Expert: Julia Booth - 8/12/2008

Question
hello!
its August and a mother robin has nested at our house. we just saw this morning 3 or 4 babies.
is there anything we can do to "help" her and the babies in terms of reducing stress? should we avoid the back entrance of our home (where the nest is located)?

Answer
If neither of the parents are dive bombing you or scolding you in some way, whenever you get close to their nest, they are probably fine with your presence. Some birds are more picky about this than others. Mockingbirds, for instance, will make your life hell if you get anywhere near their nest. Wrens will make a lot of noise.

As for easier, nesting of Robins includes both parents and they are very efficient in bringing food back and forth to their offspring. Unlike some other species, even if a baby prematurely hops from the nest and cannot get back in, the parents will continue to feed it on the ground.

If you really want to help, you can dig up worms and put them in a tray near the nest. They might use them, or they might not. I did that once for a Bewick's Wren with some smaller insects and she ended up using them. I was flattered.

Enjoy the show. It's a short one -about 14 days and then they'll be one their way. But maybe they'll come back next year.