Nesting season brings joy to the backyard, but sometimes things don't work out as expected. Learn why birds may abandon their nests and eggs.
Mother Bird Left Nest With Eggs Behind
“A mourning dove was sitting on two eggs in my holly tree for two or three weeks. One day, she left the two eggs behind and never came back. After a few days, the eggs were gone too. Why would the mother leave her eggs?” asks Birds & Blooms reader Maryann Heywood of Warwick, Rhode Island.
Birding experts Kenn and Kimberly Kaufman say, “There are several possible explanations for what you observed. The male and female (which look almost identical) take turns incubating the eggs, but they are secretive about changing places, so it may seem as if the same bird is on the nest all the time. The eggs normally hatch in two weeks. If they stay longer than that, the eggs may be infertile, and the parents eventually will abandon them. It’s also possible that one or both parents were taken by predators, and then something like a jay or a squirrel could have taken the eggs after they were left alone.”
Can you move a bird nest near your home?
Bird Eggs Didn’t Hatch
“Help! I spotted numerous bird nests in 2016 and 2017, and each one failed. I don’t know if the babies didn’t make it, the eggs didn’t hatch, or the mother deserted it. What could be the problem?” asks reader Liza Peniston of Augusta, Kansas.
Kenn and Kimberly Kaufman say, “These distressing nest failures may be caused by several things, including extreme weather. If it’s too dry and hot, or raining too much, the parent birds may not find enough food, and they abandon the nests. Prowling predators, such as house cats, raccoons or owls, may take the adults or scare them into leaving, even if the nests are left intact. Or it could be just a coincidence that your local birds had bad luck the last two years. We hope the situation improves this season.”
READ ON: Can you touch a baby bird or will the parents abandon it?
About the Experts
Kenn and Kimberly Kaufman are the official bird experts for Birds & Blooms. They are the creators of the Kaufman Field Guide series and they lead birding trips all over the world.
