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Birding/House/Purple Finch Q.

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Expert: - 4/14/2008


Question
Hello, Roger.
We live in an apprt. building, and have a hanging geranium plant on our balcony (it's not blooming yet). Today I've noticed the pair of Finches flying back and fourth from the nest and back. When I looked inside, I saw a foundation of the nest.
I don't mind them at all, but I am afraid of scaring them away, once summer starts and we'll spend more time outside (plus I have a dog too, he wont jump, but he will scare them, I think).
My question is, can I move the pot to a different corner (but it wont have the shade overhead, one sun returns to Portland, OR), and if so... what do I do about the plant? Do I water it with the nest in there??
Help!:)

Answer
Hello. If the nesting has begun, the eggs should be laid and the young out of the nest in about a month - well before summer begins. You can move th epot a few feet, but no more or you will cause the parents to abandon the nesting effort. You can water the plant - birds in the wild are used to rain.

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Roger Lederer

Expertise

Any and all about WILD birds - the science of ornithology. Information about birdwatching, ecology, conservation, migration, behavior, banding, rehabilitation, feeding, songs, binoculars, identification, and careers in ornithology. No questions about pet or caged birds, please.

Experience

Have a PhD and over forty years as a professional ornithologist - research, teaching, author, speaker, webmaster of Ornithology.com . Have written thirty scientific papers, three bird field guides, a textbook in ecology and two recent books entitled "Amazing Birds" and "Birds of New England". Have traveled to over 90 countries watching birds.

Education/Credentials
PhD in Zoology/Ornithology; Emeritus Professor of Biological Sciences; former Dean of the College of Natural Sciences at California State University, Chico

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