Day 11:
I know that each day that passes, the day the baby robins will leave the nest grows closer as well. I am finding them (or maybe just one of them) on the ground more and more as well. Today I placed a baby back in the nest twice. I know that they can’t fly yet, and I’m not sure if they are jumping, falling, or being pushed out because the nest is so full. Tomorrow I will keep an eye on them and see how it goes but for now, the parents don’t seem to mind the help. The baby seemed appreciative as well. At least it didn’t poop on me today like it did last week. It is just to hot to be outside of the shade of the tree these past few days.
Getting better on the pictures. The family is pretty tolerant of me getting fairly close with my tripod, and I’m having some luck using the timer remote so I don’t have to stand there the entire time either. Flash is working out well. Seems that about the time I get all the mechanics of this all worked out, my time with them will be over. But as I’ve added more bird feeders and plants in the back yard, hopefully even more birds will come to my “studio” for their portraits!
And now for today’s pictures…
By looking at the pictures, I’ve finally been able to tell the parents apart by the markings around the eye. Still not sure which is male and female, but I’m guessing this one is the male because he seems more “bulky”. Is that sexists? I have found the last couple of days that the parents are spending more time away from the nest, just keeping their eyes on what is going on rather than hovering over the nest like they were. I guess even the parents know that their time in the nest is growing short.
This little guy was on the ground this evening. At first he seemed to be crying to get back to the nest, but then decided to explore around a little bit.
After discovering he could walk, he started to venture away from the tree to see what the big world had to offer.
Strutting around, he discovered he had wings and even tried them out a little. Not quite enough there for create any lift for flight, but he’s getting the idea.
Okay, enough exploring. It didn’t take long before he was ready to go back home. As soon as the parents went for dinner, I carefully scooped him up and placed him back in the nest with his siblings.
Once back inside the nest, it is pretty obvious that the parents didn’t plan on them staying here very long. The nest is very crowded with the three little ones there. They only need to stick it out a few more days and they will be on their way.
As these two seemed to be sticking close together, I could almost imagine them conspiring against the other one to make more room in the nest.
You can see here, just how crowed the nest has become. It is getting harder for them all three to fit down inside the nest. They seem to be taking turns “riding” the side of the nest for more room.
I know that for me that is an educational experience. Not only photographically, but also biologically, trying to understand the hows and whys of the nesting process. Hopefully, this will not be my last experience and I will be even better prepared the next time I have these types of visitors.
It will just be a few more days now and the nest will be empty. A part of me will be sad, but another part will be happy seeing them all three leave safe and healthy.