Porch Light Robin Nest

by Pat Richardson
(Henrico,VA USA)

A robin has built a nest on top of my daughter's front porch light.

It's up too high for them to see inside the nest, but the robin is dive-bombing at everyone who goes in and out of their front door!

There's a deep red-breasted male who gets very upset when mama bird does, and he paces back and forth in the grass.

He is absolutely beautiful, and he seems to be a very attentive expectant father.

Add to this my daughter's male cat who can see all of this from her picture window, and he's going berserk inside.

Her boyfriend wanted to knock the nest down when they first saw it, but my daughter wouldn't let him.

I laughed until I cried as she was telling me about this.

Since the above 3 paragraphs were written, the eggs have all hatched.

There are four beautiful healthy baby robins in the nest now.

It's still up too high to see into the nest, but she's had success using her cell phone to take pictures.

My daughter is very proud of her "grandbirdies".

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Desperate Mother
by: Molly Kiuchi

Hi, I have 2 wiener dogs and the younger one has a "strong prey drive" as the breeder said as I called her in tears!

So far she has killed 4 baby birds and two baby rabbits.

The only thing I could think of was to get some reinforcements from my African Grey Parrot, Sampson.

So she doesn't get any ideas about BIG BIRD, I stuck her ears and tail in his cage every time and he CRUNCHED!!!

Sunday, the baby was still alive and I couldn't take it anymore so I had my husband clean out the nest on the porch, the nest in three eaves and the nest in the garage.

Monday while watering Sampson's free time bush, what did I find but a mama bird who had built a nest and laid 4 eggs in record time.

I'll download the photos and she looked me in the eye and said, HELP! sounded like cheep but I heard HELP.

I had my husband move our Patio table so they wouldn't fall on the ground but she was so exposed I dug up, with great effort my tallest plants and repotted them in a planter I could barely lift and tied the branches of her little bush around her and the little dog is tied up and under surveillance.

She can smell em but she can't see them or get to them.

She's back in her uber nest and looks quite happy about the changes.

She is brave and beautiful and safe. Molly

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robin stuck
by: Anonymous

I came home from school one day, I was letting my dogs out on our enclosed porch only to find a robin stuck in one of the windows that broken.

I tried to let it out, but it wouldn't leave, I would open the window it would look at me then hunker down, then I closed it it went a little cray cray.

My mom even tried once it got dark it flew out, but it wouldn't leave our porch, then it flew into the doorway and just sat there.

"I think its trying to nest" "I think so too,but it can't nest here."

It flew back into the window, so we left it alone.

I go out there this morning and it's sleeping and still there.

I don't know if its nesting, but its not injured, and it snowed last night.

I don't know what to do with it. Should I leave it?

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Robin's and Grackle's
by: Anonymous

This spring we noticed a robin building a nest on top of our porch light.

As we observed this activity we became very interested. Something very different began to happen.

We saw many twigs falling onto our porch floor. The nest was not yet completed.

Next we saw something we never saw before. Another bird was invading the Robin's nest.

We now watched more intently! A purple Grackle was tearing the Robin's nest up.

It did this each day. The Robin kept coming back and many times rebuilt the nest.

We watched this happen for several days. The Robin very patiently kept rebuilding it's nest.

Finally 'my husband picked pieces of the nest and placed it back on the light trying to help the Robin.

The Grackle won the battle. The Robin gave up and went else where.

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Grackle
by: Gene

Probably a good thing. Grackles eat the young of other birds.

Had the Robin hatched eggs and the Grackle knowing where the nest was, the young would have been eaten.

Grackles are very good at being there right when the eggs hatch. Often feeding them to their own young.

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Our nest on our back porch light
by: Barbara in Chicago

About two weeks ago our friend started building her nest on our back porch light right by our back door…. not a very good location for either of us.

Every time we leave the house, she flies away but always comes back.

She waits on a branch of the Dutch Elm in our yard.

We have a dog who is oblivious to her and her nesting behavior.

We are just waiting for the babies and hoping that we don't get dive bombed once the little ones are hatched.

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Porch Light Robin's Nest - Sandston, VA
by: Gwendolyn

This year was the first time that We have had a Robin's nest on our front Porch light, since the house was built in 1996.

The Momma Robin has been very cordial with us constantly going in & out of the house constantly at all hours of the day & night, often interrupting both her nesting & feeding times.

The baby Robins hatched & made very little noise only "dunking down" whenever the door was opened.

Last week they flew out of the nest on their own (just after "Mother's Day" - how appropriate).

Perhaps my experiences with other types of birds (both domestic & wild) gave me some insight, but I "talk" to the birds every time that we went out the door.

We would watched them from the glass storm door, keeping the wooden door open, unless we left the house or went to bed.

I also put out a "Feeder" of mixed grains & suet blocks (1 with Fruit & 1 with Mixed Grains & Nuts), as well as a "Bath & Water" Bowl.

My father, who was quite good with All types of animals, both domestic & exotic (inherited from a local theme park), always taught me NOT to "act" afraid when around animals, since their sense of emotion will also be aroused.

In other words, If you "Duck" or "Scream" - it puts the Animal on the "Defensive" making the animal either "hostile" or "frightened".

Stay Calm, Talk Softly & Sweetly (like to a baby) & don't make any sudden movements (like running, ducking, batting, etc.)

Most animals (especially wild ones) will try to avoid you rather than attack you, if at all possible.

Best Wishes for some Peace with your Winged
Neighbors.

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The 3 Musketeers
by: Tabitha

I had a mommy & daddy make their nest under our deck right by her pool.

I could see the nest through the boards & saw 3 eggs. The mama & daddy patiently sat on the fence & watched as I looked at the eggs.

2 weeks later 3 babies were hatched. The 1st day the first baby I called Aramis, the 2nd day the other 2 hatched & I called them Porthos & Othos for the 3 Musketeers.

I got pics of Aramis hatching & more pics as they grew.

18 days later, they left the nest & I got a couple of pics. Mommy & Daddy seemed to enjoy having me talk to them. It was so cool!

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Robin's nest on porch light
by: Lisa in Lancaster

A few years ago a robin made a nest on top of our porch light fixture, and we got to watch three baby's hatch and grow.

I didn't want to remove the nest after they'd all gone, and now 3 years later, we have a new momma!

At first we were worried because when we'd come in or out(it's our main door!) She'd try to fly away, but was hitting the rim of the porch roof overhang a lot, but now she's got the hang of it!

I'm always out in our yard, talking to all the birds and taking pictures, photography of nature is my favorite thing to do!

Anyway, she's used to me a little now, and I think my voice is familiar to her now....she just now stayed put while I opened the door to check to see if she was there!

That's a first! She's usually gone before we're out the door!

I found this site because I was concerned about the temp going low tonight, and wondered if I should leave the light on for them for heat, but someone here said they will be plenty warm without the light...any comments,or are they safe for sure!?

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Helping the Robins out w/peanuts
by: Mary

First off-there are such lovely and compassionate people posting here with their stories!

I'm always outside in the Spring taking pictures and getting to know the many birds who come to our avian cafe to feed.

While the Robins do not eat from the bird feeder or suet cage, I see Robins eating seed from the ground.

The Robins and Catbirds have a hard time with the peanuts, so I break the peanuts up into smaller pieces.

Come egg hatching time, I've witnessed the Robins pick up these pieces and can clearly see them lined up just inside their beak as they fly off to feed their nestlings.

The birds come right up to my chair and wait for me to drop the pieces of peanuts and this behavior happens year after year.

They all know I'm not a threat to them and I'm beyond thrilled to help them feed their young.

Once the babies fledge, the parents bring their youngens to me to feed, as well.

It's a beautiful thing to participate with Mother Nature and her wildlife.

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Grape Jelly
by: Gene

Hi Mary, try offering grape jelly for your Robins and Catbirds. Also, you may attract Orioles to your feeding station.

Gene
wild-bird-watching.com

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Now I have two Robin nests
by: Shari

So grateful to read this site. A month ago a Robin nest went in over my covered front porch on the light.

I keep it off by the way.

I got up this morning, went to my sliding glass doors in back and as I stuck my head out a Robin swooped me then lifted higher.

I leaned out to find a full set up nest above my back deck on a sensor light I have never used.

This nest was built sometime just this morning.

Now I am grateful for the nature of it all and I love Robins, but now I am worried.

I have to be able to use the deck, and I have a Lab who goes out by that route to the back yard.

Not to mention later the prey dog in him I will have to watch close to keep ground hopping babies alive.

So, my prayer now will be hoping if this couple stays and uses this nest they will get used to me.

I go to a garden center often where there is a Robin about 5 feet off the ground, nested in a large vine.

You can walk right up to shop and she stays calm it is so amazing.

But I won't lie, I can't have two nests on front and back porch all summer or I can't live....so it was good to read they often, or usually, re-nest for a second set of eggs later.

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Live Your Life
by: Gene

Hi Shari, thanks for contributing to the website.

I say, live the way you normally do. The sooner the better.

If the eggs hatch and they have young, the Robins can be unnervingly aggressive. They won't hurt you, but, they swoop and sometimes touch you.

Yes, when it comes to the dog, watch him. Baby Robins always seem to land on the ground after leaving the nest. But, they are gone in a day or two.

If I want a Robin to stay, I am careful and slow in my coming and going.

If they're in the grilling area then it's every bird and human for themselves.

If they leave, they leave. If they stay, I'm a grilling. lol.

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Persistence!
by: Paul

Noticed the nesting materials of a Robin few days ago on top of my porch light, also where the clothes line is attached to the house.

Puzzled at first how this dead grass blew up on the light.

Then I saw the robin visiting through the window, removed it twice but now will let them go ahead, after reading other posts on this site.

Lots of crows, so it may be a decoy nest, from what I read.

Nature knows best, Mother's Day, I will leave her efforts, but continue to use the back porch to sit in the Sunlight in the evening.

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Robin in the open air nest
by: Synthia

I have a metal bicycle planter on my 5' fence. A Robin built her nest in it.

I found this a very strange and unsafe place to build a nest.

I've had them under the over hang of house on top of eaves trough, on out door lights, in small ornamental trees but never in a planter.

I'm concerned because it's a wide open area.

Squirrels and maybe neighborhood cats run across top board of fencing.

Plus there isn't and overhead cover from the elements, storms etc.

I talk to the Daddy and Mommy several times a day. They don't see me as a predator.

I even cut the grass along the fence and use the weed wacker. Didn't leave nest. I just apologized to them for the noise.

I've taken close up pictures and no problem. There are 2 busy little babies in nest constantly wanting to eat.

Isn't it strange to build a nest in such an open space.

I'm afraid the babies will burn in the summer heat. Or rain storm will drown them.

No protection whatsoever. I took pics, wish I could share.

Anyone else have a nest in such an open area?

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Porch light robin returns
by: Ranae

She never appeared to feed babies no babies peeked out like last year but she's gone and the nest doesn't looked used. What happened

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