Expert: Roger Lederer - 5/14/2007

Question
Last week I noticed a nest with 5 eggs in my gas grill. As warm grilling weather has approached, it is not likely I can refrain from grilling for the duration of incubation, hatching, and growing of the birds. Is there any way I can move the nest to a more suitable area and still preserve and encourage the mother to incubate? I'm in eastern Kansas and the eggs are blue, almost certain they are Robin eggs.
Your advice is much appreciated.

Answer
Sounds like a Robin to me. If you move the next, there is a very good chance the mother will abandon the nest. If this is an active nest, the eggs will hatch in 10-14 days and the young will leave the nest another 10-14 days after that. In one month it will be all over, so maybe you can figure out a way around that. I appreciate your concern. Roger Lederer at Ornithology.com