Hanging Basket Nest
by Jennifer Strano
(Lake Grove, New York USA)
No sooner had I brought home and hung the fuschia basket did Mrs Robin begin construction.
I went to water the plant 36 hours after I placed on the porch while talking on the phone, and was surprised by her startled chirp.
She had already begun the first layer and worked fast over the next few days. The porch faces WSW, and is near the weeping cherry tree planted in the corner bed(I live in Suffolk County Long Island).
She has often perched on the top branches to broadcast her irritation with me or other interloper.
In my ignorance I thought she'd abandoned the nest after she finished because she didn't return for nearly 3 days.
The plant was suffering so I removed the nest, put it in a plastic bag and even let my 7 yr old bring it in for show and tell!!
Next morning, I went to water and pinch the dead flowers, and was shocked to see one blue egg sitting in the naked dirt. I felt like crap!
I quickly returned the nest to the basket, laying the egg carefully back in it. I hoped for the best.
Over Mother's Day weekend she laid 3 more eggs! The whole family celebrated.
I cancelled playdates for fear of further disturbing her, forbade my children from running up and down on the porch, and have checked on her through the window every hour, waiting until the moment arrives.
She hardly ever leaves the nest except to eat or defend her territory, which includes the neighbor's front yard across the street.
My children all scrunched down on the sofa (7, 4, & 2 1/2) with me and watched her tend to her nest, lifting up "skirt" to check her eggs, and settling back down over them all fluffed up, ever watchful.
I figure they should hatch by the end of this week(5/22)or the beginning of next. I will post pictures!
