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Birding/Robin's Egg
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Question
I just found a unbroken unhatched robin's egg in my flower bed. I don't know how long it had been there but, it was not there about 6 hours ago when I went to check the mail. I picked it up and have been gently holding it in my closed fist. How warm does it have to be kept in order to hatch? It has been a very hot day outside near 100 degrees. The flower bed is under a tree, but the egg was quite warm when I picked it up. Do you think there is any possibility that it could hatch?
Please don't even try to hatch an egg. It is illegal to try to raise protected bird species as well as almost impossible to do so from an egg or from a very small bird. Destroy the egg. The parents may have known it was infertile. Also birds usually lay replacement eggs when they are lost.
People do the wrong thing even when they try to raise a bird that is partially grown. It bonds to the feeder, doesen't learn to forage or to recognize predators, and rarely survives in the wild.
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Answers by Expert:
Bluebird Bob Walshaw
Expertise
I can answer almost any question on Eastern Bluebirds and small cavity nesters such as Chickadees, Titmice, Wrens, etc. Also general questions on other songbirds. No pet bird questions please.
Experience
I have had a 100+ nestbox trail for more than 20 years, I do a lot of writing, public speaking and educational work in this field. My hands-on Bluebird talks include more than 1000 people each year.
Organizations
Oklahoma Bluebird Society, North American Bluebird Society, National Audubon Society, Oklahoma Audubon Society, Oklahoma Fur Bearers Alliance
Publications
Bluebird Magazine, Oklahoma Today, Fur-Fish-Game, Birds & Blooms, Nature Society News,Back Woodsman Magazine, Tulsa World, Broken Arrow ledger, Teaching Tolerance magazine,Trappers World, OK Hole Story, Birders World
Education/Credentials
Degree in Mechanical Engineering, an MBA, Graduate of the Home Study Course in Bird Biology from the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, Oklahoma Master Naturalist. I am also a pofessional speaker and writer.
Awards and Honors
Chosen as a public speaker for the North American Bluebird Society, Bluebird trail accepted as part of the Transcontinental Bluebird Trail, Chosen as a panel speaker at the 2006 NABS Convention.
Past/Present Clients
Many
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