A Fledgling Appears! (Day 15)

While gazing about the yard this morning, I noticed a bit of movement. Could it be? Yes! :-)

Can you pick out the fledgling?




Yup, you found it. Center of photo. Here's a crop of that same shot.

The Fledglings Four

In the morn, three chicks nested.
By afternoon, the nest emptied.

Do well, little ones!

Robins Day 13

This morning all four robins were back in the nest. Coming home from work this afternoon, I found one out of the nest and two within. I looked around the yard and bushes but didn't see number four. This evening the three remaining are all back in the nest.



Between work and mosquitoes, I've had little time to simply hang out in the yard and watch the behavior of the parents. Perhaps this weekend I can catch some robin family rituals.

Robins Day 13 from John Perry on Vimeo.

Robins Day 12

It's funny how things sometimes work out. I wasn't happy with the picture quality of my first round of shots--this one being an example.



On my remedial followup, mother robin waited not so patiently for me to clear out. She has no problem issuing cautionary squawks even with a full beak.



And look at this. Our first fledgling graduate. Just moments before, all four were nest bound.

Robins Day 11

It was rather hot today--in the high 80's F--and nearly record setting. Our little ones look none the worse. In fact, they look great!




Cornell estimates "nestling period" at 13 days. It's sure looking like a tight fit already!

Robins Day 10

They now barely fit in the nest but I suppose mother bird knew that when she was building.

Robins Day 9

They are all continuing to do well. Feathering in is progressing rapidly. Once again, today they remained crouched in the nest but with no sign of trying to exit the nest. Today I watched them from below--occasionally one would hang its head over the side of the nest.


Robins leave the nest at thirteen days old. I'll continue with daily photos as long as I feel that I'm not disturbing them too greatly. My daily sessions last for only a minute or so and only once per day.

Robins Starting Week 2

I'd read to expect a change a behavior, that they would begin to display fear. This afternoon they remained crouched in the nest and could not be induced to feed (by rubbing or tapping on the side of the nest).


Rather than bother the little ones further, I turned my movie making to mother bird.

Robin Mother from John Perry on Vimeo.

Robins and Openings

Eyes are wide open and that's not all!

Robins and Openings from John Perry on Vimeo.

Robin Chick Day 6

Isn't this growth just phenomenal? Wing feathers coming in strong... Eyes opening... The two facing us gave me a bit of open beak behavior before I could get the camera in place. I couldn't induce it after that. I'd read that just the sound of their mother approaching gets them begging.

Robin Chicks Day 6 from John Perry on Vimeo.

Robin Chicks Day 5

They are growing so quickly! Eat and sleep...

Robin Chicks Day 5 from John Perry on Vimeo.

Resting Robins

The little ones were relatively quiet this afternoon. I'm very careful to spend as little time as possible bothering them. Today's images took a bit more effort, juggling the umbrella and camera in today's showers. The babes stayed nice and dry.

Resting Robins from John Perry on Vimeo.

Robin... Yawn...

Are their eyes about to open? And look at those beaks! Our little ones are growing up so quickly...


A further note to email subscribers... I mentioned in yesterday's post that Vimeo movies do not embed well with Feedburner email. Today I noticed that nothing of the movie appears in the Comcast web mail reader. If you've not seen movies the past few days, do hop on or fly over to the blog directly!

Robin Chicks from John Perry on Vimeo.

Now There Are Four!

Look who's arrived! Number four! :-)


Here's Mother waiting for me clear out.

Robin Chicks

Dear email subscribers, Vimeo videos won't embeb into your email but the link above should take you to the video.

Robin Chicks

A quick check early Saturday morning showed three chicks. After wrapping up my chores, I got set up on the deck with a tripod in early afternoon. That last egg still hadn't hatched. But, do notice the holes and cracked surface (click image for a larger view). Let's hope number four makes its way out!


I've lost track of time... The last time I checked we had four eggs. Was that Friday evening? Or Wednesday? Ah well... No matter... Little ones still too young to raise their heads. See the little feet pushing and the tiny wings trying to beat. I wonder if they are dreaming of flying?

Here's a Vimeo version of the same movie. It allows for an expanded view.

Robin Chicks

Robin Eggs

Again this year, a robin nested under the deck. As I couldn't see into the nest, yesterday I slid a few fingers in and felt eggs rolling around. But today... I unscrewed a floor board from the deck and found myself a great view down into the nest. Now don't worry, I won't bother them very much and I will be sure that mother is off the nest before I take photos. And if things work out, we'll be getting to see little ones soon. :-)