We have had a pair of American Robins come across some hard times this summer. Try as they might, they have been having trouble becoming parents. I first discovered the duo as they were building a nest in one of our shrubs. They managed this successfully and had laid several eggs to only be predated a few days later, all 4 of their pretty blue orbs smashed to smithereens below. I then watched as they tried for several days, unsuccessfully, to build a nest in the kids playhouse eaves. Apparently this was taking too much time for Momma because before I knew it, she was once again sitting in the original nest in the shrubs, laying eggs. Now this nest had lost a lot of it's stuffing and was dangerously askew, sitting at a precarious angle among the branches. And just as I feared, after a vicious storm, the nest was knocked loose and it and all of its precious cargo was once again smashed onto the rocks below. By now it was time to get serious, I mean summer is half over and still no babies! So the pair once again tackled the playhouse eaves with a fury, and between the two of them they managed to get quite a substantial nest built tucked up in the corner, with 3 beautiful baby blue eggs gracing it. The next couple of weeks I watched with bated breath for signs of life to come from the playhouse, until one morning I saw the telltale signs of busy parents feeding their babies. YAY! I run out to peek in and see.. 2 healthy baby birds. Wait a minute, what happened to the third? I can only assume that it was a dud egg from 3 times trying and was discarded when it did not hatch. So for several days I watch, seeing 2 heads poke up, mouths open wide as Momma comes to feed them. That is until the past few days.. You see, it has been unbearably hot, with temperatures soaring into the 100's. I decided yesterday to go check on the critters since it has been eerily quiet and snap a few photos and discovered this..
Only one baby remained, looking half dead, with no signs of the second. I watched it's labored breathing and even tapped it's bill a little to try to perk it up, to no avail.. I am assuming the heat has gotten to them, killing one (to be discarded by Momma) and torturing the other. I leave the playhouse with a heavy heart, with not much hope for the surviving hatchling, sure it would be gone by morning.
Today I see this..
It's still kicking! I am amazed as I watched Momma and Poppa, diligently flying in and out, feeding the survivor, it's feeble head reaching up everytime they come in to accepted the offered meal. What a fighter. And as the forecast is calling for slightly cooler weather the next few days, there may still be a chance yet for this persistent pair to successfully raise an offspring. I will keep you posted!
And I should mention that to get these pics I had to risk my life, as the Robins weren't the only winged inhabitants of the playhouse! These handsome guys were 6 inches from my head..
Let me tell ya, when one started to take flight you never saw me move more quickly! Mike will be tending to these fellas as soon as their neighbors move out..
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