nest: no vacancy

Late last summer, some enterprising birds made a nest on top of our garage door opening mechanism.  After a few months, Joe removed it, and placed it on a shelf near the door, thinking the littlest little would find it fascinating.  

Last week, a pair of robins decided it was the perfect location to start a family.  This is crazy because the garage has a lot of foot traffic in and out, and we park right beside where the nest is placed! We also use the power tools located in that garage, and Sunny has a little kitchen play space in there, as well. I spent a good bit of time in that garage last weekend, using the circular saw and some other rather noisy tools!  There was a pack of rambunctious 7 year-olds playing house and doing a great deal of "cooking" and tending to loudly wailing baby dolls.  I have NO idea why these birds decided this would be a good nest, other than they didn't have to build it!

One day last week, as I went to get into my car, a robin flew out of the garage, zipping right by my head.  When I looked the direction from where this bird came, I saw the nest, and thought, "Oh, no!  Not there!"  I climbed up on a crate and gently stuck my hand into the nest, and felt the smooth eggs.   

The eggs gestate for 12-14 days, and then of course, there will be baby birds...  We cannot avoid this space for over a month!!  I feel badly, but either they will have to adapt to our presence or abandon the nest.  On the upside, there is no shortage of robins around here, and certainly not in our yard, where I can see three other occupied nests in the backyard alone. Robins typically lay two to three clutches of eggs a season, and there are usually four eggs in each clutch. 

Still, I feel guilty!!!

Comments

[Tina]

Wow that is amazing! I hear you about the guilt. Crazy mama bird.

[Louise Kirby]

What an amazing thing to happen! they might be really tame babies by the time they fledge.

[flo donnelly]

Guess they like the landlord.

Miss you guys. Hope to see you soon!