Baby robins still living in a nest were saved at a Red Deer construction site Thursday.
On Monday, builder Mike Edwards was working at a construction site on Golden Crescent when he spotted three nests in the garage.
“We took one down and I went to take another one down and went, ‘Oh, there are babies in there,’” said Edwards, owner of Bella Rosa Developments.
“Then the mother flew in and sat on the nest. I just kept working and she didn’t even mind – it just seemed like I could finish my job, so I left her there.”
The active nest was located on top of an unfinished wall that wasn’t completely connected to the ceiling. But on Thursday, the wall and ceiling needed to be connected.
Edwards contacted the Kerry Wood Nature Centre, which put him in touch with the Medicine River Wildlife Centre.
“They got back to me instantly and they came down here instantly,” he said.
The wildlife centre’s Judy Boyd came to the construction site Thursday morning. The two decided the best option would be to build a small shelf and drill it onto the wall just below the nest’s current location.
The nest was then moved down to the lower perch.
“We took a look at the size of the babies to see how far along they were, and they’re only about four days from fledging, but they did need to close that ceiling off, because they have a guy here to do it today,” said Boyd.
“The mother is a really good mother. I had my hand in and I was lifting up one of the babies – the mother came in and landed on the nest and yelled at me to go away.”
Boyd said it’s important people know what’s around on a construction site, so bird don’t get closed in.
Edwards said it’s “quite common” to see a bird’s nest at a construction site.
“Many homes that are built, the builders find either nests or birds in there. A lot of times, you’ll see them bury them in the house or shoo them out.
“But I’m a bit of a wildlife guy myself. I have an acreage with a bunch of birds. Robins are always one of my favourites.”
sean.mcintosh@reddeeradvocate.com
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