Question

Can we move nest with egg in it and place at safe place? Currently it is not at safe place and worries other animal may harm it. I am not sure if we touch than bird may abandon egg. Please help.  

Answer 1

Natural selection. If nest is not in a safe place it won’t have babies and it improves the gene pool.  

Answer 2

You may need to find out what kind of bird laid the nest. Some birds in this area are protected species

Answer 3

I'd leave it. Call Willowbrook wildlife center in Glen Ellyn.  

Answer 4

I would not move it. There’s a very good chance the mama will not come back to it.  

Answer 5

Never move a nest. It is the fastest why to make sure the mother bird never returns to it.  

Comments

It really does depend on the species and how much the nest is moved. Some people have had success relocating the nests of Carolina Wrens, which are notorious for nesting in awkward places like door frames, downspouts. Some nests can be moved a little bit at a time. Sometimes when a nestling falls out of a nest in a tree, a person can make a temporary nest out of a container and put that in a raised location, where the parents can locate the nestling and continue to care for it. Human scent does not generally deter birds, very few of which have highly developed olfactory systems (Turkey Vultures being a notable exception).  

Answer 6

Illegal to move or have moved and it's on my outside light fixture.  

Answer 7

Leave it. Happened to us last year. Sure enough, the babies didn’t even hatch before the eggs were eaten.  

Answer 8

Got 1 outside my door, put cardboard on side.  

Answer 9

You can do whatever you want with it. Make scrambled eggs.  

Comments

@toluidine2 I cannot make poached yet. Still learning that one. I like over-medium.  

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@alevin4404 yeah me too! Let me know how yours come out when you finally learn it. lol. Give me the tricks of the trades

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@alevin4404 this interaction made me smile☺️

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@alevin4404  

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@toluidine2 I've watched YouTube videos to try but all I make is a mess.  

Answer 10

I wouldn’t touch it because if it’s marked by different territory then mother will abandon the nest and eggs. Maybe google moving it to safer place up high but you may take on caring for the babies or letting them die of malnutrition? What is the nest in danger of at the moment?  

Comments

@toluidine2 it is only at 3 feet high and at our entrance. I am worried other animal may eat it.  

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@fluorene If it's just a matter of worry over the eggs or hatchlings being taken, then do leave it alone. Let nature take its course.  

Answer 11

Trust nature. It’s probably safer than you think

Comments

@morganica You may be correct. Thanks

Answer 12

No. Never touch a nest. The mother will abandon the nest.  

Comments

@story262 thats what I was thinking. Thanks

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It's just not true that bird parents always abandon nests that have been touched.  

Answer 13

So finally my friend was able to reach Willobrook-Wildlife-Centre. They said don't move it, some birds nest on the ground as well. If we move or touch the nest the bird will not come back to the egg.