So turns out a bird has decided to use the choppings from my flowers and plants that did not survive the winter as nesting, and they decided the front door wreath was the best spot. There are eggs in it which I think are recent because the first time I noticed the nest it was empty, so I’m hoping I get to see baby birds. Problem is, it’s at my front door, and I don’t have another entrance/exit. Any suggestions? Is it safe enough for it to be there?
This is in WA and I believe are finches of some sort?
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Wild animal rescue volunteer here!
Leave it where it is, and just let them do their thing. About 2 weeks for the eggs to hatch and 3 more for them to be gone.
It seems like a bad place, and for you it may be, but they knew what they signed up for.
My neighbor always had wreaths out and I watched 2 families of robins and one of finches grow up and fledge on her door. I enjoyed taking a daily snapshot and my wife even printed one of those diy photo albums for the first family of birds.
Another view of it
Were you on vacation at the time?? Hard to imagine a less convenient choice by your birdie friends.
Lol, they made a nest in a tree, just like they were taught in bird school. At least it doesn’t have rgb lighting.
But yeah, do you have a place near by to rehang the whole thing (carefully, might be a two person job, or nest in need of some structural reinforcements)?
If you have a window near by (that isn’t next to something that is very bright/flashing at night like a TV) you can move them there, set up a camera to spy on them. It’s like 6 weeks of your life, but the memory stays with you. Birbs are cool.
Parents might even be ok with the door moving, but once the kids grow up enough they might panic just on your approach next to/above them (unless you basically raise them). It’s your entrance, you might be carrying stuff, maybe use the door at night, with other people, etc.
… otherwise (not that you suggested), if there really wouldn’t be any other way on your part (og you don’t wanna clean poop for a few weeks), I would reluctantly inform you that getting rid of the eggs (& nest) now is economically less damaging to the nesting pair than at any point later (laying eggs isn’t that taxing in terms of resources compared to raising chicks, they can have a new, prob shittier/rushed, nest & eggs in a few days so they wouldn’t even miss the relative abundance of early invertebrate flood source). And I said ‘economically’ bcs birds (well, at the very least animals) have emotions too, and you can understand how eggs factor into this.
Depending on your situation things like neighbours, building rules/bylaws, or even HOA might be sources of bullshittery (but it’s just a few weeks).
I hate to break it to you, but if you use that door regularly then there’s a good chance those eggs will get abandoned. You’re really supposed to leave nests well alone if possible but if that’s your only entrance then there’s no choice. All I can suggest is opening and closing the door as slowly and carefully as possible when you use it.
I would try moving the wreath
Mama bird chose to make a nest and lay eggs there at your present level of activity, since you don’t have a back door I would carry on as normal, opening and closing the door very gently, and completely ignore them if you can. House finches (nest and eggs look consistent with that) evolved to take advantage of human spaces, and that’s what she’s doing. Pretending they’re invisible will stress them out less than looking at them, and because of the MBTA you can’t really legally do anything else about it if they’re not a health hazard. If they hatch they’ll be out of your hair in about 2-3 weeks.
But I thought African Finches are non-migratatory?
Yeah, city birds grow amazingly fast.
Thanks everyone for the replies. I’m going to try to be as careful with the nest. I don’t think I can move it. I’ll see if I can call some local wildlife rescues on the best option, but it seems like I should just let them do their thing.
Bird tax
Maybe add a sign warning people to be careful.
Either way this is super cute!
I think if it being your front door was a problem the parents wouldn’t have nested there. I’ll echo the other commenter about putting up a sign warning people to be quiet and careful but I’m totally jealous.
Edit: it’s literally on the front door. Ignore all previous instructions
This happened to me once and we just used the side door until the birds left. We left them alone as much as possible, except I snuck in to take a few photos.
Use another door for a while.
I had a robin nest on my porch light some years ago. I thought it would be neat to watch them grow up. Then the bird mites got into my house through the water spigot that happens to connect to the bathroom sink inside. Come to find out that the mites can’t live off of human blood, but that doesn’t stop them from trying. Good luck.
I have no expertise in this area, but could you make vertical board with feet and put it very near your door (off to the side), and very carefully relocate the wreath to the board?
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Unless they’re starlings, or some other kind of invasive species, it’s a federal offense to interfere with any nesting birds.
