An Empty Nest

After 4 weeks of watching mama robin incubate her beautiful blue eggs and then care for her adorable fluffy babies the nest is finally empty.

(Fledged - August 1, 2009)

I watched the babies fly out the day they fledged. At first the brave one tested one wing outside of the nest.



Then it hopped onto a branch and just wobbled a bit.



Finally it took flight for a very short distance as mama bird waited for it to land on the ground. Then it's sibling made the leap. Finally the 2 of them (one egg sadly never hatched) hopped under the protective shelter of a conifer where mama was waiting. They seemed far too young to my inexperienced eyes for them to leave the nest, but it was getting crowded in there as they grew. Of course mama will continue to watch them, guide them, feed them, and care for them until they are much older but all of that will take place away from the nest.

I must admit I'm sad to see them go, but happy they are starting a life of their own. I used to talk to them every day when I went out the back door to water the flowers and they always stared at me with those big beautiful innocent eyes.

(Eggs laid July 6, 2009)

(2 days after hatching - July 22, 2009)

(7 days after hatching - July 27, 2009)

(10 days after hatching - July 30, 2009 - not quite ready to leave the nest, but almost)

And so life goes on.... another miracle has unfolded before me.

They Hatched!

This morning I heard the sounds of sweet peeps coming from the burning bush outside our great room window. I quickly ran to get my camera since I knew that sound could only mean the robin eggs have finally hatched. They must have hatched sometime late yesterday because earlier in the day when I looked there were still only eggs in the nest.


Look at how precious they are. So very small they can't even lift their heads up to feed but Mama is bending down to feed them and Papa is standing guard while she does. I only see two hatched in the nest and there were 3 eggs. I'm not sure if a third baby is hiding beneath the other two or if it just hasn't hatched yet. Either way I hope it's still alive.

I'll keep photo journaling this wonderful sight and share it with you as things progress.