Bird nest situation

nancy237 · #1 05/29/12, 07:24 PM

I drove our Ford F250 20 miles across town today to let a guy look at it.
Its been sitting a lot after my husband passed away but I did drive it 2 weeks ago and again 2 days ago.
He wants to buy it but while he was looking it over he found a birds nest tucked up under the front bumber with a live baby and 2 eggs..

It stayed put all the way home..He is buying it tomorrow so I have to do my best to remove and save the nest?? The way its located I think the nest will not come out in one piece.

Advice ?? I am thinking I will reconstuct it the best I can and place it in a birdhouse near that spot & hope for the best.

farmerDale · #2 05/29/12, 07:48 PM

I have moved nests a few times. Sadly, the birds remember the nest as being where they built it, and so if it gets moved, they generally seem to abandon it. But go ahead, who knows?

Most importantly, I am very sorry about your husband. God bless.

GrannyG · #3 05/29/12, 08:52 PM

I would try to put the nest and eggs in a can or flower pot...surely the mother bird will hear the baby chirping and go to it......

ronbre · #4 05/30/12, 08:20 AM

hard to tell if the nest move will work but i agree with the above..blessings on you as well

foxtrapper · #5 05/30/12, 08:44 AM

What about asking him to just wait until the birds fully fledge? It doesn't take long.

Rick · #6 05/30/12, 09:10 AM

This may not be a comfort, but birds in nests can have bird mites, and we are still paying the price for letting the nest stay over our bedroom window until we found them.

The truck could already be infested, or soon to be if the parent birds are unhealthy, and mite ridden!

Miserable lockdown - hot water laundry every day, scrubbing every day. There are still 1 or 2 microscopic mites spotted every day or 2, and they can live 9 months unfed.

When we decided they had to be removed five fledglings flew out of the nest as I walked them to the tree we had picked out for them - that was priceless.

Good Luck, it is nice of you to value the lives of small animals.

nancy237 · #7 05/30/12, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by foxtrapper

What about asking him to just wait until the birds fully fledge? It doesn't take long.

I have a much needed sale that I can't risk.
The truck has a mechanical issue that his mechanic has evaluated & he wants the truck as is..

I may end up paying for the repair if I stall..

nancy237 · #8 05/30/12, 10:54 AM

Okay..I just moved the nest. It was in so tight that the nest came apart, and I was worried about injuring them as I pulled out the part of the nest they were in.

But they came out in their part of the nest just fine..still nestled in..2 babies & an egg..

I formed the nest back and placed in in a container under the truck, very near where they were. I don't have to move the truck for about 3 hours.

Watching from house & waiting to see if mom returnes & finds them.
I know if babies fall from the tree the mom will still feed them, which is why I placed them under where the nest was for now.

The mom was upset with me and bringing food before I moved them so I hope she will find them now. After I move the truck I will place something over the nest & container for rain protection.

If mom doesn't abandon them I think they have a good chance..She is a Carolina Wren I think..

My Grandson (10 years old) said he told me this weekend that he saw the parents come from the truck and said there might be a nest in the truck.
Grandma needs to listen !! haha

nancy237 · #9 05/30/12, 11:11 AM

She is back to the original nest spot with food ...calling & looking for them ..
That is so sad...

fishhead · #10 05/30/12, 12:09 PM

Maybe pull the nest out in the open a bit.

mammabooh · #11 05/30/12, 12:11 PM

I'd move the truck out of her sight and see if she can find the nest.

fishhead · #12 05/30/12, 12:11 PM

Or put the nest on a chair about where she enters the bumper.

Rick · #13 05/30/12, 12:17 PM

She will find them.

We had a a baby Carolina Wren attempt suicide by drowning in a 8 gallon cooing pot. Fell from the perch.

We scooped it out, wrapped it in a dishcloth, and set it on a tree stump.

At dusk the Momma AND Daddy started cheering, lecturing, and harassing the baby to "fly dumb-dumb".

They convinced it to fly with them before night fell.

nancy237 · #14 05/31/12, 08:59 AM

I didn't see her at all yesterday after about noon..

I fed them some and they were chirping loudly this morning and still
no mamma...I am going to leave them in the spot near the original nest,
feed them some to maintain them and hope she returns..

fishhead · #15 05/31/12, 12:07 PM

How cold are your nights? If they are cool the fact that they survived the night would make it likely she kept them warm overnight.

nancy237 · #16 05/31/12, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fishhead

How cold are your nights? If they are cool the fact that they survived the night would make it likely she kept them warm overnight.

When the temperature dropped I brought the whole box inside til morning...

They woke me up at 8 chirping away !!

Put them back in the spot this morning , fed them a tad & just finally saw mom
in with them about 2 pm !!!

The most amazing part is that my son & I drove the truck 1/2 the day a week ago and took it through a car wash where he used the power sprayer all over it. Where they were was not that protected from that type thing..
It was driven the week before too, so how the momma incubated them enough is a mystery..

My question at the moment is whether they are okay in the direct sun..Its near where they were and mom is tending them, but I don't want to cook them..They are in the bottom of a cooler (shaped like a 5 gall bucket)

Danaus29 · #17 05/31/12, 01:13 PM

If you have something over them to shade them they should do okay. Shade shouldn't be right on top but a couple feet above the nest.

nancy237 · #18 05/31/12, 01:27 PM

Just moved them to a cardboard box that will breathe better and a few feet inside the garage in the shade..Mom is close & watching so I think all is well.

Bird nest situation - Homesteading Questions

Bird nest situation - Homesteading Questions

Vickie44 · #19 05/31/12, 02:20 PM

God Bless you for trying so hard !

nancy237 · #20 05/31/12, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vickie44

God Bless you for trying so hard !

Someone would have to be pretty cold hearted not to try when you see the momma there at the bumper with food in her mouth wondering where her babies disappeared to...This mama is more dedicated than lots of human mamas !!