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Birding/about robin's nest and eggs

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Expert: Bluebird Bob Walshaw - 5/11/2008


Question
WE have a robins nest that was just recintly built and I believe they had only lay one egg so far..we had a severe thunderstorm come thru last night and the egg was blown out of the nest and cracked slightly...we put the egg back in the nest...was this the right thing to do and will they come back or should we have taken the egg out?  Thanks for your help.

Answer
Hard to say. Generally any damage to an egg is fatal to it. However putting it back may encourage the female to stay bonded to the nest and keep laying, so you probably did the right thing. However any nest disturbance such as a bad storm or a predator attack often causes the birds to start over somewhere else. Bluebird Bob. PS - if you have or are interested in Bluebirds please send your mailing address to walshaw1@cox.net as I will have something of interest to you.

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Bluebird Bob Walshaw

Expertise

I can answer almost any question on Eastern Bluebirds and small cavity nesters such as Chickadees, Titmice, Wrens, etc. Also general questions on other songbirds. No pet bird questions please.

Experience

I have had a 100+ nestbox trail for more than 20 years, I do a lot of writing, public speaking and educational work in this field. My hands-on Bluebird talks include more than 1000 people each year.

Organizations
Oklahoma Bluebird Society, North American Bluebird Society, National Audubon Society, Oklahoma Audubon Society, Oklahoma Fur Bearers Alliance

Publications
Bluebird Magazine, Oklahoma Today, Fur-Fish-Game, Birds & Blooms, Nature Society News,Back Woodsman Magazine, Tulsa World, Broken Arrow ledger, Teaching Tolerance magazine,Trappers World, OK Hole Story, Birders World

Education/Credentials
Degree in Mechanical Engineering, an MBA, Graduate of the Home Study Course in Bird Biology from the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, Oklahoma Master Naturalist. I am also a pofessional speaker and writer.

Awards and Honors
Chosen as a public speaker for the North American Bluebird Society, Bluebird trail accepted as part of the Transcontinental Bluebird Trail, Chosen as a panel speaker at the 2006 NABS Convention.

Past/Present Clients
Many

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