Robins Choose Security Lights to Build Nest

by Suzette Ehrlich
(Happy Valley, Oregon USA)

I want birds in my yard! I moved in my home 7 years ago.

Although my home is on a big suburban lot, it had lifeless landscaping with hard clay dirt and no wildlife except for a few scampering squirrels using my fence as a short cut.

Every year I spread yards of dirt and compost and acquire new plants.

I now have a very edible backyard full of fruit trees, berries, veggies, and native plants.

With all this new flora, I am finally getting birds!

A friend of mine who is a master gardener scolded me for over tidying my yard in the winter because all the dying debris make good homes for critters.

To my amazement, I got to witness that all my dry plant debris became building fodder for nest building.

Through my kitchen window, I have been watching a pair of Robins tugging on my dry grasses, going through my planters, flying around with building materials. It has been so fun to watch. 

In Oregon, we have so much rain, that I am behind in my gardening. So today I finally got out in my backyard to garden.

I spent about four hours out there while these Robins flew from tree to fence watching me.

This delighted me as I have a special place in my heart for Robins because as a teenager, I successfully saved a baby and raised it to adulthood to let her fly away to find a mate the following spring.

Now my story becomes worrisome.

As I went up on the deck, I saw that the Robins have been making their nest in my light fixture which is right by a sliding glass door and only 8 feet high.

I am worried that they chose a place that will have too much traffic or commotion.

My plan is to no longer use that door nor turn on the light. I will be calm and quiet when outside.

The nest may be abandoned. Time will tell. I am hoping for babies...wish us luck! I will update the results...