I have a miner nest under guttering and today found one of the four chicks on the ground, it would have been a 2 metre fall. It moved around fine and was even able to fly though only to about knee height. I gently caught it and placed it back in to the nest - now it has stayed motionless in that one spot perched on the side of the nest where i placed it. It has been sleeping, though hasnt moved, not even back in to the nest. Approx 8 hours.
Could it have been rejected from the others?
Could it be in shock after i captured it?
Will the parents continue to feed it after it has returned to the nest?
Should i seperate it from the others and bring it closer to ground level?
im worried , any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Your description, "was even able to fly though only to about knee height" gives me a good indication as to its age, about the 10-14 day mark.
The chick should be chirping non stop for food and when feed chirp rapidly. Does it do this?
You said a 2 metre fall, but don't state onto what, concrete or grass etc.
Definitely not shocked. Maybe injured and underfed though. I would think lack of food being the more likely. They need to eat like every 20 odd minutes ideally and rest a great deal as they rapidly grow.
"Should i seperate it from the others and bring it closer to ground level?" No. Back in its nest and it will again be on the ground for days while it learns to fly.
Q1
Is it chirping for food?
Q2
Are adults regularly feeding it? Note that miners live socially so not just the parents may feed the chicks.
Q3
Can it safely spend a week on the ground, hiding in nearby shrubs etc?
My avatar is B# (be sharp), a Noisy Miner I rescued and released. :)