Ive heard that if you touch a baby robin the parents will abonden it ...True or false???

Question

Ive heard that if you touch a baby robin the parents will abonden it ...True or false???

Answer 1

It's false.

99.9% of birds have a poor sense of smell.  They cannot smell humans, and will not reject a chick, egg or nest because it's been touched.

The only birds who have a good sense of smell are vultures, kiwi birds, and some tubenose species.

Birds will abandon a nest if it is threatened by predators, including humans.   If you stay too close, they will not come near.

Tampering with nests, and taking wild birds or eggs is illegal.  All native wild birds are protected by law.  That's why you shouldn't touch them.

Answer 2

Birds cannot smell! Mammals can, but not birds. So they won't abandon a baby if you touch it. You shouldn't mess with babies in the nest. The parents will be stressed by your poking around and may abandon the nest. However, if you find a baby bird on the ground and can locate the nest, feel free to put it back in. If you can't locate the nest, but the parents are watching or calling to the baby you can try fashioning your own nest out of a berry basket nailed to a tree with some soft material inside. Good luck!

Answer 3

yes ,because you put humane scent on them-unless you wear gloves-TRUE

Answer 4

False. Birds have a very poor sense of smell, they will not detect any scent-change in their child.

Answer 5

Very true!

Answer 6

True!

Answer 7

It's false.  While that is true for mammals, birds have a very weak sense of smell so they'd never know if someone has touched their babies or has been in their nest.  They can't even tell the difference between another birds eggs if they look the same (or their own vs a marble for that matter).  This is how mockingbirds and cowbirds get away with laying eggs in the nests of birds that actually take care of their own young.

Answer 8

Yes they loose the scent of the parents so they leave them. Like rats when you put poison if your hand touches the food they will not eat it.

Answer 9

It False.....