Nesting American Robins (continued)
Turdus migratorius

May 6 – Even though their eyes are still closed, the babies know how to get a good meal!

ThBaby American Robins demanding to be fed - Stamford, CT.

May 7 – Some fuzzy feathers are coming out.

The baby American Robins are beginning to show feather development - Stamford, CT.

May 7-8 - We helped keep the babies fed by supplying mealworms, but it was the parents that did the hard work.

American Robin with mealworms - Stamford, CT.

May 8 - The baby robins continue to develop, but still need parental care to keep them dry and warm in the rain.

Three Baby American Robins in Nest - Stamford, CT. American Robin on nest in the rain - Stamford, CT.

May 11 - At 4:00 p.m., the three babies are filling the nest and showing good signs of development. Wing feathers are coming in.

Three Baby American Robins showing signs of development - Stamford, CT.

Later that evening, we discovered that one of the babies was missing from the nest. Early the next day, the nest was empty. American Robins normally fledge between 14-16 days after hatching. Since the first had hatched on May 3, this was much too early.

May 13 - We had continued putting our mealworms in hopes that somehow the baby American Robins had survived. In the early afternoon of the thirteenth, I found one baby in a window well at our house. At first I thought it would be best to leave it there, feeling it was a safe area. However, it soon started fluttering and was unable to get out of the well so I picked it up and put it under a shrub. The parents were quite agitated while I held the baby, but soon quieted down.

Fledgling American Robin - Stamford, CT.

That was the last I saw of the baby, but the parents continued gathering the mealworms. We have had a few immature robins in the yard since then, and we hope that one of them was "our" baby.

Epilogue:
On June 25, I was surprised to see the adult robin sitting on the nest again. When she got off, I saw three eggs in the nest.

Brooding American Robin, Stamford, CT 3 American Robin Eggs in Nest, Stamford, CT

I continued monitoring the nest – there were no further eggs – and then on July 5, I saw that the first baby had hatched. I was unable to take any photographs because the branches obscured my view. Early on the morning of July 6, I checked the nest again, only to find it completely empty. I can only surmise that the neighborhood fireworks the night before had caused the mother to abandon the nest, leaving the baby and remaining eggs easy prey.

The First Page of the Nesting American Robins

American Robin in My Jacksonville, Florida Yard, Page 2 American Robin in My Jacksonville Yard, Page 1
American Robin in My Stamford, CT Yard More American Robin in My Stamford, CT Yard Images
American Robin at Sherwood Island State Park, Westport, Connecticut
Nesting American Robin, Prospect Park, Brooklyn, New York

More Stamford, Connecticut Yard Birds: Albino Common Grackle Bird Pictures Index
SongStar Home Write Me

Nesting American Robins (continued) Turdus migratorius

Nesting American Robins (continued)
Turdus migratorius