Mummy and Daddy Robin have chicks! A couple of days ago I peeped into the nest, standing on an upturned stone pot. Amidst that pile of leaves is a compact cup-shaped structure, but I couldn't see anything. Neither of the Robins were present and I wondered if there were eggs so I very gently reached into the nest. I felt something warm and soft, quickly withdrew my hand and up popped some little heads with beaks wide open. I don't know how many there were as I was too excited to stay long enough to count. I went running to the house to tell hubby that there were chicks in the nest only to be firmly rebuked for having felt inside it. He's right and I wont do it again now that I know there are babies there.
The Robin parents are on the go all day long, bringing food to the babies..... then in the early evening the female sits on the nest with them. I'm doing as little work in the greenhouse as possible so that they can get on with the feeding undisturbed. When I need to do potting on, etc. I have a table on the patio where I can work and catch glimpses of them flying in and out of the greenhouse window.
I said before that I wouldn't release Harry into the wild until he was at least the size of a Nasturtium seed. That time has come, so I've begun the process of hardening him off..... just like a plant. I think it would be too big a shock to his little system to put him outside after being in the warmth of the house for so long. I've been putting his jar outside during the day and bringing him in for the night. Gradually, I'll leave his jar out all night until I think he'll be accustomed to the temperatures outdoors, then I'll take him from his jar and find a safe place to leave him. Shouldn't I just keep him protected for a while longer..... until he's the size of a pea perhaps.... or an olive.... or a chestnut.... or a....... I knew this would happen!
I'm harboring eggs, too, and wondering when they'll hatch. My cat killed a bird yesterday, and I'm praying it wasn't the mama.
ReplyDeleteWhat a sweetie you are to be so caring for so many critters!
Your a mum!!!
ReplyDeleteI can tell you are thrilled somehow. Wait until there ready to fledge though, just like Harry.
Its tough being a mum and letting them leave home, whether it be kids, birds OR snails............aye its tough being a mum.
Its lush though , i bet.
John
How strange was that Lesley? you know the word you get so you can post? Well, it was aliter. I know it wasn't a litter, but that's what i thought of. you know, babies, litters, all that stuff.
ReplyDeleteAren't i strange?, or daft.
John
Hi Ethelmae. Oh, I hope it wasn't the mum too. Let us know the outcome of the eggs. :) And I hope the flooding has stopped over there in Tennessee.... I've been thinking about you.
ReplyDeleteI'd no problems letting the kids go John! :O)
ReplyDeleteIt's lovely having a family of robins in the shed..... we're hoping that all goes well for them when they leave the nest. That's the most dangerous time for them before they can fly properly, as you'll know. Hubby had a quick peep in while the parents were off in search of food and there are four chicks!
aliter.... wow, yes that was a coincidence! Those words make me chuckle sometimes with some of the combinations the system comes up with. I'm easily kept amused. :D
I feel like congratulating you on your new arrivals...I hope they have long happy lives:-)
ReplyDeleteIt will be hard to let Harry go. My children used to mark their pet snails with a small dot of paint so they could always see what they were up to. They also did the same to a wasp once (goodness knows how)and I thought it was some rare and exotic insect until they came home from school and put me straight:-D
Hi Helen. I've never heard of anyone marking a wasp before..... the mind boggles as to how they achieved that! :O)
ReplyDeleteUhhhm, If I were to suggest Lesley that you name one of the chicks Richard O'Sullivan! Would you be the only to get the joke if I said something about it been Robins nest!
ReplyDeleteHey Gf, you're much too young to know of that t.v. programme! It was one of my favourites. :D
ReplyDeleteBaby Robins, what a treat. Helen's idea of marking Harry's shell sounds like a good'n, that way you'll recognise him as one of your own when he comes home for the weekend to get his washing done.
ReplyDeleteLol Linda, I can just see Harry with a hankie tied on a stick, containing his dirty washing! The only thing that prevents me from marking his shell is that, should anything nasty happen, I'd know it was him! :O
ReplyDelete