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Robins Make Their Nests in the Strangest Places

Posted by Wende Warren on June 20, 2012

bird, flower, yard, nest

 I remember many robin nests over the years that were constructed on our porch light, or our mailbox, or some place that made life for us a litle inconvenient while momma robin sat on her eggs and raised her babies.  This year has been very active in our yard with momma robins feeding fledglings that are starting to fly and trying to get them to feed themselves.  I can imagine that was very tiring work - like teaching our children to drink from a cup instead of a bottle.  It always happens, but it seems like it takes a lot longer than it should.

I've been watching the antics the last few weeks, and started to wonder if a new batch of babies would be showing up soon.  I hadn't seen any nests in my yard yet this year, but last week I watched a robin trying to get a short piece of rope free from a ladder that we had in the back yard.  She started to tug and tug and tug, she just wouldn't give up!  I watched from the window as she worked at it for 15 minutes. She was so engrossed in what she was doing that I don't think she would have noticed if I were to walk up next to her.  I thought about how devoted she (he?) was to making a great home to raise their family.  

Just today I walked out onto my back porch and was admiring my purple clematis vine when all of a sudden a bird squawks at me and flys out of the vine.  I knew what that meant... there was a nest in there!  I carefully looked into the mass of vines and flowers and saw a spectacular nest with 3 very very turquoise blue eggs. They were beautiful!  So beautiful that I had to quick take a picture ...

I'd like to think that the piece of rope went into the making of this nest but I can't really see rope in there.  The nest is only about four feet off the ground but it is in a quiet spot. It wil be fun to see what's going on there over the next few weeks.  What are the strangest places you have seen bird nests?