Diary of a Robin
May 23, 2006 a robin's nest was discovered perched on some fencing underneath our back deck.
The nest held 3 eggs, and a 4th egg was spotted on the ground beneath the steps.
It was learned that a young neighbour had handled at least one of the eggs.
I wonder if that was the egg on the ground.
A few days later there were only 2 eggs left in the nest. No sign of the missing egg was ever found.
Then on June 2, 2006, 2 eggs were in the nest in the morning, 2 baby birds were there in the afternoon.
On June 3, 2006 Mother Robin watched from close by as I snapped the day's pictures of her babies sleeping.
June 4, 2006, They're growing. Do they look just a little bit more grey?
June 5, 2006 What a difference a day makes. The babies have grown to close to twice their size,
their skin is not as pink and the ridges have a dark grey colour, as do the feathers.
Their beaks are also bigger and though they still sleep a lot, they have been seen
with their heads tipped up and beaks open waiting for Mom.
Noon
8 p.m.
June 6, 2006 8 a.m.
Can you see wing feathers taking shape on the baby on the right?
The ear hole on the baby on the left can also be seen clearly today.
June 6, 2006 Noon Once again, the wing feathers can be clearly seen on the bird on the right.
June 6, 2006 4 p.m. And the story ends here.
The nest is empty, but undamaged, exactly as it was at noon.
Yesterday the mother robin was missing for such a long period of time we began to wonder
if something had happened to her, but she returned in the evening.
Now we wonder if she had been building a new nest to move the babies to.
Every time anyone walked on the deck she was disturbed and flew out of the nest.
Perhaps she decided this high traffic area wasn't a good place for a home afterall.
A few days later there were only 2 eggs left in the nest. No sign of the missing egg was ever found.
Then on June 2, 2006, 2 eggs were in the nest in the morning, 2 baby birds were there in the afternoon.
On June 3, 2006 Mother Robin watched from close by as I snapped the day's pictures of her babies sleeping.
June 4, 2006, They're growing. Do they look just a little bit more grey?
June 5, 2006 What a difference a day makes. The babies have grown to close to twice their size,
their skin is not as pink and the ridges have a dark grey colour, as do the feathers.
Their beaks are also bigger and though they still sleep a lot, they have been seen
with their heads tipped up and beaks open waiting for Mom.
Noon
8 p.m.
June 6, 2006 8 a.m.
Can you see wing feathers taking shape on the baby on the right?
The ear hole on the baby on the left can also be seen clearly today.
June 6, 2006 Noon Once again, the wing feathers can be clearly seen on the bird on the right.
June 6, 2006 4 p.m. And the story ends here.
The nest is empty, but undamaged, exactly as it was at noon.
Yesterday the mother robin was missing for such a long period of time we began to wonder
if something had happened to her, but she returned in the evening.
Now we wonder if she had been building a new nest to move the babies to.
Every time anyone walked on the deck she was disturbed and flew out of the nest.
Perhaps she decided this high traffic area wasn't a good place for a home afterall.