edgeplot
Robin Fledgling
Fledgling American robin, Turdus migratorius.
A robin built a nest on top of the light fixture on my patio this spring. She laid four eggs, all of which hatched and survived to fledge. Last night, one of the chicks was perched on the edge of the nest, hinting toward imminent departure. Sure enough, by early morning the chicks had all left the nest except for this runt, about half the size of its three siblings and with feathers much less developed.
Throughout the day, both parents brought berries and worms to the three larger chicks, who hopped around the patio. The father made soft calls to them, particularly upon returning with food. Eventually, the chicks scrambled up a low retaining wall and into the cover of several shrubs.
Around noon, both parents broke into frantic alarm cries. I looked out onto the patio area just in time to see the flash of black and white hindquarters departing around the back of the house: one of the neighborhood feral cats had caught a chick. I dashed outside my back door and chased after the cat, who dropped his prize (incidentally, this is the same cat that is constantly spraying urine on my back door). The chick was still but breathing, and showed no signs of wounds, bleeding, or even ruffled feathers. I carefully scooped up the dazed chick and returned it to the bushes concealing its siblings, and after a few minutes it revived and scuttled off into the bushes.
Despite cries for food, the smallest chick was ignored while it remained safe in the nest. After a half day of neglect, it took the plunge and jumped down onto the patio, perhaps lured by the calls of its parents. Unfortunately, its legs and feathers were not as developed as those of its siblings, and it was unable to hop, flap or otherwise scramble up the retaining wall, off of the patio and into the safety of the garden bushes. After taking its picture, I scooped it up and set it down gently where its siblings were last seen.
Throughout the afternoon, both parents continued to bring food to the bushes where the fledglings were hiding. Near dusk, I spotted one of the larger chicks, and I noted the the parents were also bringing food to at least two locations, so presumably at least two chicks made it through the day. I can't confirm if this little guy made it.
Robin Fledgling
Fledgling American robin, Turdus migratorius.
A robin built a nest on top of the light fixture on my patio this spring. She laid four eggs, all of which hatched and survived to fledge. Last night, one of the chicks was perched on the edge of the nest, hinting toward imminent departure. Sure enough, by early morning the chicks had all left the nest except for this runt, about half the size of its three siblings and with feathers much less developed.
Throughout the day, both parents brought berries and worms to the three larger chicks, who hopped around the patio. The father made soft calls to them, particularly upon returning with food. Eventually, the chicks scrambled up a low retaining wall and into the cover of several shrubs.
Around noon, both parents broke into frantic alarm cries. I looked out onto the patio area just in time to see the flash of black and white hindquarters departing around the back of the house: one of the neighborhood feral cats had caught a chick. I dashed outside my back door and chased after the cat, who dropped his prize (incidentally, this is the same cat that is constantly spraying urine on my back door). The chick was still but breathing, and showed no signs of wounds, bleeding, or even ruffled feathers. I carefully scooped up the dazed chick and returned it to the bushes concealing its siblings, and after a few minutes it revived and scuttled off into the bushes.
Despite cries for food, the smallest chick was ignored while it remained safe in the nest. After a half day of neglect, it took the plunge and jumped down onto the patio, perhaps lured by the calls of its parents. Unfortunately, its legs and feathers were not as developed as those of its siblings, and it was unable to hop, flap or otherwise scramble up the retaining wall, off of the patio and into the safety of the garden bushes. After taking its picture, I scooped it up and set it down gently where its siblings were last seen.
Throughout the afternoon, both parents continued to bring food to the bushes where the fledglings were hiding. Near dusk, I spotted one of the larger chicks, and I noted the the parents were also bringing food to at least two locations, so presumably at least two chicks made it through the day. I can't confirm if this little guy made it.