It's normal for birds to abandon disturbed nests since this could indicate the presence of a predator, or attract one (by leaving your scent on it, for example). It seems in most cases a mother won't abandon nestlings if the eggs have already hatched (contrary to what was once commonly believed), but will abandon unfinished nests and unhatched eggs, so it's best not to disturb the nest at all.

I'm interested in hearing this.  I've heard of it, but touch nests most springs without the birds leaving.  Baby cottontails are born in the sawdust in my shop and I pick them up... so cute! They fit in my palm, eyes closed and ears folded back. Again, no adverse effects.  I don't doubt that it happened with you though.  Maybe it happens only with certain animals.  I like to watch the birds go back to the nest.  They never take the direct route.  Flitter branch to branch, looking around to see who looks, who is trying to find the way to the eggs.  By the way, I once knew an owl who slept on its side in the dirt like a dog.  It was raised with the dog.  We used to go on walks/flights together at night, the three of us, the dog by my side, the owl tree by tree keeping pace through the high desert night.
 

Emma, interesting to hear that hatched nests are less likely to be abandoned, it makes sense. The predator factor is also reasonable, although I wonder there might be another reason -- perhaps they couldn't find it!  Nikolaas Tinbergen observed that the wasps couldn't find their way back home if the environment gets disturbed, because they rely on the "landmarks" to recognize the spot. Not sure if birds orient themselves similarly.

Ted, thank you for the nice story. What a beautiful, almost surrealistic, image you described: a man, a dog and an owl traveling as an ensemble under moon light. If any "mirror neuron" enthusiasts hear you, I bet they will be very happy -- an owl raised by a dog sleeps like the dog!  Talking about how birds sleep, it's puzzling why they do so standing up, flamingos, for example, not only sleep standing up, but on one leg too! Their body weight is horizontally oriented, which makes it even harder to balance. If anyone has to sleep in a vertically position, it should be a human, at least our weight is vertically oriented.