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Robin's nest uncovered when pruning - what to do?

Pink678Pink678 Posts: 384
in Problem solving
What looks like a robin's nest was uncovered this morning, when my friend pruned into one of my overgrown shrubs. It's not her fault, she didn't see it until she had done it.
We think hopefully it is an old nest, but don't know.
I have shown the location with a red ring in the last photo - the photo makes it look dark and hidden, but it's actually very visible from the outside.
Have robins stopped nesting this year, is it no use to them until spring?
Should I try and cover it over somehow for now?
Do they make new ones each year in different locations or stick to the same locations/old nests?
How quickly will the branches grow back over it?
Many thanks for any help.

Posts

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 86,861
    edited 21 November
    At this time of year it’ll be an old nest and no longer of use to the robins. They build a new nest for every brood and they can’t possibly rear a new brood in the UK winter weather. 
    No need to worry. 

    They’ll probably start nestbuilding activities from mid to the end of February. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Pink678Pink678 Posts: 384
    What a relief - so pleased, thank you Dovefromabove :)
  • NollieNollie Posts: 7,470
    Even if they return to the same location, robins will build a new nest, not reuse the old one. If they find their old site is less suitable, e.g. more exposed, they will just move on. I suspect they won’t move very far, providing there is an alternative spot, as they are very territorial. That seems to have been the case here, where my resident robin just moved further down the hedge after I chopped a dying hedge back and installed a new fence in front. I can’t swear it’s the same one mind, they do all look alike!
    Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
  • Pink678Pink678 Posts: 384
    That's great news Nollie. I do like to think I have the same ones staying close to my garden. They come so close while I'm digging and wait for the worms I put out for them as they are uncovered. I'd like to think I recognise the same robin's face but realistically that's not likely!
  • NollieNollie Posts: 7,470
    Yes ‘mine’ follows me around the garden as well and is very persistent, even when my young dog tries to ambush it!
    Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 86,861
    You can sometimes differentiate between individuals by comparing little differences to the line of the red breast where it joins the browner plumage … but the differences are tiny. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Pink678Pink678 Posts: 384
    I will be trying that tip out now, Dovefromabove. I'd love to be able to recognise them one by one.
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