Hard working robin

[Lynn Dollar]

I have an " onion rack " on my patio. Its made from nylon netting and I use it to dry out onions from my garden, until I move them into storage in my storm shelter. I sort've use it as storage the rest of the year. Was out there grilling yesterday evening and saw where a robin had started a nest in one corner, between an old pair of Weber barbecue gloves and an extension cord.

Well, I've had doves build a nest there before and I let them go, thought it would be cool to watch them raise a family. But they made an awful mess and wanted to return the year after. So I tore down the robin's nest yesterday eve.

This morning , the robin had rebuilt in spades. Must've worked all night. And a sign of the times, the nest had a piece of a mask along with a disinfecting wipe. I guess it was preparing for covid. I hated to tear it down again, but I can't handle the mess. Pretty amazing how she'd woven pieces of grass and twigs into a relatively sturdy nest.

 

[Colin]

Yep, it would have to go. I couldn't deal with the mess either.

 

[Phil Perrin]

We have a couple mourning doves that build nests, one out front in a hanging pot, the other on an Ikea bench with a shelf. There's also a nest in the outside speakers on our deck.
I just deal with the mess, as I feed them bird brains just off of the deck too

 

[Tim Snyder]

If you must remove it, keep on top of it because as soon as an egg is in there it becomes illegal to move it, technically.

 

[J Hasselberger]

Doves are the shoddiest nest builders in the bird world. They are lucky that there are no birdie building inspectors. Robins, on the other hand, are among the finest avian craftsmen there are. We still have some fine examples that we’ve kept after the robins moved out.
Jeff

 

[Lynn Dollar]

Doves are the shoddiest nest builders in the bird world. They are lucky that there are no birdie building inspectors. Robins, on the other hand, are among the finest avian craftsmen there are. We still have some fine examples that we’ve kept after the robins moved out.
Jeff

That's the truth, the doves barely made a nest while this robin was building a solid structure and doing it fast.

The doves nest did not get too messy until the babies came along, that's when it became too much on my patio, where I spend a lot of time preparing food.

And its not appetizing to have them nest where I'm gonna throw my onion plants.

 

[BryanO]

Doves are the shoddiest nest builders in the bird world. They are lucky that there are no birdie building inspectors. Robins, on the other hand, are among the finest avian craftsmen there are. We still have some fine examples that we’ve kept after the robins moved out.
Jeff

Very true. The wife and her family have several example displayed as well. At our place they are on the “Protected List”.
Meaning the wife says “Leave that momma and her baby alone”. And I leave that momma and her baby alone.
I brush my dogs out and I have to admit, it’s cool seeing the birds repurposing the fur.