Martins and Swallows   -   common problems

Fledglings are often found underneath their nests, especially in very hot weather as they stand on the edge to get cool and fall out.
Younger nestlings are occasionally found on the ground when a flimsy nest (probably built by inexperienced birds) collapses
Often the chicks are bruised and dehydrated, so handle them very gently and rehydrate as son as possible.

An illustrated account of rearing a martin and a swallow can be found in:  Case Histories
   
Medication
If you have any homoeopathic remedies, crush a tablet of Arnica and Aconite together and dissolve in a few drops of tepid boiled water.
Give this to the bird on a cotton wool bud or tiny artists' paintbrush on the edge of the beak.
The sugar in the tablets will help boost the chick's energy and the medication will help with the shock and bruising from the fall.

Rehydration
Give some re-hydration liquid such as tepid water, Lectade, Critical Care or even Dioralyte.
In an emergency: 1 tablespoon tepid boiled water mixed with a tiny pinch of glucose and 4-5 grains of salt will help.
Dip a cotton wool bud or tiny artists' paintbrush in the liquid and put a drop on the edge of the beak, near the hinge.
The bird should accept this and take several drops.
NEVER try and squirt water into the beak - you will kill the bird if liquid enters the air sacs.

Emergency Feeding
If the bird is opening its beak and begging for food, you can give it tiny amounts of mashed up meaty cat food in tweezers.
Mash about a teaspoon of food and add a drop of two if water if it seems rather dry.
Pick up a small amount that will easily fit into the bird's beak in tweezers or on a plastic coffee stirrer.
Offer it from above the bird and when the beak opens, place the food at the back of the tongue.
Allow about 10 seconds for swallowing and offer another small portion.
It should take between 4 and 8 small portions and then will sit with eyes closed, to digest the meal.
Let it rest quietly in a warm, dark, ventilated box and take to a rescue centre as soon as possible.
If you can't take it to a centre straight away, give feeds every 1-2 hours (depending on demand) until about 8pm.

Ideally the bird should be fed chopped maggots/ mealworms/ waxworm larve to replace the natural food of flying insects. 

Replace in nest
Once rehydrated, the fledgling should be returned to the nest if at all possible. 
Even after handling and rehydration, the parents will accept the chick back