Robins nest

Last year a couple of Robin's tried unsuccessfully to built a nest underneath our deck. They tried really hard but nothing would stick, so they gave up.
This year, they were back, trying even harder to built a nest, schlepping on material for at least ten more nests, but the spring winds would blow everything away. Obviously in the end they did succeed, building one nest that would not be destroyed by the wind.

I can see the nest when sitting at my downstairs desk, and it was a pleasure to observe this little family over the last few weeks. I even got very protective of them.



When it was clear that there were eggs in it, and later I could see little wobbling Dinosaur heads appear over the edge of the nest, even the dogs had noticed them. Whenever we were out on the deck, Denny and Happy would run to the spot, where the chicks were right underneath, they started digging, and chewing the boards to get to them. Adding to that it was really hot, and the sun was burning down on the little birdies, through the cracks. Well, I put a towel on the boards, and put the drying rack on it, so it would not be blown away, giving them some shade. I did have to shoo away Denny every time we were out there, because a towel could not stop him from trying.

I watched the parents feeding them. Bringing on worms and caterpillars en masse, stuffing them into the waiting peaks. I noticed that they made sure every one of them got their throats stuffed, even if the strongest stretched out their neck above the others.

Over the last few days I saw that the nest was quite crowded. The three birdies lived in cramped space, and today one was pushed out of it. It was sitting beside the nest, wanting back in, but the other two would not allow it. Here he's watching me from the front. Then I walked to the other side...


... and here he didn't notice me yet.... (his chest is starting to get the brownish-red color of Robins), AND can you see how they managed to smear poop on the roof of their home? :o)



... but it didn't take that long, until he spied me.


It was funny, because the two still in the nest thought, the one pushed out was now in a position to feed them, since it was the place where the parents sat when bringing home food.
After I took this last photo, and turned away, Maggie dropped a squeaky ball right underneath the nest, and with a startling whoosh, all three of them took off, barely clearing the surface of the pool, but they made it into the nearest tree.
Will be interesting to see if they come back to the nest for the night. I don't know if birds do that, once they are out of the nest, but I guess not.
♥ ♥ ♥