Posted by Joanne Richcreek on May 22, 2007

Q: We have watched an American robin this spring nest in a large rhododendron bush outside our front door. This morning I found one of the fledglings dead on our sidewalk, another hiding in a nearby bush, and a third flailing on another sidewalk. Seeing no apparent injury to the last one, I placed it back in the nest, where it appeared to die soon thereafter. My question is whether having a dead fledling in the nest will cause the mother to abandon the nest and not reuse it? Should I remove the dead fledgling from the nest? Thank you.

State: Virginia

A: I read your question twice to be sure I understood but it sounds as though you left the one bird in the bush where it was and only replaced the "flailing" bird in the nest. Right? Without seeing the babies, I would assume that they're fledglings now (have some feathers and can perch outside the nest and beg for food there) so the one in the bush should be fine.

Returning the one baby to the nest shouldn't upset the mother. If the baby died, she'll simply remove it and go about her business if she decides to renest. Robins will reuse their nest a second and sometimes third time in a given season but won't reuse next year. So, don't worry about the dead bird. Thanks for asking and lets hope all goes well with the little one in the bush.

John Wiessinger ( May 22, 2007)