Found bird's nest; abandoned or not?

Question

There's a creek nearby where I live; some kids found a bird's nest, most likely a sparrow's, with five speckled eggs inside, laying on the ground under the bridge. They asked if I could help take care of it, and I suggested they return it; the mother may have built it right where it was found, and might return, even though it now has a human scent. I have hard that the scent of humans may not necessarily discourage a mother. My question is would it be smart to leave it where it was found, and might be open to harm, or to try and hatch the eggs ourselves?

Answer 1

Put it back where it was found. It's illegal to even touch a wild bird, let alone hatch them. If the parents don't come back within the next couple of hours, call animal control. Or you could call them now.

Answer 2

By all means...return the nest immediately!  I am sure that IS where the mother built it.  Hopefully it was not away so long that the eggs died.  Also, birds do not have a highly developed sense of smell and will NOT abandon a nest, eggs or chicks that have been touched by humans.  Just get the nest back as soon as possible before the parents leave the area.  Tell those kids to leave birds nests alone in the future..it is actually illegal to disturb wild native nesting birds, they are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.  Hatching wild birds eggs is also against the law.

Answer 3

If they are speckled and were on the ground they could very well be quail eggs.

Tell them to go put the eggs/nest back where they found it.

The mother will return.

And if not, than it is 99% likely that you will have no chance at hatching them.

Sorry.