Found a robin’s nest—eggs + 1 hatchlings—on the ground after removing a bag of rubbish (now disposed of). It’s not clear how far under the bag the nest was. Do we leave it exposed, or try to shelter it with something new? Parents are still tending it.

Question

Found a robin&rsquo;s nest&mdash;eggs + 1 hatchlings&mdash;on the ground after removing a bag of rubbish (now disposed of). It&rsquo;s not clear how far under the bag the nest was. Do we leave it exposed, or try to shelter it with something new? Parents are still tending it.

Wendy Frith · Answer

Thanks! There’s an old grain dispenser on legs that’s been near the nest’s location for years, so the birds are used to it. It has legs and would fit handily over the nest with a 3” clearance. Should I try it?

Wendy Frith · Answer

Rather than moving the feeder, I leaned a board against it at an acute angle to the ground, forming a shelter over the nest. Placed a brick along its bottom edge so the board couldn’t slide down and flatten the residents! After a few minutes of confusion and inspection, the returning parents flew under the board and have been coming and going regularly ever since. Fingers crossed, the family is intact!