Tag: American Robin

Getting Closer

by Mike

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.

Standing Watch

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.

Mom! I Fell Out Again!

After discovering he could walk, he started to venture away from the tree to see what the big world had to offer.

Who Needs Them Anyway?

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.

I've Got Wings and Legs!

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.

Mom! I'm Hungry!

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.

Stay On Your Side!

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.

Let's Kick Him Out Again!

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.

Crowded Nest

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.

Dinner Time!

by Mike

Here is today’s adventure in the new life of the tiny robins that have come to live in my tree.  My biggest battle this evening while taking their picture was the mosquitoes!  They are out in force tonight.  The birds need to get busy and eat these pests and do us all a favor!  It’s times like these that I’m all for that whole “circle of life” thing.  I can think of no better purpose for mosquitoes than to feed the birds!

Tonight, I witnessed both mom and dad working tag-team to feed the youngsters.  One would land and feed while the other would take off to hung more food.  Then they would swap places.  This was going on all evening. They are certainly putting away the grubs and worms.

The call goes out!  Mom!  Dad!  We’re hungry!

I'M HUNGRY!

As quick as they can, then hunt and return.  It is a steady stream of food for these young ones.

Mmmm. Good Worms

The little critters just don’t seem to fill up!  I can see why they grow up so quickly.  They take about 2 weeks to grow enough to leave the nest and take to the skies!

More Please

Not exactly sure what they are feeding this one, but it looks like either a snail or a slug.  Whatever it is, the babies are devouring them.

What Is That?

I didn’t take too many picture tonight because 1) those darn mosquitoes, and 2) I started getting the feeling I was bothering the parents.  I would hate to have them abandon the nest because of me.  As Moose Peterson says, “No photo is worth endangering your subject.”  Well said Moose.  Thanks for those wise words.

More shots as they grow!

New Life

by Mike

Things move pretty quick around here.  First it was the bunnies, and now this.  After discovering the robin’s nest in our tree, I decided to keep an eye on it and see what develops (photography pun).  Smile  Sure enough, when I got home today, the momma robin was on the nest making some very strange faces.  Since I’m not a biologist, nor am I an avid birder, I could only guess what was going on.  My thought, the egg(s) are hatching!!

Hatching

Knowing that I had a Bible Study to attend tonight, I thought it a good opportunity to try out my new timer control.  I set up my flash and the camera to take a picture every 15 seconds while I was gone.  I even made sure that there was an empty CF card in the camera to hold all the shots.  I could go to the Bible Study knowing that Canon was keeping an eye on the nest for me.

When I got home, I ran outside to see if momma was still on the nest, she wasn’t.  Still unable to see anything in the nest because I’m just not tall enough, I keep thinking I hear little chirps. Mom is no where to be found so I get as close as I can to the tree without disturbing anything, but I still cannot see inside the nest.

I anxiously brought everything in the house and began looking through the pictures.  It is then that I realized I should have also made sure there were fresh batteries in the flash because it stopped lighting the nest after about 15 minutes.  Still though, the pictures have enough light that I see the first sign that there are really is life in the nest.  A picture of Mom, with what looks like a worm in her mouth, perched to feed someone!

Mom with Dinner

At this point, I don’t even care that the pictures aren’t perfect.  I just want to see what’s next.  I keep going and finally, on the very last picture that was taken, I see proof positive that there is at lest one baby in the nest!  Very slow shutter speed, and it was on a timer, but I have proof!  The evening has been a success!

First Signs of Life

Now I know that it will only be a matter of time (a couple of weeks probably) before the little one will break our hearts and fly away to live it’s own life.  I guess that is actually the best I can hope for.  Until then, I’ll do my best to provide a safe environment for the little guy (or gal) to grow up and learn to spread his wings and fly!  God put them in my yard, I’ll be a good steward.