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Up close with Mrs. Robin’s baby birds (photos)

Up close with Mrs. Robin’s baby birds (photos)

Last updated on: May 20, 2014 at 5:12 pm by Joanne Brokaw

Up close with Mrs. Robin’s baby birds (photos) 2014-05-20T17:12:23-04:00 Joanne Brokaw

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The view from the robin’s nest. Darling husband working on a project, Bandit barking at the gate.

The good news with today’s update on Mrs. Robin and her babies is that egg #4 is still in the nest. Whether or not it’s going to actually hatch is another story.

The three babies, beaks, open. One looks over the edge of the nest; is he thinking about flying? Underneath the top bird, the last egg is hidden. Will it hatch?

But the three babies who are here are growing by leaps and bounds! They’re holding their heads up with beaks open in anticipation of breakfast. Their feathers are starting to come in. Just a few days ago they looked like science projects, and today they’re starting to look like actual birds.

Just a few days ago, the nestlings looked like prehistoric creatures. Now their feathers are starting to grow and the look more like baby birds.

Their scrawny, naked bodies are starting to sprout downy feathers.

I’m fascinated watching Mrs. Robin care for her babies, especially as they grow. When they were just eggs, she was less frantic. As the days go by, though, she seems more nervous.

She sees me come outside with the camera, and she gives me a good scolding, even if I just sit across the yard and try to catch a photo with the zoom. When I’m in the garage attic, just a pane of glass between me and her babies, she lets me get one or two photos and then she starts squawking at me, flying by and hovering. If I step back into the shadows, waiting for a photo of her with the babies, she sits on the edge of nest and stares into the darkness of the attic, waiting for me to make even the slightest move. Then I get another scolding. It’s only when she sees me leave the garage through the door under her nest that she settles back in.

One of the babies reaches up for whatever Mrs. Robin brought home for dinner.

I’m trying hard not to disturb her; she has to leave the nest so I try and sneak a photo when she’s already gone. But it’s clear that even if she’s out worm hunting she’s got one eye on her nest. Fortunately, she seems to have settled on a truce with me: She flies away and waits in a nearby tree so I can go into the garage, take a photo, and then leave. I’m grateful – this is such a fascinating journey, watching these robin babies.

If you’ve missed any posts, you can read more about Mrs. Robin and see photos of her nest building, the eggs and the babies.

Mrs Robin and her eggs

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