Baby robin redbreasts born in a car in Dublin – who inadvertently ‘migrated’ to County Galway – are being cared for by a local bird sanctuary.

The four robin chicks were separated from their parents in the capital after their nest, hidden in an end-of-life vehicle, was transported West by a Claregalway couple who bought it for scrap.

When they reached Claregalway and inspected the car, they discovered a nest with four live baby robins in it.

Immediately they rang Galway and Claddagh Swan Rescue, and the chicks are in foster care with volunteer Rebecca.

“They were nestling stage, not yet fledging but close enough,” explained Mary Joyce Glynn of Galway and Claddagh Swan Rescue at Lough Rusheen in Barna.

She agreed they would be missing their parents.

“Oh yes, they would’ve been feeding them, so the volunteer has been hand feeding them since. You foster them to a certain age until they are ready to go and be independent.

“They’re at a huge disadvantage when they don’t have their parents. What our volunteer will do, and she’s experienced in this, she will bring them out into her outdoor area and let them hear birdsong every day, so they realise they are birds and meant to be wild. She will know what the correct time is to let them go,” said Ms Joyce-Glynn.

And she agreed the parents would be in distress.

“I’m sure they are very distressed. That car could’ve been there a couple of months. They would’ve been in and out feeding their babies and the next thing they come, and they’re gone. It’s awful sad,” she said.

But Ms Joyce-Glynn is confident there will be a happy ending for the chicks, which are being cared for by expert Rebecca.

“When you’re rehabbing wildlife the one thing you don’t do is make pets of them because they would have no chance in the wild. They need to be afraid of humans and keep away from humans. You have to keep them wild otherwise their chances (of survival) are very poor,” she said.