[talkofthetown]

Help! I was watering the big potted plants in front of our work, and too late I noticed a little bird's nest with eggs inside. Will the miracle grow hurt them? Will it smell funny and make mama bird abandon them?! I feel awful Please tell me I'm over-reacting....

[talkofthetown]

Really, no one has any ideas? Just wanted to make sure I didn't disrupt nature too much...

[LexInVA]

It could happen. I can't say it will. But it could.

[alittlegray]

No worries! It is a COMPLETE myth that the momma bird will abandon the babies/eggs because they smell funny. Birds have a terrible sense of smell! Leave them just as you found them and it should be fine. If momma doesn't come back, it could be the eggs were not viable in the first place (thus why she wasn't sitting on the nest when you saw them).
On a related note, babies that "fall" out of the nest should be left alone where they fell if they have grown their flight feathers as this is usually their attempts to fly for the first time. If it is obvious baby is too young and you can see where it came from, it is OK to gently put baby back. It may be a while before momma comes back as she wants to make sure you are gone for good, but she will not turn away from that baby over smell.

[talkofthetown]

Ok cool, thanks so much! Also good to know about the fallen babies.

Lex, thanks, very helpful...

[LexInVA]

While all answers are replies, not all replies are answers.

[talkofthetown]

That's deep. Real deep.

[LexInVA]

That's deep. Real deep.

That's what she said. While we were canoeing.

[talkofthetown]

That's what she said. While we were canoeing.

Set myself up for that one

[Effie1221]

Wise guys.