FINCHforum

Can I ask a question about a house finch (outdoor-wild) here?
My cat took down a house finch's nest today, killing the hatchlings.
Will the parents build a new nest here again? Should I remove the nest?
I want them to rebuild. I've given the cat away. Thanks, Kayla

I'd leave the nest for now, but chances are they will not use it again. They may very well build another nest in the area, though.

Awee..sorry to hear that. i have a pair that laid eggs not to long ago and they have 5 hatchlings now out of the 5 they laid. it is so cool to see them bring the babies food. they have there nest right in my front porch in a fake hanging plant.

Jamezyboo21 - your wild birds may reuse their nest for another clutch. The other case was where the cat destroyed the nest, so the birds are not going to feel safe in the same place.

jamezyboo21 wrote:Awee..sorry to hear that. i have a pair that laid eggs not to long ago and they have 5 hatchlings now out of the 5 they laid. it is so cool to see them bring the babies food. they have there nest right in my front porch in a fake hanging plant.

I know how great is used to be to see the the parents bring the hatchlings food! These house finches and their ancestors and grown offspring have been nesting in my front porch for 30 years that I know of, and 8 years before
I was in the house. They haven't been back for about 5 years, and I was
thrilled to see them back this year, but I had a new cat, and this happened.
I was torn between taking the (now) empty nest down, or leaving it up
hoping they might re-use it. If it was gone would that possibly be more incentive to rebuild? I read it's the female who builds it, so maybe they're picky about how it's built. The cat pulled it down, so I reshaped it and put it back up. I haven't seen them since the dead hatchlings were removed.
(About 24 hours) It was so sad seeing them trying to feed the near dead
hatchlings!! They were trying so hard to feed them!
Thanks for any and all input!