Expert: Julia Booth - 4/22/2008

Question
My family and I had just found a nest in our tree a day later we found out it was a robins nest. I went out side and accidently scared her away, their was only one egg and she didn't come back until the next day! could we force her to abandon her nest? and why did she leave for so long?

Answer
Robins typically lay their eggs over a course of a week. They lay about one egg a day. A Robin's clutch is usually four eggs, so this one obviously wasn't done laying yet.

She will leave the nest to eat during this process -even for hours at a time. Robins lay their eggs around the middle of the day, unlike many other birds who do so first thing in the morning.

They usually don't start the incubation process until all the eggs have been laid. This is so that all the eggs will hatch at the same time. She will still leave the nest occassionally to eat -or her mate will bring her food.

The incubation period is 12-14 days.

Keep an eye on her and see if she finishes laying her clutch. I'm thinking she is fine and I'm doubting that you scared her away. Robins are not skittish or sensitive in that sense.

Good Luck,

Julia