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Post by lilolpeapicker on May 5, 2015 10:33:20 GMT -5
When I came home from my morning run, I started to remove the tarp over the seedlings outside. I startled a bird, which startled me and it flew off. I came in the house and turned around to look outside and there was a robin on the ground between the house and the garage. I watched it for a few moments and it watched me. Then I went inside to continue what I was doing. Then I checked on it again and the bird was in a nest that had been built on a wreath I had hanging on the garage door for a couple years, summer and winter. Over the weekend, I noticed a nest in and on the wreath, no eggs...It was eye level to me. I thought to myself, was that there before? I don't remember it, but I forget LOTS of things. So I just didn't think about it again until just now. So now what? I don't want to disturb her(guessing). I have things in my car to bring in...groceries, so I couldn't leave them out there. I went out to get them and the bird stayed there in the nest, watching me I am sure. I had to make 3 trips....she didn't budge. Everything is in my garage for the yard; where she is I will scare her with no matter what I do, esp the lawn mower... Though you can't see her there this is the way it is set up.
As you see this is how I set the shelves with the supports around them so it won't blow over with the wind which has yet to be tested since our wind has been mild.
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Post by lilolpeapicker on May 5, 2015 10:43:26 GMT -5
PS Where was she when I had my cat out there on a leash...and all w/e when I had the door open working outside?
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Post by Mumsey on May 5, 2015 15:22:10 GMT -5
Are you using that door? Perhaps use the car door. We have robins nest in trees next to our driveway. They don't budge when we are out there, even when we mow they do not scare.
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Post by lilolpeapicker on May 5, 2015 16:34:24 GMT -5
Unfortunately, I have to use that door as the garage door opener remote does not work and have to open it from inside. When I left to go back to work, she was not there and an egg was in the nest. When I came home she was not there. I will check now that I am done watering everything and in for the night. This does not look good B-|
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Post by Mumsey on May 5, 2015 16:49:58 GMT -5
She will get used to you. Maybe leave a few wormies nearby for her!
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Post by desertwoman on May 5, 2015 17:16:53 GMT -5
We have finches make a nest right near our front door at our house in town. They got very use to us coming and going. I was so afraid they would abandon the nest but they didn't. That nest has been used for at least 13 years! Our tenants continue to respect this nest.
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Post by lisaann on May 5, 2015 17:36:33 GMT -5
That robin is going to go after you every time you go by, once those babies hatch. I read this to hubby and he started laughing.
He said: Remember the year you had to walk all the way around the house to get in? That bird slapped my head! I did share pics of that on the Old Organic gardening thread. Eggs, babies, mom feeding. She kicked them out while I was at work, so I missed that! And that chapped my butt! hahahahaha
I did dig worms for her and lay them near bye. She looked at them, looked at me, and went to find her own! Ungrateful Witch! I was trying to get some more pics, but she was not posing for a worm gift!
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Post by James on May 6, 2015 0:44:31 GMT -5
Just toss the nest in the garbage can.
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Post by armjr on May 6, 2015 6:47:23 GMT -5
Survival of the fittest in practice. Robin built her nest in the wrong place. That location is not conducive to raising young. She needs to learn some different nesting strategies or NOT pass her genes on to the next generation of cat food.
I enjoy having bird nest around the place but they have to nest where I can't get to them. If I can get to them then so can Rascal and Sweetie Pie. That never ends well for the birds.
Alan
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Post by SpringRain🕊️ on May 6, 2015 9:02:28 GMT -5
Oh, Pea, what a dilemma! I would have suggested what Mumsey did, to use an alternate door, but apparently that's not possible. One thing that's good is that she's not attempting to attack you - this could happen, especially if she lays more eggs or more likely when the babies hatch.
This happened to me also; I made a few wreaths and hung them on the small front porch. The mail box was also on the porch, on the same side as one of the wreaths. I didn't even notice the nest until Mrs. Robin squawked at me when I went out to get the mail. I could see little tiny heads, so the babies had hatched. Even if I had gone around the house, the wreath was still close to the mailbox. I was uncomfortable, because she was very upset and vocalized it.
Then the postman refused to deliver mail because he claimed the robin was dive bombing him. For the next few weeks I had to watch for him daily and walk down the street to get my mail. (He was persnickety in other ways though; he also complained about a large arborvitae I had in the front yard; he said he was worried about spiders jumping onto him.)
Once the babies fledged, Mrs. Robin left as well and the porch returned to my possession. Eventually I took down both wreaths; if I ever put them up again, I'll keep them down until after fledgling season is over.
What you might try to do is slowly move the nest when she's gone, maybe even hanging it on the side of the garage close to the door so it isn't so far away that she can't find it. Or move it a little bit at a time, but gradually away from the garage door. I think moving it might be safer for you, unless she continues to just observe you as she's been doing. On the other hand, she might actually get used to you. It might have to be kind of a wait and see situation. Just be careful for yourself as well as the robins!
I hope this can work out well for you and the birds. Let us know what happens.
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Post by lilolpeapicker on May 6, 2015 9:56:17 GMT -5
What I am thinking of doing is moving the wreath to a different spot on the garage, oh I see, SR you thought of that too. I was surprised to see she was back in the nest when I came home from work this morning. She wasn't there last night or this morning before work. I will be opening and closing the door as I need tools and whatever. So I wouldn't think I could get away with that and have her accept me....
If they have more than 1 egg, will they not sit on it right away waiting to the rest of the eggs? Maybe that's what she was doing when she didn't set on the nest for the rest of yesterday until now.
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Post by lilolpeapicker on May 6, 2015 9:59:31 GMT -5
I did dig worms for her and lay them near bye. She looked at them, looked at me, and went to find her own! Ungrateful Witch! hahahaha that's one way to look at it!
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Post by brownrexx on May 6, 2015 10:20:34 GMT -5
Birds lay one egg at a time (chickens do one a day) until they have enough to raise a group and then they start sitting on them so that they all develop at the same time starting on the same day. Otherwise the first hatchling would be a lot bigger than the last hatchling and that would not be good.
I would try moving the wreath just a short distance away from the door when she is off of the nest and hopefully she will not notice that it was moved a few feet and you can use your door without problems.
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Post by lilolpeapicker on May 6, 2015 10:26:31 GMT -5
It was relatively chilly last nigh but not too bad,,,like in the mid 40's. I guess I was thinking what was kind of too cool to not sit on the egg that was there, but I understand why they do what they do.
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Post by brownrexx on May 6, 2015 11:11:09 GMT -5
I am saving some fertile chicken eggs for a friend right now and they are sitting in my garage until Thursday morning when I should have a dozen of them for him to pick up for his broody hen.
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