Expert: Roger Lederer - 6/1/2008

Question
Hi Roger--
 Thanks for all you do in helping everyone learn about wild birds.  I have a robin's nest on a tree branch that is hanging over my driveway.  The parents are in there either watching over eggs or feeding baby birds, so I know eventually they will be leaping from the nest (and landing on the hard concrete).  
 I have made a contraption to hopefully cushion their fall, and wanted to see what you thought.  I took two trash cans strapped together with duct tape, and turned the covers upside down (so they are indented a bit) and strapped those to the cans/together.  I put a bunch of that bird's nest-like stuff that come in some hanging baskets, and spread it out on top of the indented covers.  I used some duct tape underneath the edges of the material so that the wind won't blow it away.  All around the trash cans, I put bags of gardening/potting soil for cushioning on the ground.  
 After that, I took a roll of wire fencing, and made the area fenced in (using my husband's old truck to hold up the side where I could not put posts in the driveway).  The other side of the driveway already has a tall wood fence, with a gap at the bottom that leads outside the yard, into a little wooded area. I am hoping that they will hop toward the wood fence and under the gap to safety (I have two dogs), and not through the squares at the bottom of the wire fence.  I will try to find some wood or something to line along the bottom of the wire fence so they take the other route.  
 Is there anything else I should do?  Thanks for your help! :)  --Robin
(yes, that really is my name, and every year it seems there is some robin or bunny drama going on, lol).

Answer
Sounds like a lot of work! Thanks for your concern. Dogs and cats are big predators on baby birds, I'm afraid. Your plan should work. I am only concerned about the birds-nest stuff that comes in hanging baskets. The birds claws could get tangled in that if it is the curly strips of thin wood type stuff. Maybe cover that stuff with duct tape as well. Hope it works.