Perhaps mama robin recognized the egg as not of her own, like a cowbird egg. Good robin, smart robin.



----- Original Message ----- 

From: "Laura Dornan" <[log in to unmask]>

To: <[log in to unmask]>

Sent: Saturday, April 18, 2015 1:43 PM

Subject: [Ohio-birds] robin dumping egg





While birding the woodland trail behind my house this morning, I observed something I have never seen or heard of before. Â A female robing flew to a tree about 30 feet from me and perched about on a branch about 5-6 feet above the ground. Â She was facing away from me and I saw her raise her drop an egg which landed on the ground below. Â There was no nest anywhere around that I could see. Â After she flew off I walked over to confirm what I thought I saw and there was a broken robin egg under the branch. Â A male robin then flew to the same tree. Â 

Has anyone else seen a bird just "lay" an egg where it would drop to the ground or have any thoughts on why a bird would do this. Â The only thing I can think of is that the nest was destroyed and when a bird has to lay an egg, she has to lay it NOW, nest or no nest. Â But there have been no storms in which a nest might be destroyed for over a week---plenty of time to rebuild.

Laura DornanLouisville



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