Posted by trish indelicato on May 15, 2008

Q: I have a question about Robin eggs. Every year we have a robin that builds her nest on our AC unit and we watch the whole process we even made a book with the day care children it was such a wonderful experience for the past four years. However this year she came we tracked every move. first one egg then two eggs then three eggs then four. The robin came and sat on them then all of a sudden she never came back. the eggs are still out there is has been 8 days and I have yet to see the mother. I am sure they are dead but what can I do. if anything. I cannot throw the eggs away knowing there is a baby bird in there??? ay ideas??

State: Massachusetts

A: Sounds like you did some great things with your students - watching the nesting process of any bird is a wonderful introduction to nature. It does seem to me that your Robin is dead, as you already suspect. There's no telling what may have happened to her but she certainly wouldn't be away for 8 days otherwise and it doesn't make sense that she abandoned the nest unless something really traumatic happened there.

Actually, the eggs may not be "dead" - they can remain cool for days BEFORE the incubation process has begun and still be viable. Keep in mind that there is no baby bird inside these eggs yet. There are only eggs, each with a single sperm cell inside that will not begin development until proper heat is applied. I know the death of an animal can be upsetting for children but it's also an important lesson for them to learn too. Many of our songbirds will not succeed in raising any young this season for all kinds of reasons. All the more incentive for us all to take good care of our environment so as many as possible will survive. Thanks for writing and I hope this helps a wee bit.

John Wiessinger ( May 16, 2008)