How to Care for a Bird Nest in a Fern

House finches are more likely to build their nest in a house plant than a bird house.

If you go to water your fern and notice that it has taken lodgers, congratulations! You're about to become the foster parent of a nest of baby birds. Finding a bird nesting in a potted plant is not unusual. Outdoor house plants tend to be in sheltered locations and have become favorite nest locations for some species like Carolina wrens, house finches and a number of other species.

Things You'll Need

• Soap
• Water
• Pyrethrum or pyrethrin and piperonyl butoxide insecticide

Instructions

1. Do not move the fern to a different location or attempt to relocated the nest. It is illegal to move or destroy nests according to the Migratory Bird Act of 1918. (Source 6)

2. Continue watering the plant as normal. Disturb the plant and nest as little as possible when watering. If necessary, take down the plant to water it and quickly put it back into its original location. (Source 1, 3)

3. Clean up droppings below the fern with soap and water. Don't worry about health risks posed by bird droppings. According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, health risks from birds are exaggerated and only a problem if large numbers of birds are roosting in an area. (Resource 1)

4. Treat nest mites with bird-safe pyrethrum insect powder or a houseplant insecticide that contains pyrethrin and piperonyl butoxide. Nest mites are small round black or gray mites that look like ground pepper. (Source 2, 3)

5. Return any nestlings that fall out of the nest. It is a myth that birds will reject a baby that has been handled. Baby birds are considered nestlings for about three to four weeks. After that time, they become fledglings. Fledglings often leave the nest even if they don't know how to fly.

6. Don't try to feed the parents or baby birds. Placing food too close to the nest can attract predators to the nest. Instead, place a bird feeder within view but at a good distance away from the nest.

7. Learn more about the birds nesting in your fern. The Cornell Lab of Ornithology (allaboutbirds.org/guide/search.aspx) has an excellent online bird guide that can help you identify which birds are nesting in your fern. The page on nesting information provides information on how long eggs incubate before hatching and when nestlings will fledge.

8. Replace nests that become damaged with a substitute nest. Line a hanging plastic basket with dry grasses or straw. Press your fist into the center to make a small depression. Move the babies into the new nest and place the basket as near to the original position as you can. This should only be done as a last resort. (Source 5)

Tips & Warnings

• It is illegal to move or disturb the nests of wild birds. The only exception to this are non-native species such as the house sparrow, European starling and pigeon.

References

• Wild Birds Unlimited; Do You Need to Clean Out Bird Houses? March 2011
• Cornell Lab of Ornithology: Unusual and Interesting Questions
• WalterReeves.com; Bird Mites -- Control; Walter Reeves
• Wildlife Rehabber: Birds in Your Vent
• Wildlife Rehabber: How to Renest Wild Nestling Baby Birds
• Mass Audubon: Nests in Hanging Plants

Resources

• Illinois Department of Public Health: Health Hazards Associated with Bird and Bat Droppings
• The Cornell Lab of Ornithology: All About Birds
• The Cornell Lab of Ornithology: Nesting Information
• Royal Alberta Museum: Eggs -- A Virtual Exhibit