Expert: Roger Lederer - 5/27/2009

Question
Good morning,
My neighbor found a robin's nest with three eggs in it in one of their evergreen trees.  For some reason they moved it a few feet away into a young tree that is growing on their property.  The robin has found her nest and is still sitting on it.  I am quite concerned because it doesn't have any shelter from the elements since it is out in the open with no leaf coverage whatsoever.  It is supposed to thunderstorm today and I can't stop thinking about that poor exposed nest.  Can it survive the elements like this?  I want to put an umbrella over it so it has some coverage - what do you think? Thank you very much, Paulette

Answer
I don't know why your neighbors moved it; that was not a good idea. Not a good idea to be totally exposed, but birds are waterproof and when they sit on their eggs or young, they protect them. Putting an umbrella there seems like a good idea, but it might cause the parents to abandon the nest - too much disturbance is the main cause of abandonment. I can't forsee what might happen, but I'd I'd lean towards leaving nature take its course. Thanks for your concern.