Birding/Robin egg

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Expert: - 4/23/2008


Question
My son grabbed a Robin egg today.  It wasn't there yesterday but it was on the ground and there wasn't a nest.  Is the egg still alive or is it abbanoned for a reason.  Should I try to save the egg or forget about it.  Right now I have it in a warm place but even if it did hatch I wouldn't know what to do with it.

Answer
I can't tell you if it is still alive or abandoned. Robins usually nest in trees, not on the ground. A rat or squirrel could have brought it there. If you want to try to save it, call your local wildlife rehab center for advice. You can also go to www.ornithology.com/rehab.html for advice, but it is VERY difficult to hatch and raise wild birds without experience. Thanks for your concern.

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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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