It's small, able to fly short distances but not able to get elevation. It might not be long before it's big enough to fly properly.
Will it eat? Drink? Currently it's in a box with a wire mesh top I've put over it.
The thing will be cat food if I let it outside and there's no way it can get back to its nest.
It's cheaping trying to call for mom but there's no answer.
My thinking is like.. Water, seed (we have a parrot so I have seed)... Hoping it can feed itself or it's probably done for? If it can survive a few days to a week with me then it might get big enough to leave?
You do nothing.
If it lives, it lives. If it dies, it dies. Don't intervene with wild animals' lives unless you're an expert in the field.
Fuck that. There's no good reason to let it just die. Call a wildlife preserve and ask for instructions*. If they say that same bullshit (they probably won't), then take it in, feed it, try to asses if it's hurt, and look up ways to help it heal.
If it survives but is no longer able to be wild for some reason (because being healed kills some instinct or some bullshit?), you have a pet now. Better than it being fucking dead. If it dies, you had a net zero affect anyway.
* this thread's outcome of "it's seems like it's ok, let it be while keeping an eye on it", is probably exactly what they'd tell you in this case.
It's not hurt, pretty sure. I picked it up when I boxed it before I looked up what to do and it got a bit screechy about that but it's otherwise fine other than when it was pissed off at me.
I know it's not going anywhere in the courtyard unless it learns to fly off as the walls are too high, so I'll be able to check on it tomorrow. Either it's still there and obviously deteriorating in condition because no parents feeding it, or it'll be gone. Very slim chance of neighbour cat showing up but I've never seen anyone else's cats come in that courtyard because we have dogs so I think it's ok.
Right I would usually feel that way but had found its way inside my living room and its origin is kinda uncertain to me.