-common-swift.pdf

@netizen6139 2 жыл бұрын

10 Months without Landing are you kidding me?

@itsyaboymayen6664 5 жыл бұрын

Swift are similar to swallows

@FilaMan74 5 жыл бұрын

No.

@YTGAMING-un6xk 3 жыл бұрын

Yes

@sarikadubey8150 3 жыл бұрын

Hi ! .... Can you please tell can we feed some vegetarian items to them and what items are they ?

@savannahlevy97 2 жыл бұрын

They don't eat vegetarian. Only insects and caterpillars and other bugs

@zeeitechriver 2 жыл бұрын

Don't do that, you will kill the bird. Strictly insects.

@zeeitechriver 2 жыл бұрын

For any baby animal or bird, try to search internet for feeding that particular species. Human food is not suitable to them. For example, a cat baby cannot be fed cow milk because they cannot digest those proteins and will lead to diarrhoea. Similarly, every bird species is different. Some need seeds, while some will be harmed by seeds. Some need insects and MUST NOT BE given any veg items.

@mahzabinrupsa8664 3 жыл бұрын

world's smallest bird! no way

@peshpeshabdulla 3 жыл бұрын

that is Allah's creation! this bird mentioned in Quran as Ababeel

@tobe3940 Жыл бұрын

ALL nonhuman animals are also god's creations to those who believe in that god. So, that means a muslim's DUTY and part of how s/he worships their god is to care, protect, nourish and help animals and never to cause harm to any of them no matter their species. Keep that in mind. I see animal abuse and animal murder/slaughter happening left and right in many muslim countries using the excuse of "religion" which is unacceptable. Dogs and pigs for example are also not "filthy". They're too creations of god. And black animals such as black cats are also creations of god and if you respect your god you have to respect them too.

@peshpeshabdulla Жыл бұрын

@@tobe3940first of All please enterduece yoursef...! And let me know your belief then we can have discussion about of food and animals

@antonshef4597 2 жыл бұрын

Сколько нужно иметь ума что бы окольцовывать стрижа? Для чего? И выпускать их нужно с ладони, а не подбрасыванием вверх

@chitteshkumar5636 2 жыл бұрын

I have the bird. U need?

@tobe3940 Жыл бұрын

1. Common swifts and nor any other kind of swifts are pets and they're not allowed to be kept as pets since they're WILD birds meaning they need to be in the wild. 2. Animals are not objects or products and hence why they must NEVER be exchanged with money or anything else. Animals just like humans get ADOPTED NOT BOUGHT. Exchanging money for any living soul is slavery and trafficking, both of which are both internal and international felonies.

@mosaali1768 2 жыл бұрын

Eat me the hat. Will their father take care of them or take care of them?

@tobe3940 Жыл бұрын

???? Actually swifts are monogamous and always stay together meaning they mate for life. So they both take part in caring for their babies and catching food for them.

@ghazikutbi3206 2 жыл бұрын

أعوذ بالله من الشيطان الرجيم: وما يعلم جنود ربك إلا هو. صدق الله. Is this the king of birds? Is this the species which Almighty God has assigned to fight the predators who came from Habsha to demolish the Main Mosque of Islam? All fighting jets mimic the design of this Ordinary Swift which is by no means ordinary The arabic above: is reciting part of Koran which indicates that God almighty is well acquainted with His Own Army, and no one else knows that

@satti80 3 жыл бұрын

There’s no adaptation. God made it. God God God God God. Why do you hate God so much?

@anneyindee1123 3 жыл бұрын

We picked up 2 young that fall off the nest. They are not eating what should I do? How do I feed them

@tobe3940 Жыл бұрын

Your god also made cows and sheep and hens. IF you're claiming to care about your god why do you murder those animals then?! Animals are all GOD's creation and even in Quran she said it plenty of times that animals say her prayers and worship god and are innocent unlike humans and hence they must always be protected and helped by humans not murdered or abused or eaten! That includes dogs, pigs, black-haired animals, cats, etc.

@satti80 Жыл бұрын

@@tobe3940 we murder them to eat them. God made them for us to feed on. Once they die they don’t feel any more pain. They will die sooner or later. You will die too. I will die.