In my experience with robins, there doesn't seem to be much that will disturb them. We had one insist on building a nest on top of our porch lamp just outside the front door. We kept knocking it down and back up it would go! Finally, she constructed a darned skyscraper and laid her eggs. All before 5 am, when I usually made my first demolition. Once she laid the eggs.....she won the battle. She raised her family in spite of the fact that the nest was inches away from the door we used all day long. The babies fledged in our front yard.

Good for you! Two years ago a pair had a nest under the roof of the shed overhang, I think it gotten too buys, with me going in and out of the shed so they abandoned it. Last year a pair...could have been the same birds?...build a nest under the bridge of pond structure and successfully had 3 chicks. One day when I was curious and wanting to see the chicks, me on the belly and looking under the bridge they fledged! They flew away with no struggle, just like adults! Hope they come back this year. Here one of the fledgelings.. .. Konrad

Robins are birds that I enjoy viewing, but not as they try to build nests under our porch lights which are on both sides of an area right by our front entrance door. For three days my husband has removed the straw, twigs, etc in order to prevent a completed robin's nest. They put the straw, twigs, etc. up, he takes them down immediately. Today after reading these posts, I sprayed the area with ant and roach spray that I use when the ants try to visit too close to our outside walkway. Two robins just came with straw in their mouths, but they flew away. I hope this is a long-term solution. This is the first time that we have had this problem in the nineteen years that we have lived here. I am already tired of the mess on our porch and the potential health hazard presented if the robins succeed in building a permanent nest. We have plenty of trees that the birds usually choose for their nests and are still quite welcome to do so. However, why our porch this year is a puzzle. Thanks to all who have posted for their solutions. To the haters, because one does not want a bird's nest in an area that he/she frequently uses in his/her home, does not label the person as an animal hater. Why should my quality of life be compromised daily upon trying to enter my home for the sake of a bird's nest? The answer is that it shouldn't and will not. We will win this fight and reclaim our safety and keep our good health.

Awwww..so sorry to hear of this. That storm came through my yard too, and took one of my Bradford Pears down. It landed across my driveway, and luckily did not hit the house or our basketball goal. Gosh, it came through really fast. If you are not seeing them back at the house at all, then they have abandoned the nest. You don't need to wait the 2 weeks to remove the nest. Give it a few days, and when you are sure that they have abandoned, go ahead and remove the nest. Maybe they will build there again. There is still plenty of time.~~Angie