Human contact with a bird’s egg or young bird will not cause the parents to give up all hope for the family. The parents will return. Most birds can’t even realize you were ever there.
But this is what adults say to children, it is more likely to protect birds than little fingers.
Birds do not lay their eggs until they have made a lot of effort to build a strong nest. They are not likely to give it up at a time when they need it most. But no one can argue that it is better to leave them alone. Looking at the babies when they are hatched from a decent distance will be fun for your grandchildren, but touching them is not recommended. They are children, after all.
But there may come a time when you need to move the birdhouse. If it’s not completely critical, the best option is to wait for your young man to travel. The breeding season is short, and the time it takes for the eggs to hatch and the babies to be strong enough to fly away is not that long if moving the birdhouse is not critical. The best option is to wait until the chicks leave the nest.
But, if there is a reason it needs to be moved…maybe it is in a place where your cat has access to the nest – then by all means move it.
First, make sure your receiving location is set up completely. If you start the process and have to interrupt it, it will stress the birds unnecessarily. Then plan to move the nest during daylight hours, as gently as possible. You want to be able to keep the eggs intact, if they do not hatch, or to prevent the young from jumping. Keep the birdhouse upright throughout this step.
Don’t be alarmed if the parents make you stink, they will get very noisy – they want you to leave them alone. Once the birdhouse has been moved, you should move it away from the area until they feel safe in their new location.
Once moved, you can watch from a safe distance, hidden from view if possible. If the parents are away when it is moved, they usually find the new location very easily and should begin feeding the young or resume sitting on eggs at a very short notice. But, if it appears as if the parents may have abandoned the nest due to the move, it is recommended to contact someone in your area who has experience with the species you are viewing.
If you can put off moving the nest until the little ones have flown in, that’s always the best option.