It is time to bid the robin babies at Council Point Park a fond adieu.
This last month I’ve had a flurry of blog posts about babies – robins, goslings and even ducklings. The last group of robin chicks I’ve been monitoring has fledged, so all that is left now is an empty nest. My little feathered friends are nowhere to be found as they are now out and about in the Park.
I want to share some of the photos from the last few days.
Wednesday morning when I passed underneath their tree, I looked up to find two robin chicks sitting outside the nest. They looked a little woeful as they gazed toward the Creek, no doubt looking for Mama Robin to return with their breakfast. I wondered where the third chick was.
On the next time around the walking loop, once again I looked up and found the same pair of chicks, but this time they were gazing upward at that third chick that had flown, or hopped, from the nest onto a nearby branch. I grabbed the camera again because this little guy was wobbling back and forth, so I figured it was his “first fledge” and he was a little unsteady and unsure of himself.
Meanwhile, the remaining chicks near the nest had shifted their gaze upward to their brother (or sister) with a look of awe.
He peeped a few times and Mama Robin flew over to watch him and peeped back at him. I don’t understand “bird speak” but suddenly he hopped down to her branch and seemed more stable at this point.
With the camera in hand, I decided to linger to see if the pair of chicks would be inspired to take the big step, but they stayed put, perhaps afraid to venture out of that safe haven, or maybe sensing rebuke by Mama Robin for doing so.
On the third and final loop on the walking path, I noticed only one chick remained by the nest, waiting on breakfast or flying lessons, whichever came first.
The following morning, that familiar ritual of glancing up into the tree to scope out the doin’s in the nest was decidedly different. After four weeks of monitoring Mama Robin, first sitting on the nest incubating the eggs, then keeping her hatchlings warm (it was still quite chilly the beginning of May), followed by watching those scrawny hatchlings evolve into cute chicks, and now fledglings, this time my glimpse of the nest netted a big zero, because the nest was totally empty.
But, I was rewarded with a peek at the trio of fledglings, all present and accounted for and perched on various branches. Just like their one brave sibling the day before, they all were still a little unsteady on their feet, perhaps owing to their lack of tail for balance, shortened wings, plus the fact that Mama Robin obviously never suggested to her brood that they pick a twiggy perch that could support their weight so they did not have to sit sideways while the branch sagged a little beneath them.
My favorite photo of these two days is the one I chose as the header image for this post. To me, the fledgling was wearing a look of “woe is me” as he balanced precariously on a lightweight branch. I want to put a thought bubble over his head that says “now I am out in the world, what the heck do I do next?” I love those disheveled downy feathers on his head and that disgruntled look rivals the image of either the “Mad Bluebird” or “Grumpy Cat”.
Mama Robin was spearheading this fledging campaign but even though her brood is now “fully fledged” she was still mothering them.
I watched as she brought food, and, just as she arrived and alighted onto the branch where her youngster was perched, he opened wide for that morsel of food that Mama had brought for him.
You can kick ‘em out of the nest, but they still come home for some of Mama’s food … in this case, she does not do laundry too. (Smile)
I have enjoyed watching nature up close with this Spring’s baby boom. With the robins fledged and departed from that tree, all that remains for me now is watching the goslings as they progress toward adulthood. I wanted to see the swans with their cygnets riding on their back, and, Mike, one of the walkers who often visits the riverfront at Dingell Park, said he has not seen any, and he even asked the fishermen to keep their eyes peeled for them. My visits to that venue were few and far between due to our many rainy weekends throughout May. I guess I will have to wait for next Spring now.
Several people at the Park have asked if I’ve seen any baby squirrels and I’ve told them “no” but that question prompted me to research a little about my furry friends and their young. I’ve Googled for images of baby fox squirrels to get an idea of characteristics, coloring and the size of the babies, which are known as “kits” or “kittens”. I learned that mating season is December to February and also from May until June and that the babies are born blind and dependent on their mothers for the first two or three months of their life. When proper introductions to squirrel kin and their young’uns are made, I’ll be sure to include them in this blog.
Linda Schaub
WALKIN', WRITIN', WIT & WHIMSY 
Great shots! Wonderful that the babies made it! 🙂
https://www.perkypet.com/articles/what-to-feed-squirrels
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Glad you liked them Tom. I was sorry to see them fledged after checking out that nest on a near-daily basis for nearly a month. They looked rather wobbly out of their safe haven but Mama was still taking care of them. She can rest easy that the red-winged blackbird won’t try to harm them in the nest.
That was an interesting link on what to feed squirrels. And also what they eat – not nice to read they like baby birds – I have a new feeling about my squirrel pals now.
I have taken an apple or pear to the Park with me and sometimes when I’ve gotten a buy one, get one free bag of small apples, taken many of the apples with me, setting them along the pathway. They don’t go for them right away, come begging for peanuts. There is an apple tree and berry bushes in the Park and they eat a lot of them in the Summer. They are also feasting on pinecones. Maybe I will get some walnuts for my pals next time I’m at the store. The safflower seeds did NOT go over well with the cardinals, even the ones in the neighborhood. They keep scamming peanuts instead, but I do buy Hampton Farms and they are jumbo, no-salt and for human consumption. Only the best for the critters!
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I think it depends on the squirrels; not all squirrels are baby bird eaters.
I’d watch it with the peanuts; human grade doesn’t mean it’s safe; a good percentage of human grade have the fungus and birds can’t fight it like we can.
They’ll go for other stuff in time.
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Wonderful creatures and a great post! Happy new month dear🙌✌️
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Thanks Sharon – same to you and enjoy your weekend!
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This is a wonderful account of the robins. Most enjoyable!
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Thanks Anne and I’ll miss seeing them every morning. Unless there is a second or third brood, that will be it. I doubt the parents will build a nest in that tree due to all the interference from the red-winged blackbird. I was concerned he was going to harm those babies. I don’t know how many eggs she laid to begin with … it is usually four maximum.
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It’s been fun to watch them grow! I love that first shot… it looks like he has old man eyebrows.
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I thought it was fun too Janis. The last family of robins was about ready to fledge when I discovered the nest in the eaves trough, but these I’ve followed for about a month. They looked a little timid and scared to be out and about on their own. I liked those two white tufts too and along with his disgruntled face made that picture. 🙂
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Great they have started their journey loved following it.
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I am glad they are safe and on their way too Andy. I loved following them as well and worried about their fate with that bully red-winged blackbird. I hope if the parents build another nest for their next brood(s) they build somewhere where that bird cannot prey on the eggs/young.
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Great post really enjoyed that
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Thanks Michael – I had fun following them every morning.
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I love at first photo! So true about them coming home for a meal (or laundry) LOL! Have a great weekend.
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That was my favorite photo too Ruth. I had to put that line in because it is true … hey, they want to be big birds, but still enjoying Mama’s meals. 🙂 You have a great weekend as well. Today at least it is cool and maybe sunny … tomorrow rain again. Good for you though.
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Linda, I came to my computer just so I could comment. I have loved following your birds/nest adventure! These photos are just amazing! Those birds with their fluffy feathers just leaving the nest…♥♥♥
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Jill – thanks for going to your computer to comment; I appreciate it. I was thinking of sending the link to you on Facebook since you are following your robin babies as well, just so we could compare notes. 🙂 I enjoyed following this family from start to finish and they grew so big in the last week – it is just amazing. They were wearing the most perplexed looks and you could just tell it was such a new and probably overwhelming experience for them. I thought I’d melt when the mom came along to feed them … big enough to fly, but you’re still my babies. Just so sweet.
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Beautiful pictures of the robins😊 It’s very fun to follow the story about your birds.😊
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John – Glad you liked these pictures of the robins. While I was sad to see them leave the nest and “their tree” I feel lucky to have been able to watch them investigate the big wide world outside their nest and venture forth timidly. 🙂 How do I match that experience and cute pictures?
I went to the Detroit River this morning to take some photos – it was dark and gray and gloomy and cold. The temperature dropped to the 50s last night and there was a breeze down on the river – the fishermen were in jackets or hooded sweatshirts pulled up over their head to keep them warm. I took a ton of pictures, and am uploading them now and will pick through them later – hopefully they are not too dark.
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That bottom shot, especially, is precious! 🙂
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I liked that one too Tom, so cute watching that baby open wide and that is quite a big mouth to feed.
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great shots Linda! You always work hard trying to get interesting shots!
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Thanks Wayne! I am glad you saw these because I was pretty pleased with this post and these shots. After monitoring this nest and the mother robin for a month, these photos were my reward. I was worried about the chicks because several times I came upon a bully red-winged blackbird who chased her off her nest, leaving the hatchlings alone. I lured him to the ground with peanuts and she got back on the nest, so who knows what happens when I’m not around? I’m glad they made it and fledged. Watching their apprehensive first flight was just the best experience for me!
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your like a Mother Goose to them!
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They’re cute! I enjoyed how you gave them their own story! 💞
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Thanks – I am glad you enjoyed it. I have to say of all the posts I’ve written this last 5+ years, that ranks up there with my favorites. They were so fun watching them grow up.
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Miss Linda…………………………..those pictures of the little robins are so precious……………………your opening pic of the little Robin has to make everyone smile…………………it takes patience to stand still like you did and get those awesome photos
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Ann Marie – I had to send you the link as I knew you somehow missed those pictures, the final sage of my following the robins. I did those pictures over two days … watched them patiently, even foregoing part of my walk each day to stand there with the camera focused on them ready for something to happen to take their picture. They were so cute hopping up to the branch above – baby steps. 🙂 I am glad you enjoyed them.
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The fuzzies on their little heads cracked me up. 🙂
Kudos to tufts! Wish I had more myself. *\/* T
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Yes me too! I figured they would give you a smile and that’s why I wanted you to see them. Janis, one of the bloggers commented that robin up top with the white tufts looked like he had “old man eyebrows”. 🙂
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Thank you for sending me here, Linda! These pictures are wonderful ~ I enjoyed seeing the little ones start to explore and make sense of their world. 💕
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Glad you liked the pictures Barbara – they were so cute and I really enjoyed following them. Once I saw a male Red-winged Blackbird trying to steal the eggs, then a week or so later he was trying to get to the hatchlings, so I went over each time and shooed it away and made lots of noise and Mama Robin came back and chattered at him one time and dive bombed him another time. The header image of the baby with the tufts of feathers made me smile – he looked serious, yet disheveled. 🙂 I was disappointed in the Fall of 2020 when a tree cutter took all the low-hanging branches off each tree – there went any chance of peeking at nests for a while. They cut down several trees which were pretty and healthy as far as I could tell – a Blue Spruce and a Redbud, both which made nice backdrops for photos.
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I have read that robins like to make their nests in the lower branches of trees so it’s too bad the cutters took away their preferred habitat. Sometimes I wonder how these decisions are made.
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I talk to an older man who has been walking there for years and we agreed that the tree cutters just came along with no rhyme or reason and cut down trees – there was plenty of brush that could be cut down to enable us to view the Creek, but they cut down viable trees, especially the Redbud tree, which made a nice picture with the goslings as Mom and her brood always milled around near there. There were no Robin’s nests last Summer. I wonder who decides too for these matters? I was disappointed to see what thy did.
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😦
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