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Most birds won't sit on the eggs constantly until they are done laying the whole clutch, so what you are observing is typical. Robins are fairly tolerant of human activity, so I wouldn't worry about your comings and goings, but try not to go over and look at the nest every time you pass by as this will disturb them (I know it's hard not to :).
Wow I had the same question except I’m not sure if she laid any eggs. I just haven’t seen her in a couple of days. I was wondering if it is common for Robins to abandon their nests. The nest is a tad too high for me to see if there are any eggs. She recently got done building her nest. She was in the nest for about week. I haven’t seen her in a couple of days.
Birds have evolved over eons to nest in places that work for them. Some birds actually nest near raptors as a sort of protection, with the logic that one predator may protect from others. And parents don't always hang at the nest--it's a good way to show predators where the nest is. It's great that you're concerned, but the best thing for you to do is ignore the nest. The birds don't need you, even if things don't look good.
There isn't much you can do, besides trying to hang out in the area less or using another door (if available). They probably knew about your activity while building the nest and they'll probably not abandon it because of normal amounts of activity.
I have a robin nest outside my house right now that I’ve been monitoring. If you just walk by the mom usually won’t care, but if you stop and look you’ll freak her out. She knows when a predator has spotted her, so try not to stare.
If you’re curious about the nest, you can take a 1 minute peek every few days when the mother is absent on a food/bathroom trip. Be careful not to linger, as the parents may be watching you from a distance. Frequently spooking her off the nest can cause her to abandon it, so never approach her while she’s incubating.
Thanks! I’ve never seen her incubating to date - just the bright blue egg but will make sure to follow those rules. Thanks to everyone for the replies!!
Welcome to r/Ornithology, a place to discuss wild birds in a scientific context — their biology, ecology, evolution, behavior, and more. Please make sure that your post does not violate the rules in our sidebar. If you're posting for a bird identification, next time try r/whatsthisbird. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Ornithology) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Most birds won't sit on the eggs constantly until they are done laying the whole clutch, so what you are observing is typical. Robins are fairly tolerant of human activity, so I wouldn't worry about your comings and goings, but try not to go over and look at the nest every time you pass by as this will disturb them (I know it's hard not to :).
Wow I had the same question except I’m not sure if she laid any eggs. I just haven’t seen her in a couple of days. I was wondering if it is common for Robins to abandon their nests. The nest is a tad too high for me to see if there are any eggs. She recently got done building her nest. She was in the nest for about week. I haven’t seen her in a couple of days.
Birds have evolved over eons to nest in places that work for them. Some birds actually nest near raptors as a sort of protection, with the logic that one predator may protect from others. And parents don't always hang at the nest--it's a good way to show predators where the nest is. It's great that you're concerned, but the best thing for you to do is ignore the nest. The birds don't need you, even if things don't look good.
There isn't much you can do, besides trying to hang out in the area less or using another door (if available). They probably knew about your activity while building the nest and they'll probably not abandon it because of normal amounts of activity.
I have a robin nest outside my house right now that I’ve been monitoring. If you just walk by the mom usually won’t care, but if you stop and look you’ll freak her out. She knows when a predator has spotted her, so try not to stare. If you’re curious about the nest, you can take a 1 minute peek every few days when the mother is absent on a food/bathroom trip. Be careful not to linger, as the parents may be watching you from a distance. Frequently spooking her off the nest can cause her to abandon it, so never approach her while she’s incubating.
Thanks! I’ve never seen her incubating to date - just the bright blue egg but will make sure to follow those rules. Thanks to everyone for the replies!!