# help help i am being attacked by robins **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 18, 2014, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-help-i-am-being-attacked-by-robins/693454 "2014-07-18T14:03:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2014, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-help-i-am-being-attacked-by-robins/693454/21 "2014-07-19T02:11:36Z")
From a moral standpoint, it doesn’t matter what OP does as long as he(?) refrains from actively harming them. There isn’t a shortage of other places where a nest can be rebuilt. It’s not generally difficult for birds to build a new nest. In fact, being compelled to swoop/peck at passing humans who they think are a threat to their babies is probably incredibly stressful for the birds. > [@araminty](#): > > It’s illegal under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act to interfere with any nesting native species of bird. You sound well-versed in bird law and other various lawyerings. But really, this is a good case for civil disobedience. Unless they’re an endangered species, which I’ll allow would change the situation significantly. ---
**Author:** ![Find\_Friends](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c37758/32.png) [@Find\_Friends](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Find_Friends)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2014, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-help-i-am-being-attacked-by-robins/693454/22 "2014-07-20T19:06:11Z")
> [@Trans Fat Og](#): > > There is a joke about “Ur anus” in there somewhere… Okay, no one is [del]pucking[/del] picking up on it, so I’ll give another clue, and start a related subject on a fresh thread. The clue is that Titania and Oberon are also involved. > [@MsRobyn](#): > > I just want to make it clear that this Robin is not the one who is attacking the OP. As far as I know, the OP is a fine human being who has done nothing to merit an attack. > > Of course, “robins” doesn’t look right to me. It looks like the writer didn’t bother to capitalize a proper noun. > > -Robin Don’t worry, no one is likely to confuse you with the other one around town with your name, Robin Mee-Blighnd. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2014, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-help-i-am-being-attacked-by-robins/693454/23 "2014-07-21T21:10:05Z")
> [@Rachellelogram](#): > > From a moral standpoint, it doesn’t matter what OP does as long as he(?) refrains from actively harming them. There isn’t a shortage of other places where a nest can be rebuilt. It’s not generally difficult for birds to build a new nest. In fact, being compelled to swoop/peck at passing humans who they think are a threat to their babies is probably incredibly stressful for the birds. > > You sound well-versed in bird law and other various lawyerings. But really, this is a good case for civil disobedience. Unless they’re an endangered species, which I’ll allow would change the situation significantly. In addition, dismantling a nest once the chicks have flown shouldn’t fall afoul (afowl?) of any laws. We had birds build a nest in the vent fan from our kitchen stove. In addition to impeding the vent, they tended to start coming and going VERY EARLY IN THE MORNING. As the vent was just below our bedroom window, this was annoying. We got someone out to put a grate over the vent exit and he looked in, saw there were still baby birds, and told us he’d be happy to come back once they’d departed. So we put up with it for a couple more weeks, then had him come back. He pulled out a full grocery bag full of twigs (but no baby birds), before he installed the grate. To the OP: maybe carry a broom or something whenever you exit the house, and wave it at them when they try to dive bomb you. Then as soon as this batch has hatched, wipe out the next and make sure they don’t rebuild. You could hang up an [inflatable owl](http://www.amazon.com/Dalen-Gardeneer-Scarecrow-Inflatable-NE-OR/dp/B00002N8HY) or something to cause their interest in your porch to “wayne”. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2014, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-help-i-am-being-attacked-by-robins/693454/24 "2014-07-21T21:18:14Z")
> [@Mama\_Zappa](#): > > In addition, dismantling a nest once the chicks have flown shouldn’t fall afoul (afowl?) of any laws. … [cite](http://www.fws.gov/pacific/migratorybirds/Permits/dprd.html) > [@US Fish and Wildlife Service](#): > > [ul] > [li]You do NOT need a permit to scare or harass migratory birds. You may scare migratory birds year-round as long as it does not injure the bird or result in abandonment of an active nest.[/li][li]You DO need a permit to scare or harass eagles.[/li][li]You do NOT need a permit to remove empty migratory bird nests prior to egg-laying or after chicks leave.[/li][li]You DO need a permit to remove eagle nests.[/li][/ul] So assuming you don’t have a pair of eagles on your front porch, and you don’t take the broom / air horn / scarecrow too far, you should be good once this batch has hatched. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2014, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-help-i-am-being-attacked-by-robins/693454/25 "2014-07-21T21:20:49Z")
In Soviet Ulfland, migratory birds harass YOU! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-help-i-am-being-attacked-by-robins/693454.md?page=1)