Expert: Julia Booth - 6/25/2008

Question
I found a mockingbird nest with 4 eggs in one of our bushes. Five days ago, one of the eggs hatched. The other 3 still have not, even though the mother continues to sit on them, and the newborn regularly. Is this normal? Isn't it harmful for her to be sitting on that one baby for such long periods of time? Should I remove the eggs and discard them? Please answer as soon as possible.

Answer
First of all, I'm surprised that a Mockingbird allowed you to get that close to her nest without attacking.

Eggs are generally laid over a course of several days and incubation began for all of them at once, so that they will hatch at the same time. It's possible that the others are duds or she just didn't start incubating them at the same time. I wouldn't touch anything anyway. Just leave it be for now. If more than a week goes by and the chick is thriving, but the other eggs still haven't hatched, then they're probably not viable. If you think you can get close enough to discard them, then you can try. But I honestly wouldn't bother the nest until the birds are done with it.

Hope this answers your question,

Julia