Oh my goodness O__O

Congratulations on your new guests! :D

Best of luck to you, your plant, the mystery mother, and the eggs! :)

It took them no time at all to construct this adorable home. One day it's not there, the next day it is. I was afraid that the nest might have been abandoned, because I'm always outside tending to my plants, but then I go and discover these little eggs. I've been feeding the birds around my house for several years, so they've learned by now that I'm no threat to them. Though they still keep a watchful eye on me, lol. There have been numerous times where I've refilled the bird feeders and barely turned around, only to have them get back to eating. They seem to know when I put more food out for them. Well, okay, they do know when I put out more food for them.

What a wonderful problem to have. I want updates !

I plan on it. I've been keeping a watchful eye on the nest, though I've also been keeping my distance. Now I wish that I had purchased a wireless security camera. It would've been a great way to capture some video and photos without being intrusive.

In the evening, when the sun is beginning to set, I don't go out the front door, or go anywhere near my front porch. I don't want to scare the parents away, and possibly have them not be able to find their way back in the dark. It may be warm during the day, but the nights still get a bit chilly.

On a side note, I regularly brush my cats and gather up their loose fur. Last year, I discovered on accident that birds love using it to build their nests, HaHa! I took the clumps of fur outside to throw away and set it down to take care of some plants. I forgot about it and went back inside. That's when I noticed that the fur was slowly dwindling down until there was nothing left. So now I "donate" my cats' loose fur during the springtime.

Any idea what kind of birds would nest at the base of a plant? They usually like to go as high as possible

Well, it's up on the top shelf of a three shelf plant stand. I went outside to sweep off my porch, thinking that they had left for the day. The next thing I know a little brown bird flies past my head and scared me half to death, lol. I guess that since it was windy and slightly cool (but warming), they stayed home to keep the eggs warm. I don't think I scared it too much, because it just landed on the tire of my truck in the driveway. I went back inside and left them alone after that.

Well, I searched on the Audubon's Birds of Arkansas website, and my best guess so far would be a Carolina Wren? It says that it is "well known for nesting in hanging bike helmets, barbecue grills, and flower pots..." & the images of other nests and eggs look very similar.

My guess is that it's some sort of wren. They are famous for building nests in all kinds of inconvenient places.....porch plants, gardening shoes left to dry, etc. They also fit your 'small, brown' description!

I just went back to edit my comment to suggest the same thing, haha.

In my mind, my plants come before any animals. I can't count the amount of bird nests that I have removed from hanging baskets, tropical plants, small newly-planted trees, and topiaries. No, I don't feel bad at all.

Unless it is a nest from an introduced or exotic species, such as the house sparrow, it is almost always illegal to remove active nests without a permit.

So cool! I have three baby Carolina wrens in a nest right now in one of my plants. The plant is sitting on a table right next to our dining room window so we can watch.

HI,years ago I had some house finches build a nest in a hanging basket of fuchsias.I watered it very carefully,slowly and the babies and plant survived.great experience.since then I have hanging mini gazing balls instead.

"Unless it is a nest from an introduced or exotic species, such as the house sparrow, it is almost always illegal to remove active nests without a permit."

None of them had eggs in them. If they did I would most likely just relocate them.

Relocation of an active nest is not legal.

Not if no one knows about it ;)

I like birds and enjoy watching them, but if it comes down to one of my plants vs. a bird, I'm going to choose the plant. I have priorities, and no bird nest is going to get in my way. I will reiterate that I have never removed a nest containing eggs.

Relocation of an active nest is not legal.

Not if no one knows about it ;)

Sorry, what?

Are you saying that just because nobody catches you doing it it's not illegal?

I know that I joked around about being forced to neglect my plant, but that's not the case. My Dracaena will be just fine. Having a nest in it in no way impedes my ability to care for it. I don't have to choose between it or the birds. The birds being there does no harm to my plant. For me, gardening isn't just about growing plants in a sterile environment. I love the fact that they chose that location to raise their young. I couldn't fathom destroying such a wonderful thing just because it's a slight inconvenience to myself. Will the birds do fine and build their nest elsewhere? Sure, but that's not the point. It's just a matter of principle.

I find that I'm always modifying my behaviour because of wildlife in my gardens. Often when going to do some specific job I find some animal there that I don't want to disturb so end up having to go do something else. Over time some animals get accustomed to you and you can work not far from them. It adds another dimension to gardening.

"My Dracaena will be just fine. Having a nest in it in no way impedes my ability to care for it. I don't have to choose between it or the birds."

That's good to hear. Hopefully you can get some photos when the eggs hatch!

"Are you saying that just because nobody catches you doing it it's not illegal?"

No, I'm saying that it makes no difference. People do it all of the time, I'm sure that it is not just me. Also, are you saying that removing a nest not containing eggs is illegal? I read up on it and I am pretty sure that's not the slightest bit true.

No, I'm saying that it makes no difference. People do it all of the time, I'm sure that it is not just me. Also, are you saying that removing a nest not containing eggs is illegal? I read up on it and I am pretty sure that's not the slightest bit true.

I'm not sure of the legality of doing so, but if it were illegal-just because other people "do it all of the time" doesn't mean you should do the same. There are plenty of people who break into homes "all the time." Is it okay for you to do the same just because they're doing so? It's a hugely different situation of course, but my point is that just because other people are doing something illegal doesn't mean you yourself should do the same. If it does turn out to be fine to remove nests with no eggs in it, go ahead.

I can't to see how the chicks will grow! :P

I am peeking on this thread daily because I am fascinated by this little story and clearly there are more of us. If someone grows plants because he or she loves nature, why would a bird's nest bother them? Isn't this why we have gardens - to take joy in observing nature? You(as in general) can't and you are not supposed to control it in 100%. It is not all predictible and that is also the beauty. Of course, it is a bit different situaton if nest is located in a really unfortunate/dangerous spot. But my point is - legal or not, please consider that the decisions we make do matter and we all need to have some respect to the life around us.

Photo Syntesis - I love your comment and your attitude. I look forward to seeing some family pictures in the future ;D

That Logan has this attitude is not at all surprising to those of us who are familiar with him. Logan, once again you are acting out of ignorance.

Even the most rudimentary internet search should inform you that it is against Federal and/or state law(s) to remove, move, or bother an active nesting site, whether or not it has eggs.

However, after the eggs have hatched and the babies have fully fledged, a nest can be removed. We can also remove the building materials of a newly started nest....not yet a nest. Once it is a complete nest, it cannot be touched even if the eggs haven't been laid.

Many bird species have more than one family per season and use the same nest again in quick succession.

Well, the little birds hatched. There were four of them, not three. I went to check on them earlier and something tore up the nest and the little hatchlings were lying on my porch. They weren't eaten, it just looks like they were knocked out of the nest and fell down. I'm not sure what caused it. I have some cats outside, but they either stay in my backyard, or venture off into the woods. They never go around to the front of my house. Could it have been possums? I see them every now and then on rare occasions, but I always chase them away because I don't like those things.

Oh well, the damage is already done. I doubt the parents will come back and rebuild again this year. I plan on buying a birdhouse to hang up on my porch in hopes they choose it as a much safer, out of reach, alternative next time. Needless to say that I'm a little bummed out. :/

Awww, so sorry!

"They never go around to the front of my house." Please don't place a large bet on this.

The way my neighborhood is situated, we're at the end of the street, it loops around and our houses form one large enclosed circle. My neighbors have dogs, which my cats avoid at all costs. They love playing in the trees behind my house, and when they're not playing in my backyard, they venture off into the woods and will stay gone all day. Even when I'm around front watering my plants, they stay in the backyard. I did have two boy cats that would come around front, but only while I was out front, too. That was several years ago, before they passed away. The two little girls that I have now are the daughters from one of them. They wouldn't come around to my front yard no matter what I did to try and entice them.

Could have been somebody else's cat. If the hatchlings weren't eaten I'd definitely suspect cats. Domestic cats kill for pleasure and are often too well fed to worry about eating the victims.

Photo S, so sorry someone got the hatchlings. Where are you? Here in the AZ mountains, we have so many critters the number of possible culprits would be huge. Last I heard, there was even a black bear roaming around a couple blocks away.

Thanks so much for sharing this story. I have checked in often to watch. Wish things had turned out differently. :-(