Expert: Roger Lederer - 4/10/2010

Question
Good Evening!  I need some assistance/guidance please.  

I’ve had a pair of house finches nesting on my front door since late February - early March.  We noticed mid-March that the nest had eggs.  Last month, my schedule had me getting home later in the evenings (after dark) and I would often surprise the female.  She was also often on the nest during the day when I would come home for lunch.  This continued until last weekend.  I wanted to check on the nest and, since I’m short, decided to use a cosmetic mirror that flips up.  I gently moved the edge of the wreath and manipulated the mirror until I could see the eggs – 5 of them.  Later in the day I noticed the male on top of the nest looking into the house through the window on the door.  He has done that periodically since they began building.  Sadly though, I haven’t seen them all week.  I checked on the nest earlier and the 5 eggs are still there.  I noticed Sunday that additional debris (strings) had been brought to the wreath but I have still not seen the pair.  Have they abandoned their nest?  If so, how can I get them to return?

Please advise….

Answer
I can't tell you for sure if they abandoned their nest, but it appears so. It could be that you disturbed them too much, but I can't be sure of that - could have been lots of other reasons. This early in the year, nests are not uncommonly abandoned because of weather, lack of food, etc. I don't know anything to tell you to get them to return. They might and they might not but there is no way to entice them.