Rescued jackdaw Frank helped by fellow fledgling

7 hours ago

Malia CartyNottingham

News image — Frank is recuperating with another jackdaw

Brinsley Animal Rescue Two black jackdaw fledglings perched on a stick in a metal cage, one has no feathers on its head or chest and is very small. — Frank is recuperating with another jackdaw

A jackdaw that was found in a "sorry state" is being nursed back to health by another fledgling.

The small, blue-eyed black crow was found in Hucknall, Nottinghamshire, with missing feathers and was about half the size of a fledgling of his age.

Brinsley Animal Rescue took him in and named him Frank, after American singer and actor Frank Sinatra, who was known by the nickname "Ol' Blue Eyes".

Now Frank, who is believed to be six weeks old, has been taken under the wing of another jackdaw who is feeding him and helping his recovery.

Staff at the rescue do not normally name animals but made an exception for Frank.

"He stole all our hearts - all our wildlife team love him," said rescue co-founder Jon Beresford.

Staff are not sure what caused Frank's condition but believe it could be due to malnutrition or liver disease.

Brinsley Animal Rescue A black jackdaw fledglings perched on a stick in a metal cage, it has no feathers on its head or chest and is very small. — Frank is believed to be six weeks old but his size makes it hard to judge

While quarantined for treatment and initial recovery, Frank was observed calling out to his new friend.

They were later placed together to help his development.

At this stage of growth, Frank would still be reliant on his parents for food, but in their place, the older fledgling has started to feed him.

"To our amazement, we have witnessed them [the other young fledgling] feeding this chap, despite the fact they had only just started feeding themselves.

"It's amazing to watch them interact. [Frank] watches the older one's every move and copies him."

Brinsley Animal Rescue Two black jackdaw fledglings in a metal cage, one has no feathers on its head or chest and is very small. The other is in the centre of the cage squawking at the camera. — Frank's new friend is only slightly older than him, staff at the centre have said

Blood samples could be used to better understand Frank's condition but staff said they were waiting until he is stronger before any tests are done.

Beresford believes that Frank could have been born with his condition, as there are "no signs of feather growth" despite a good diet.

He said it was hard to tell if Frank would recover, as this was the first corvid - the name given to members of the crow family - they had seen in that condition.

If Frank's feathers grow back, staff plan to move him to an aviary to learn to fly and prepare for eventual re-release into the wild.

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