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LuckyCharms

(23,244 posts)
Fri Jun 5, 2026, 05:38 PM Friday

Well, I hope they make it.

This is right outside my back door...in the motion light, maybe 6.5 feet up from the deck.

I built this addition on in 1992, and I have installed several different motion lights in this spot over the years.

Every year since the addition was built, without fail, there is a nest there in the Spring. Every year for 34 years now...either mourning doves or robins. This year it is robins.

There's a lot of feral cats in the neighborhood that have been getting the babies when they leave the nest, so I hope they make it.

I get such a kick out of seeing them rise up and open their mouths every time I open up the back door and stand there and talk to them.





36 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Well, I hope they make it. (Original Post) LuckyCharms Friday OP
Good luck with your babies Keepthesoulalive Friday #1
Wow! So cool you get to watch them grow like that. I do keep track of the Big Bear Bald Eagles live, thats fun... bsiebs Friday #14
No problem Keepthesoulalive Friday #15
WAY Cool! calimary Friday #26
It's Always Great to Hear of a Connection with the Wild The Roux Comes First Friday #2
Since we cannot do good to all... LuckyCharms Friday #6
I hope they make it! bamagal62 Friday #3
Flycatchers Maninacan Friday #4
Tweet tweet tweet Niagara Friday #5
You're a wonderful lyricist! LuckyCharms Friday #7
I'm talon you, Lucky Niagara Friday #10
Still a keeper, though! calimary Friday #13
How are you doing, calimary? Niagara Friday #19
Doin' just fine, Niagara! calimary Friday #25
I'm sure glad you are getting out and taking walks Niagara Yesterday #34
Oh really? Should I start calling you... LuckyCharms Friday #20
THat is hysterical!!! Niagara Friday #22
Robins nested on the back window ledge this year Marthe48 Friday #8
The man who lives behind me... LuckyCharms Friday #9
I like bluegrass Marthe48 Friday #29
Here you go, Marthe. You sleep well too. LuckyCharms Friday #30
Beautiful! 10 Turtle Day Yesterday #33
Good luck little guys! mountain grammy Friday #11
It's nice that you talk to them, but ... JustABozoOnThisBus Friday #12
I just came in from working outside, one of them fell out of the nest LuckyCharms Friday #17
GOOD job, LuckyCharms! calimary Friday #27
Thanks, calimary... LuckyCharms Friday #28
Ok, so you dion't chew their food for them, ... JustABozoOnThisBus Yesterday #32
I'll tell you something...my wife started sobbing when I picked him up and said... LuckyCharms Yesterday #35
Lucky do you have any trees in your yard? FakeNoose Friday #16
I have a weeping cherry, a black walnut, and... LuckyCharms Friday #18
The robins in my neighborhood Niagara Friday #21
This is one of the reasons I haven't put out a feeder FakeNoose Friday #23
I have my both my feeders on tall, skinny, wrought iron Shepard's garden hooks Niagara Friday #24
"" AllaN01Bear Friday #31
I hope your little ones survive and prosper Bayard Yesterday #36

Keepthesoulalive

(2,435 posts)
1. Good luck with your babies
Fri Jun 5, 2026, 05:44 PM
Friday

They make nests on all of our security lights. The nests are in tight and confined spaces because we have the apex predator, the red tailed hawk.

bsiebs

(992 posts)
14. Wow! So cool you get to watch them grow like that. I do keep track of the Big Bear Bald Eagles live, thats fun...
Fri Jun 5, 2026, 07:49 PM
Friday

oops, meant to respond to LuckyCharms...

[link:"C rogram FilesGoogleChromeApplicationchrome_proxy.exe" --profile-directory="Default" --ignore-profile-directory-if-not-exists

|

The Roux Comes First

(2,391 posts)
2. It's Always Great to Hear of a Connection with the Wild
Fri Jun 5, 2026, 05:46 PM
Friday

Even an evanescent one - but a long-lasting repeat performance is even better. I have heard that a good guideline is sitting quiet and motionless for 15+ minutes, but that likely was unnecessary for St. Augustine - or you. Some folks just wear their peace.

LuckyCharms

(23,244 posts)
6. Since we cannot do good to all...
Fri Jun 5, 2026, 05:58 PM
Friday

we are to pay special attention to those who are brought into closer connection with us.

From Bob Dylan:

I dreamed I saw St. Augustine
As he walked into a cave
He began to cry
He began to search
For the things that he could not save

bamagal62

(4,582 posts)
3. I hope they make it!
Fri Jun 5, 2026, 05:48 PM
Friday

I had mourning doves sitting on a nest outside the window of my studio. I watched those doves last year lay a clutch and they went from eggs to squabs, to fledglings.
They started nesting about a week and a half ago. This morning the nest is empty and the eggs are gone. 😢 I know we have 2 blue jays that live in our community gardens (I’m in Manhattan.)
And, I’ve seen a hawk as well. The blue jays have been hanging around. Breaks my heart. I was hoping I could watch them again. Doves aren’t very smart. So maybe we’ll get another round in that window. 🤞

Maninacan

(362 posts)
4. Flycatchers
Fri Jun 5, 2026, 05:49 PM
Friday

I have a Flycatcher nest in my porch. Problem is it gets too hot for 2nd batch to survive. Last 2 days i put a fan out there. Robins tried it one year. Too hot outside for 2nd batch

Niagara

(12,306 posts)
5. Tweet tweet tweet
Fri Jun 5, 2026, 05:49 PM
Friday

He rocks in the tree tops all day long
Hoppin' and a-boppin' and singing his song
All the little birdies on Jaybird Street
Love to hear the robin go tweet tweet tweet

calimary

(91,113 posts)
25. Doin' just fine, Niagara!
Fri Jun 5, 2026, 08:53 PM
Friday

REALLY nice day for a walk up and down the hills in this little neighborhood! Skies are filled with clouds that look like they have silver tones added to them. They look like they COULD rain but somebody talked 'em out of it. Nice weather, just cool enough for a lightweight jacket. WITH nice deep pockets to collect pinecones in!

I swear I'm gonna make something with those pinecones. I've got tons of 'em by now!

Niagara

(12,306 posts)
34. I'm sure glad you are getting out and taking walks
Sat Jun 6, 2026, 08:10 AM
Yesterday

while soaking up the scenery.

You keep collecting those pinecones. In the event that you do make something with them you need to share with us!!

Marthe48

(23,603 posts)
8. Robins nested on the back window ledge this year
Fri Jun 5, 2026, 06:13 PM
Friday

First time. I noticed some straws on the ledge from outside, but when I looked through the window, it looked like they didn't keep going. Next thing I knew, the contractor was here to clean the gutters and there was a baby in the nest. I tried a couple of times to look through the window, but parents and nestlings were all too watchful. I didn't want to scare them, so I let it be. I checked about 2 weeks after that and the nest was empty. I saw parent birds in the yard today, trying to teach the young ones how to forage. Like teaching teenagers how to cook! lol

LuckyCharms

(23,244 posts)
9. The man who lives behind me...
Fri Jun 5, 2026, 06:23 PM
Friday

I have spoken about him before. he's a good man, and he has been at death's door several times...he still is...but he keeps hanging on.

He despises trees for the mess they can make, and he destroys his bird's nests just as the birds start to build them.

This saddens me deeply...I always tell him "It's just nature, man"!

On the flip side of his undesirable habit of doing this...he feeds and builds shelters for the feral cats in the winter...and when he gets lucky, he is able to trap them and get them spayed.

Here you go, Marthe...this song makes me tear up every time.

Marthe48

(23,603 posts)
29. I like bluegrass
Fri Jun 5, 2026, 09:16 PM
Friday

Don't listen often. There used to be a radio program. I think it was called Music in the Woods. Thanks for sharing this song. I'll find the lyrics tomorrow and read them, then listen to the song again

Sleep well!

LuckyCharms

(23,244 posts)
30. Here you go, Marthe. You sleep well too.
Fri Jun 5, 2026, 09:19 PM
Friday

Sitting under the cypress tree I saw a miracle flying high
I tuned into the song that she was singing
The melody was an honest friend and it felt like I was learning to fly
But I fear I’ll never know the feeling

It must be nice (It must feel good)
To just be heard
And it might sound a bit absurd
I'd sing along with the birds
I'd sing along if I only knew the words
I'd sing along with the birds, if I only knew the words

Staring into the wishing well has got you feeling a particular way
You can't stand to see your own reflection
So toss a penny and close your eyes and try to think of something to say
And don't waste your wishes on perfection

It must be nicе (It must feel good)
To just be heard
And it might sound a bit absurd
I'd sing along with the birds
I'd sing along if I only knеw the words
I'd sing along with the birds, if I only knew the words
I'd master every verse until my spirit learned to burst
Into the morning sun
While my heart is on the run

All the wind in the whistlin' world could whip a whisper any given day
Just to see if there was anyone to listen
They say the April rain will fall to resurrect the flowers of May
You can't know who you love until you miss 'em

It must be nice (It must feel good)
To just be heard
And it might sound a bit absurd
I'd sing along with the birds
I'd sing along if I only knew the words
I'd sing along with the birds, if I only knew the words



JustABozoOnThisBus

(24,751 posts)
12. It's nice that you talk to them, but ...
Fri Jun 5, 2026, 07:30 PM
Friday

... but they really want you to chew up some worms and spit into their mouths. As a host, you are failing them.

Nice to have a nest on your porch.

LuckyCharms

(23,244 posts)
17. I just came in from working outside, one of them fell out of the nest
Fri Jun 5, 2026, 08:01 PM
Friday

and onto the deck.

My wife thought he was dead, but I noticed he was still breathing.

I ran and got a pair of gloves and picked him up. I got to hold him for awhile...my wife had to run and get a small stool. I could reach the nest, but I couldn't get high enough to tip him back in without struggling.

He kind of came around as I was holding him and looked up at me and opened his mouth.

I said: I'm not your mama!

I got him back in there...he was way too young to fly.

LuckyCharms

(23,244 posts)
28. Thanks, calimary...
Fri Jun 5, 2026, 09:10 PM
Friday

I was afraid to pick him up, he was so fragile.

I cracked up when he looked up at me and opened his mouth.

The others in the nest had a fit when I tipped him back in.

JustABozoOnThisBus

(24,751 posts)
32. Ok, so you dion't chew their food for them, ...
Sat Jun 6, 2026, 06:32 AM
Yesterday

... I don't think mama bird could have gotten the chick back into the nest. Or papa bird.

Good job.

LuckyCharms

(23,244 posts)
35. I'll tell you something...my wife started sobbing when I picked him up and said...
Sat Jun 6, 2026, 08:11 AM
Yesterday

"You're so kind".

I didn't think it was a big deal...but what was a big deal is...

As a man, to get that kind of sincere compliment is rare, at least for me.

I had the best sleep I've had in months because of that compliment.

For your wife of 34 years to have that reaction? It overwhelmed me.

FakeNoose

(42,702 posts)
16. Lucky do you have any trees in your yard?
Fri Jun 5, 2026, 08:01 PM
Friday

I'm wondering why the robins would choose a spot so close to humans, if there are trees nearby.

I usually get robin and cardinal nests in the Spring, but they are easily 15+ feet from the house. I can see them outside my kitchen window and they are fun to watch, but I don't get too close.

LuckyCharms

(23,244 posts)
18. I have a weeping cherry, a black walnut, and...
Fri Jun 5, 2026, 08:04 PM
Friday

a magnolia tree.

The robins always build nests in the weeping cherry, and on the motion light.

When they first lay the eggs, the mama is really nervous. But we go in and out of the back door several times a day, and they get used to us.

Niagara

(12,306 posts)
21. The robins in my neighborhood
Fri Jun 5, 2026, 08:18 PM
Friday

build their nests in the sloped portion of our gutters, they have for years.


I have a Canadian Birch and it's quite large. But the squirrels have prime HOA real estate in this tree. I have both orioles and hummingbirds that use the tree as a hang out but I can't confirm if they have nests in it or not.

I literally have a hummingbird (every summer) who hangs out in this tree and waits for other hummingbirds to get to the feeder. Then he or she swoops down and chases other hummingbirds away from the feeder. I keep the feeders away from the driveway because of the vehicles so I can't really move the feeders away from the tree.

It can be comical at times. lol

FakeNoose

(42,702 posts)
23. This is one of the reasons I haven't put out a feeder
Fri Jun 5, 2026, 08:28 PM
Friday

I already have lots of squirrels, and I believe a bird feeder would attract even more of them. There are lots of big old oak trees in my neighborhood, but not in my yard. So the squirrels go elsewhere for nuts and that's fine with me. If I put out a feeder out, it would encourage the squirrels to stick around, I think.

Niagara

(12,306 posts)
24. I have my both my feeders on tall, skinny, wrought iron Shepard's garden hooks
Fri Jun 5, 2026, 08:39 PM
Friday

Every once in awhile I'll rub the bottom part of the garden hooks with baby oil to keep the ants off, usually after it rains.


So far, I haven't had a problem with the squirrels bothering my hummingbird or oriole feeders, but I had a raccoon who was getting into everyone's hummingbird feeder and successfully knocking it off the garden hooks and wheezing the juice!

Bayard

(30,472 posts)
36. I hope your little ones survive and prosper
Sat Jun 6, 2026, 09:07 AM
Yesterday

I got a big suprise this spring when I was going to ride my horse after a long layoff. I took my helmet off the wall where I had it hanging, and there was a nest of baby wrens in it. All with their mouths open. I put them in a small bucket and hung it back on the wall. After some dithering, mom came back to feed them.

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