Where Did That Come From?

Spring is always a busy time for anyone with a yard, and our place is no exception.

• We took down a no-longer-used greenhouse, and that area is planned to be a hummingbird garden. We’re just at the point of preparing the soil, so there’s a fair amount of work to be done yet.
• It is an exceptionally dry spring this year, so we’ve been watering our trees and flower beds.
• Our migratory birds are coming back, and with the return of the larger common grackles, red-winged blackbirds and brown-headed cowbirds, we are filling our bird feeders and bird baths daily, if not twice a day.
• We are also using the back yard to build a storage container for our summer camping spot.

So with all the activity in our yard, can someone tell me how a bird, I suspect a robin, managed to construct this nest right under our noses?

This messy attempt is located about 10 inches from our back door, which has been opened and closed on a regular basis during the past weekend. There was nothing on this light fixture on Saturday morning. Yet on Sunday afternoon – there it was.

The only thing I can think of, is that when we were out of the yard for a few hours late Saturday afternoon because of the welcome rain pelting down, an industrious bird took advantage of our absence.

I climbed up and checked the nest, and yes there is a cup in there, on top of the part where it’s leaning to the left. We immediately envisioned a summer of going out the front door to get to the back yard, and of being dive-bombed by an angry robin. Of course there was no way we were going to remove the nest.

Aside from being mystified, it is really annoying to have missed the construction project.  I could have had a front row seat for one of nature’s  events, not to mention all the pictures I could have taken.

If this was a robin, I suspect it was a young bird, perhaps practicing for the real thing. Not only was the nest location terrible, but on Monday, half of it had fallen down.

I’d still like to know how/when this was put up. We weren’t out of the yard THAT long, which makes me wonder what else we’re missing out there. But we’re now keeping a closer watch on all the robins in the yard, just in case they decide to give it another go.

Update April 29

By now, the entire nest has fallen down to the deck. I just noticed an ambitious robin grabbing a mouthful of the grasses used to make this nest and flying off with them. Waste not want not, or a second attempt in a better location?!