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Birding/robin nest, afraid mother has abandoned eggs

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Expert: - 4/11/2008


Question

nest eggs
i have a nest near my house containing two eggs - i first saw it four days
ago.  i check it about once a day - and i have yet to see a mother robin
around guarding or sitting in her nest.  Is it possible she has abandoned
them?  Is there anything I can do or do I let nature take its course?

also, i'm attaching a photo - there appear to be scratches on one of the eggs,
is this normal or could it be something amiss?

Answer
Robins usually lay 4-5 eggs so she may not be incubating the eggs yet. She won't start incubating until all the eggs are laid that she is going to lay. That's one explanation. If she doesn't return at all, she may have abandoned the nest or have been eaten by a predator. Let nature takes its course. And if you check the nest too often, you may cause her to abandon the nest.

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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