[julietmaria]

I know this is not a veg question but thought some of you might be able to help.   While gardening today I discovered a nest with tiny baby birds in.  It is in a hollow in a dead tree we have in the garden.  I was pulling off the ivy so I could grow some sweat peas up it when I saw the nest with the babies in.  I have pulled off some of  the ivy hiding the nest.  I stopped straight away and was then in a panic that I had ruined it for the baby birds and their mother would never come back.  A bit later I walked near and saw the mother on the nest. Phew!  Now I am worried as I have exposed her and her babies.  Is there anything I should do?  I  have left some breadcrumbs near by plus a couple of snails but  am worried the cat might get her or she will take flight because of too much human activity and leave the babies.   Any advice really welcome.
Juliet

[Salmo]

Just leave her in peace and she will probably be OK. If she has not really started sitting in the eggs she may decide to leave that nest and start again, but there is nothing you can do about it. If you have a cat keep it in at nights and confine it when the young robins come out of the nest.

If you want to feed her get some mealworms, either live ones or dried.

[digby]

Just leave her in peace and she will probably be OK. If she has not really started sitting in the eggs she may decide to leave that nest and start again, but there is nothing you can do about it. If you have a cat keep it in at nights and confine it when the young robins come out of the nest.

If you want to feed her get some mealworms, either live ones or dried.

I agree, there is not much else you can do - they are usually quite happy with human activity, its cats and magpies that cause the problems.

I had one last year that gave me a right earbashing when I let the cats out - what they don't realise is if they simply kept quiet the cats are so stupid they probably wouldn't notice them.

[tosca100]

They should be ok if cats aren't around, robins are quite tolerant. Please don't put bread out though as this could swell in the chicks' stomachs, and they don't eat snails. Grubs are the order of the day with chicks to feed, and the parents are better at finding them than you, so don't worry. Nice thought to lay on a snack though!

[8doubles]

If you have left the nest in clear view tuck some of the ivy back in place to give a bit of cover from the sun and predators.

[JayG]

The cats that visit my garden are all so obsessed by watching the goldfish in my pond that they completely ignore the wood pigeons picking up the seed dropped from the bird feeder about 3 feet away!

Hard to tell whether wood pigeons are so stupid they don't recognise the threat from cats or have decided that they are not in danger, at least in my garden.

I like to think that robins are a bit smarter than wood pigeons, but of course the youngsters will be at risk once they start to fledge.

[Timebandit]

Hi , as others have said , the nest will be ok if left alone . mealy grubs are ok to put out as feed . we have robins nesting and they are now on there 2nd brood .. exciting isn't it 

[madcat]

I like to think that robins are a bit smarter than wood pigeons,

Anything is smarter than a wood pigeon!    Even a male pheasant ...