Birds nest in penstemon. What to do with it?

robairdmacraignil

Out of the three types of penstemon I have tried to grow there is one that has taken very well to the garden here and I have over the last few years divided it to grow all over the place. The original plant has been cut down more severely this year than in previous years as it did not flower as well last year. I have also been gradually cutting down last years stems on some of the more recently planted offspring but found one today had a newly built birds nest in the middle of it. I remember now passing the spot when doing some weeding last week and a brown bird flew out from the area when I was close to it. There is nothing in the nest but it does look to be well made except maybe for the fact it is a bit too close to the ground considering the number of cats that visit the garden.

I think it might have been a thrush of some sort but I'm not sure has the nest been abandoned now that it has realised the area is not as free of traffic as it might have thought. The penstemon old growth looks a bit tatty but it would not ruin the garden to just let it be as there are plenty of other flowers and shrubs near it to hide it from view. Since the nest is empty should I just go ahead and cut the old stems down and allow the bird find another safer spot to try and make a new nest? I already found a baby thrush on the ground in another part of the garden a few weeks back and my priority really would be to try avoid the young getting eaten by the local cats which I regularly see hunting as they are farm cats that actually do catch some of their food. Any recommendations or advice appreciated.

B3

I don't think there's much you can do. The bird will not return to it if you move it.

robairdmacraignil

B3 said:

I don't think there's much you can do. The bird will not return to it if you move it.

Thanks for your advice. I had not planned on moving it with the intention that the bird might return to it but am worried that if I leave it where it is and the bird does lay eggs there that they will just become cat food. I have occasionally found wild bird eggs in pieces in the garden so I really think it is not the best place for a nest if the bird wants to continue to use it where it is. Actually thinking about it this nest may already have been raided as I saw a small broken egg about five metres from the nest last week. I know it sounds cruel to dispose of a well made nest but would it be better for the bird if it is forced to move to somewhere safer even if it means they need to start the nest building again?

Dovefromabove

My understanding is that it would be illegal for you to interfere with the nest in any way during the nesting season ... so the decision has been made for you. 

Ah ... you’re in Eire ... you’ll have to check your laws. 

B3

I scared a blackbird away from a really stupid nest site once.  Maybe it's better to let them learn by their mistakes. I don't know 

Jellyfire

Finding broken eggshells scattered about isn't necessarily a sign of predation, many garden birds will carry the shell away from the nest and discard it so the chicks dont drop it under the nest and give the nest location away to predators

Bright star

I just found a Robins nest, we have a long shelf attached to the outside wall down the side of the house. I tend to put all my pots of bulbs on it to let the leaves die back when they get a bit scruffy. The Robin has made its nest on the shelf under some daffodil leaves that have flopped over to one side, it’s sitting on eggs but the foliage is dying back quickly now and the nest is barely covered, I’ve got my fingers and toes crossed that they all survive.

robairdmacraignil

Dovefromabove said:

My understanding is that it would be illegal for you to interfere with the nest in any way during the nesting season ... so the decision has been made for you. 

Ah ... you’re in Eire ... you’ll have to check your laws. 

Not likely to be any arm of the law around to check if I cut my penstemon down or not. There are laws about removing hedge row but this is a garden shrub and the general advice I have seen is to cut it down to let the new growth come up again from the base to give a better display from the fresh growth. As I said my priority would be to protect the birds in the garden but the nest is only about 30cm off the ground and is almost falling out of the penstemon as it is. It may be already abandoned so I will just let it be and see what happens. Thanks for all the comments.

Happy gardening!

Jellyfire

They would be on their second brood by now I think so if no eggs in a week or two I think you’d be safe to assume it’s finished for the year