Expert: Roger Lederer - 7/13/2007

Question
Hi Roger,
I despreatly need some information about 3 birds and the nest they were in. My Uncle had an old car in his yard, it was just the metal frame and it was standing up, he decided to move it and when he did 3 young baby robins fell out and onto the ground, he picked them up and placed the nest in a near by tree and put them in. The nest was not secure and fell out of the tree, he secured the nest and put it back along with the birds, he was wearing gloves. When I went to check the birds this morning they looked like they had been pecked and some of the feathers were missing. I called a local wildlife park and they advised me that since he had touched the birds that the mother would try to kill them or abandon them. I moved the nest and went right to work collecting worms slicing them up and feeding the birds with tweezers. We had very bad rain and I was nervous the birds would die, that is why I moved the nest. Two of the birds were very lifeless and not moving at all, but they were breathing, 1 was moving and opening its mouth for food. The birds have not been touched by anyone at all since taking the nest.
After hours of research I found your site and read about birds and not disturbing or moving the nest, now I am devistated that I got envolved. Is it too late to put the nest back, they have only been in my care for about 8 hours? Will the mother bird come for them? I would like to have them raised as nature intended but if they will die if I put the nest back I would like to try to raise them. Help me PLEASE!!!


Answer
Normally I would recommend you contact your local wildlife rehab center. You did call a local wildlife park, but I'm appalled at the misinformation they gave you. A mother bird will not abandon its nest or kill its young if you touch it. That's totally untrue. However, too much disturbance could make her abandon the nest. Since you moved the nest a couple of times and if you have not seen the mother, you can try raising the babies yourself, but it is VERY difficult to do so successfully. Go to www.ornithology.com/rehab.html for links to detailed information on caring for baby birds. Thanks for your concern.