Expert: Roger Lederer - 4/18/2007

Question
During a recent severe storm, a Robin's nest was blown down from a duct pipe where it had been in use for several years.  We salvaged the nest.  We purchased a rather nice and sturdy birdhouse to permanently affix under the eaves of the house near where the nest had originally been.  Now I have learned that Robins do not use birdhouses.  So, what do I do with the nest?  I put it on a high windowsill but wonder if other Robins or the original ones might find it one day and use it again?  I also now wonder what would be best to do with the birdhouse - we have trees out back...but I have seen Robins in all the trees and fear putting a birdhouse out back might inadvertently rent to a non-compatible bird?  I'm in N Ala (Hsv) and Robins are everywhere here and we love that.  I have spotted the male around the area of the lost nest...suspect he's on my roof somewhere building a new nest??  

Answer
Robins do not use birdhouses and they do not use the same nest year after year (although they might nest in the same place and use whatever is left over from the year before.) Put the birdhouse anywhere you like - it's unlikely that whatever might nest it it will disturb the robins. Roger Lederer at Ornithology.com