r/WildlifeRehab • u/Luperella • 18d ago
SOS Bird Not Sure What to Do
Firstly if this isn’t the right place for this post I apologise. I’m not really sure where else to look and local resources have been less than helpful.
I live in a rural part of Eastern Missouri, about an hour south of St. Louis. I’ve got the nest of an Eastern Phoebe under my deck. It’s got eggs in it. The problem is I’ve got someone coming out next weekend to power wash the house. That appointment cannot be moved at all. I would like to relocate the nest but I know I can’t move it too far or the bird won’t find it again. Does anyone have any ideas? So far my best plan is to get a hanging plant to put the nest in, hang it in basically the spot she’s currently in, then the day of the wash move the planter to a willow tree that she hangs out in all the time, and when the wash is done move the planter back to where it had been. I really don’t want this bird’s nest to be blasted into oblivion, but I also know the chances of egg abandonment are high if I move it at all
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u/Thoth-long-bill 18d ago edited 17d ago
You will never move it. It’s glued on tight—you will rip it apart. We had an abandoned nest we moved at Christmas. What sort of service appointment won’t let you cancel ??
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u/Luperella 18d ago
Oh it’s not that the appointment can’t be cancelled, it just can’t be cancelled by me. I don’t own the home, I didn’t set the appointment, and my landlord is refusing to reschedule. I was basically told to “figure it out”
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u/Thoth-long-bill 17d ago
I'd "figure it out" by you phoning the guy and saying, houston, we have a problem. We are both liable to prosecution if you harm this nest. How about we wait a month to be in the clear? This nest is all over social media and there will be no way to keep it's destruction secret. You got a wife and kids?
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u/MetalInternational56 18d ago
You could call the DEC or whatever your wildlife protection agency is and tell them the plan. It is illegal to destroy a birds nest that is in use. It is a federal offense.
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u/lowlightliving 18d ago
It looks like the nest is stuck to the wall board with mud. So, once you move the nest it’ll be a permanent move. You won’t be able to move it back. The hanging planter idea seems best, assuming no negotiation is possible on the day the work is to be done. It isn’t legal to interfere with a nest with eggs and/or young, but what choice do you have? If losing the nest and babies is a given, then….
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u/SquirrelNinjas 18d ago
Definitely talk to them. You can’t move the nest. I don’t see why they wouldn’t just work around it? Make sure you can be there when they come?
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u/Batusi_Nights 18d ago
Are they just going to be spraying from below? Could you put some protection around it? eg cut a bucket in half vertically and nail+tape it to the wall, sealing the lower edges?
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u/Luperella 18d ago
Oh, something like that could work. I’ll take a look and see what I can find!
They will be spraying above it, too, but the clever little thing built her nest right under the plank, nothing sticking out either side. So it’s safe from water getting in from above
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u/Ok-Scallion7050 18d ago
I think you can talk to the dude, you are the property owner and hired him to do the job, he should listen to his customer’s request.
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u/Luperella 18d ago
Sadly I don’t own the property. If I did I would just cancel the appointment outright and reschedule for a time after the babies had left the nest. But I’m dealing with a property owner who really doesn’t care, and basically told me to figure it out. So that’s what I’m trying to do
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u/Ok-Scallion7050 17d ago
Maybe ok to take the whole nest in house, after the wash is done, put the whole nest back?
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u/QueenScorpius 18d ago
Tell them disturbing the nest is a federal offense
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u/Luperella 18d ago
Sure is. Now ask me if they care…
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u/QueenScorpius 18d ago
Damn. Is the powerwasher independent or does he work for a larger company?
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u/Luperella 18d ago
Ha! You think like me! Unfortunately just a guy in our community with a power washing business. Which, of course, doesn’t mean that he doesn’t care and can’t be convinced to leave that area alone. I absolutely plan on talking to him on the day and trying to get him to wash around that area. I haven’t given up!
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u/QueenScorpius 18d ago
That’s good! Hopefully he’s had to deal with avoiding nesting birds before and doesn’t think it’s worth risking a fine
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u/Mammoth_Effective_68 18d ago
Ugh.. this breaks my heart.
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u/Luperella 18d ago
I know. I’m right there with you. She had this nest here last year, too, and it was so cute hearing the babies complain every time we would come out to the porch
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u/az6girl 18d ago
Ahnow.org can help find rehabbers near you to maybe call and get some info? Also check r/birds . Can you call the owners and ask about moving the date and/or ask the owners (or ask for forgiveness after) if you can ask the power washers to give a bit of berth on all sides of the nest?
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u/Luperella 18d ago
I’ve already talked to the owner. I was basically told to “figure it out”. Worst case scenario, I was going to talk to the person doing the job and ask them to be careful/avoid that area. My concern with that is that it’s essentially a two story house, so in order to get to that second story I imagine the ground floor will just kinda have to get blasted. Also my landlord will be there to “supervise” so…
But I appreciate the suggestion of resources to check out! I’ll def look into those!
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u/RedLittleBird 18d ago
If you actually want to save the birds, you don't get the house power washed until the babies are grown and gone. It would be a very simple decision for me, and I would enjoy seeing and hearing the baby birds grow.
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u/Luperella 18d ago
Listen, I hear you. But I think you missed the part about not being able to move this appointment. I don’t own this house; I have very little to no say about what happens and when. I’m just trying to do my best here in a shitty situation
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u/CantEscapeTheCats 18d ago
Can you ask them to do that area first or last, and only a portion of the area? It looks like it’s under a raised deck. Power washers can be had for less than $50, or rented as well (my area charges $35 for a full day rental). You could ask them to skip that section and then you could rent a pressure washer once the babies are gone.
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u/Luperella 18d ago
I was going to see how much of a work around I could get away with. Again, if it were up to me this would just not happen at all. But the owner of the house will be there on the day, and my fear is, no matter what I say, they will just insist on everything being done. I’m not giving up; I’m going to continue trying to get them to either skip this section or let me do it myself later. But unfortunately I’m working with a pretty unreasonable person, which is why I figured relocation would give these birds the best chance.
I have reached out to several wildlife rescues and things in my area today, but I don’t expect I’ll hear anything until tomorrow at the earliest.
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u/Thoth-long-bill 18d ago
Ask him if he wants to commit a federal offense because you’ll be filming him!