[Butterbean]

Violante, your post brought up a memory from long ago when I was around 8.
The neighbor girl and I happened upon a bird nest in a tree and we removed it.

My parents were home so we took it over there first. Across the board, it was a "No, put it back," from my mom and my dad, with an explanation of what we had done and what was to be the result.

So, we went to her house with the nest and I learned the next day, her parents had allowed her to keep it because she wanted it.

For days, I heard all about the feedings and delightful encounters from the neighbor girl. I was pretty ticked off about it all. My mom tried to explain that the reason they would not allow me to keep the nest.

One day, I realized I hadn't heard any more bird stories for a bit and asked the neighbor girl about it.

She only said this: "They died."

I learned a lot about my parents' character that day.

Originally Posted by violaine

Fledglings:
Baby birds that are beginning to leave the nest are called “fledglings”. Their flight feathers haven't fully developed, but they can flutter from branch to branch. Don't be alarmed if you see a fledgling on the ground. It could be taking a rest from its first flight or it could be waiting for one of its parents to feed it. Do not attempt to replace such a youngster in the nest. Leaving the nest is a part of their normal development and it is best not to interfere with the process.

http://www.birdrescuecenter.org/faq2.htm#bb1