A dead baby

[SoMDGirl42]

Yes you did invite it.
You provided an artifical habitat for the bird..so it nested there...as it does not know the difference between a native nesting site and one you bought and hung out on your porch because you want a pretty plant to look at.

Next time, dont hang a plant you dont want a wren to nest in.
Simple as that!

Well, I've never had one nest in my plants before. Learned something new, and my momma always said you can't teach an old dog new tricks.

Will the momma leave when the babies leave, or is my plant a forever home?

 

[littledarling]

I stopped hanging planters after a bird had made a nest in it and a bigger black bird ate all the babies.

 

[Bann]

I hung a planter & put in an artificial plant, since I forget to water and they die. We had a nest back in April and there is a tree right beside the porch! I just left the nest alone, but the momma bird (and a couple other birds) would fly over to the tree & make a lot of noise at me until I left the porch.

When the babies were old enough to stick their heads up above the flower pot - I tried to get pictures of them. I swear they would freeze in one spot when they saw me come out to the porch! They just stopped their peeping and froze and then would try to hunch down. I never saw such a thing. The babies weren't long in the nest. A week or so later they were all gone. I never saw any dead birds on the porch, so I figured they all flew away.


BTW, song birds and some other birds are protected under the Migratory Bird Act, so disturbing their nest with eggs in it is a federal offense.

 

[Rael]

bird is among 5 other unhatched eggs in a nest in my hanging plant out on my porch.

I know because I take down the plant and water it everyday and check on the eggs (momma flys away when I open the door but comes back when I'm gone) to see if they have hatched.

Well I see today that one did, but it didnt look like it was alive. No breathing and completely still. Should I leave it? or can I pluck it out and bury it? I feel bad that theres a dead baby in there among those other eggs.

comments please...

What kind of bird is/was it?

 

[DawnK]

It's a small brown bird.

I didn't know that birds are protected under that law. I'll be sure not to disturb the nest. But I will keep checking it everyday.

Thanks to all who've enlightened me on the etiquette of bird "watching"

Now, If you'll excuse me I'm off to water my plant!

oh and BTW, I'm NOT changing the title of this thread either!! so

 

[nomoney]

I went out and watered one of mine the other day and got hit in the head by a brown bird flying the heck out of it. There's a nest with eggs in mine as well. I haven't watered or checked on them again, but I think I'm going to water it as soon as I get home just to piss off Inkpen.

 

[DEEKAYPEE8569]

Will the momma leave when the babies leave, or is my plant a forever home?

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The momma bird will leave. When the babies leave the nest, momma bird will move on. Your plant was a ready-made nest for her.

 

[RareBreed]

Why water the plant?
You cool the soil and lower the temp of the eggs..in effect..you are killing the eggs...and the hatchlings....
Why do you think the momma bird sits on them?
She is incubating them and keeping them WARM!

You water the plant, you take away that heat and chill the egss and they die.

Just like taking them and putting them in your fridge!

Leave plant and nest alone..but it sounds like you killed them all ready.

I've always had nests in my hanging plants and have always watered them. Not drowned the soil in water, just alittle but not near the nest. Never had a baby bird casualty. :shrug: