Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Returning Robin

Every year for the past maybe 5 years there is a Robin that builds a nest in a stick wreath that hangs on the front of our house.
This year she built on top of the wreath, penthouse nest I guess! It is so interesting to watch her work so hard to collect all the materials to put that well built little nest together. Back and forth she goes, piece of ornamental grass, some clippings from the lawn, other pieces of gone by plant material. All of these things expertly put together into a little bowl shaped next that this year is home to 3 eggs.
I've never done any research on it but my guess is she has several "litters" every year.
After the eggs hatch it is amazing the to watch Momma Robin collect food to bring back to the babies. She does
Not stop! I leave for work at 5:30 every morning and she is already up gathering worms.
On the days when I am home I can see her fly by the front window over and over again bringing home a nice fresh worm for the newly hatched little birds.
It's so
Amazing to watch this process, from
Nest building, to eggs in the nest, to
little birds incapable of living on their own to one day an empty nest. I see them as they grow, their little beaks stick upward, open, cheeping away for food. Eventually their heads are up above the top of the nest, as I approach they slowly lower themselves down into the nest and become quiet. Then one day, silence. They have left the nest. I always hope they enjoyed where they grew up and will return to build their own nest in my yard.
Red breasted robin
With the eggs of blue
Hatched in a nest
How quickly you grew
Fly away fly away
Enjoy your quest
Come back next year
And build your own nest

1 comment:

  1. Sorry I didn't see this soon, Dave. Reminds me of my childhood! I love those robin egg blue eggs! Thanks for sharing!

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