What to Do When You Find a Nest with Unhatched Eggs

Discovering a bird's nest with unhatched eggs can be both fascinating and concerning. It is crucial to understand and follow the right steps to protect the eggs and the parent birds. Depending on where the nest is located and what you observe, different actions may be appropriate.

1. Assess the Situation

First, determine the location of the nest. Unless the nest is on your property, it is best to leave it alone. Birds have a natural instinct to care for their offspring, so unless you are certain the nest is abandoned, it is unwise to intervene.

If you find a nest on your property, ask yourself, Did I scare the parent away from the nest? Birds often leave their nests briefly to search for food or to adjust their body temperature. If the parent has been away for a short time, they will likely return. Give the parent birds plenty of space and check the nest again in a while to see if they have returned.

2. Check for Abandonment

To determine whether the nest is truly abandoned, observe the eggs and wait a few days. Many bird species start to incubate their eggs only after they have laid a full clutch. Therefore, some eggs may not have started to hatch for at least 12 days. Birds lay eggs every other day, so there may be up to 12 days when eggs are present in the nest without the parent bird incubating them.

Count the number of eggs in the nest and check again after two days. If there is a new egg, it is likely not abandoned. However, if you are certain the nest is abandoned, considering the challenges of hand-rearing small birds, it is best to leave the nest alone.

3. Consider Local Wildlife

Even if you suspect the nest may be abandoned, there is no guarantee that no parent will return. Some nests may be very close and the parent birds might not return right away. In such cases, it is best to give the area ample time and distance before taking any further action.

It is also important to consider the surrounding environment. Snakes and other larger birds might also make a meal of the eggs, so leaving the nest alone is actually a responsible action.

4. Taking Matters into Your Own Hands

If you decide to take the nest into your care, it is important to know that incubating and raising baby birds is not an easy task. Hand-rearing small birds requires specialized knowledge, time, and resources. If you do choose to take the eggs, you may face challenges such as:

Creating the right temperature and humidity conditions to mimic the natural environment of the eggs Feeding the chicks appropriately with specially formulated food at the correct intervals Ensuring the chicks develop healthily and do not develop any infections Handling potential legal ramifications of illegally keeping wild animals

It is best to seek the assistance of a wildlife rehabilitation center before deciding to take any eggs into your own care.

Conclusion

When you find a nest with unhatched eggs, the best approach is often to leave it alone. Birds have a natural instinct to care for their young, and human interference can disrupt this process and lead to negative outcomes. By respecting the natural environment and understanding the challenges of bird care, you can help protect both the eggs and the parent birds.