A robin built a nest on the tire of a Ford F-250 at a Kansas dealership, and the truck cannot be delivered to its new owner until the baby birds leave the nest, as the birds are protected under federal law.
Discovery of the Nest
Employees at Olathe Ford Lincoln in Kansas noticed a robin constructing a nest on the tire of a Ford F-250 several weeks ago. Over the following days, the bird laid four bright blue eggs. The dealership shared the story on Facebook on May 14, and it quickly gained widespread attention.
The eggs have since hatched, and the mother robin is caring for the hatchlings. Video and audio posted by the dealership show the baby birds chirping in the nest, which sits neatly on the truck's tire.
Legal Protection for Robins
The Ford F-250 was sold, but the buyer cannot take possession because the robin and its eggs are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918. This federal law prohibits the removal or disturbance of active bird nests.
In a Facebook post, the dealership thanked its understanding customers for their patience while waiting for the birds to grow up and leave the nest safely. The dealership also thanked Operation Wildlife, a non-profit wildlife rehabilitation facility in Kansas, for guidance.
Viral Attention and Naming the Birds
As the post went viral, the dealership embraced the attention. An employee created a video showing the hatchlings' growth over a few days and named them Lugnut, Turbo, Diesel, and Axel.
In the video, the employee jokingly asked the birds why they chose the dealership. A text graphic responded: "We were looking for a dealership with strong values and minimal hawk traffic."
According to local news outlet KMBC, the dealership has previously found other animals, such as cats and opossums, living in some of its vehicles.
