Don't know nothin' 'bout birthin' no baby birds!

Last spring, we had so many birds nesting on our porch, especially in the hanging fern.  I overwintered the fern in the house and then put it outside in a flower bed and there it sat all of March, April and part of May.  I was trying to deter Mama Bird from building a nest because I can't water the fern properly while they're in there and the fern suffers so I waited until the middle of May to plant that fern in the ground (because she had grown huge and was pot-bound) and get yet another hanging fern for the porch.  Not two weeks later, there was a nest in there with five tiny eggs!  So much for thinking their babymaking time was over.  What do I know??

The eggs hatched and I was so excited to have five tiny little robins!!!  I even took their picture and posted it on Facebook.  Cute little things.  I gently misted the fern and let them have their space.

Five days later, I came home to find my fern on the porch with a busted pot and the nest and the babies were gone.  I was heartbroken.  I like to think their Mama moved them after that rainy weekend we had but I'm pretty sure a predator got them.  Jumped in the pot, knocked it down and took the babies and the nest.  I was sick for days over it.  :(

I sat Fern Two out back where Fern One is planted.  I'm trying to save her with lots of water and shade.  She is looking fairly peaked. 

Fern Three joined our porch last week and sure enough, two days later, there was a nest in there.  Hardheaded little mama!

Not wanting to go through this again but wanting very much for this very determined mama robin to have her babies, I came up with what I hope will work.

I hung Fern Three on the patio and I created a decoy for the mama bird.  I had some artificial flowers I was saving to put on my Grandma's grave but I took them, tore them apart and arranged them in a hanging basket lined with a coco shell.  I placed the nest inside and hung it up.

Here's the nest nestled inside.

I think Grandma would be pleased.  :)  Stay tuned...