r/jackdaws

So we rescued this little guy who had fallen into a chimney. The mother was nowhere to be found, and it looked to be around a month old (the picture is more recent). We hand fed her with tweezers for a while, and with us, she has finally learned how to eat and fly and is about 2 months old.

I would like to share some things I've figured out and ask a few tips on how to continue this bird journey. (Also please correct me or explain some of my experiences/knowledge)

Journey so far:

- She is a very interactive bird. She will fly onto my shoulders almost any chance she gets to greet me and play with my jewlery/glasses.

- Since she doesn't have arms/hands then she feels around with her beak alot, when I put my hand near her she will "bite" around my fingers, but put no pressure into the bite (I'm taking this as her just wanting to interact with me)

- She knows what is "her territory". We used to keep her caged up for most of the time when we brought her in, just to keep her away from harm. We let her play in the grass only under someone's supervision. After she became better skilled at flying, we usually keep the cage door open all day and only put her back for the night (again for safety). We thought she might fly away and go back to the wilderness once she was capable enough, but she doesn't fly further than our yard. This leads me to think she might stay with us her entire life.

- She is very much a "mama's boy", out of my family I've somehow become the favourite who she loves to interact with the most and flies back to if someone tries to take her off of me.

Now some things I would like to know:

1. I have mostly been calling her "she" for now, but I actually don't know the gender of the bird. Is there any way of figuring this out without going to get tested by a doctor or something?

2. Today she got "excited(?)" over a dried chunk of grass. I offered it to her and she slightly bent down and started shaking her tail. For some birds a similar action is associated with arousal or being ready to mate. Was she aroused by a fluff of grass or does that body movement also sometimes mean anything else?

3. We've given her a name that she sometimes seems to react to? Is there any specific way to teach her what her name is or do we just continue trying to call her by her name?

4. How does one go about teaching things to a bird and is she old enough to be taught? I have experience teaching dogs before, which for something like "sit" is usually you say the command and put some pressure on the dog's lower back to make the dog sit and then you give the reward, essentially helping the dog get into position. I have trouble understanding how this would work on a bird, like calling the bird onto your hand, telling it to get off of you or even further down the line, maybe putting coins into a yar etc. You can't really "fly the bird into place" like you can with other animals.

I think that's it for now. I'll be happy to clarify any questions or experiences if need be. Just would really appriciate some info about this wonderful bird :))

Other tips and behavioural explanations also greatly appreciated ❤️

While going to get lunch - saw a parent and a juvenile - sitting on the sign for a 'parent & child parking space'

Funny coincidence, or can they read (given that they are pretty smart).

My dog spooked him into some bushes and he didn’t fly off, so I thought maybe it was hurt? I scooped him up and brought him indoors for a once over and he seemed fine. I used to own chickens so that’s my limit on bird knowledge lol but I couldn’t spot any signs of injury that would inhibit flight. I put him back where I found him and he just stood there watching me. By the time I got inside and looked out the window he had moved a little but not far. He’s moved from the back of my home to the front now but he hasn’t flown, just walking/hopping along as they do. Is this normal? I know nothing about jackdaws.