Our spring cleaning and repairs were temporarily interrupted when we discovered two robins making a nest outside our back door. They found our light fixture to be the perfect place. They got all sorts of material to make the base of the nest, including some shredded pieces of tarp that my son missed when cleaning up.
I had been aware of one of the robins all winter long. He would sit on the mirrors or top of our car or truck, leaving white or berry colored stains down the sides of the door. We called him Poopy and tried to shoo him away but weren't too concerned as we figured he would fly away come spring. Nope, Poopy found a mate and decided our yard was just the right place to start a family.
Robins construct their nest together over the course of a couple of weeks. Then the mama will lay eggs and sit on them most of the time while the papa keeps watch. This takes another two weeks. Some robins will dive bomb any intruders to the nest. Ours would just fly away, although one time Poopy puffed up his chest feathers to scare us away. We started using the back door only when necessary. If we needed something from the back yard, we would just walk around. Over time, the birds got used to us and woudn't take off unless we got very close.
One day, we noticed that Mama was sitting differently. We found a blue robin's eggshell in a far corner of the yard and knew that someone was hatched. A little later, my husband was able to get this picture inside the nest. Both parents were out catching worms so we took it very quickly and didn't touch anything. They are very deep in there but you can see the little balls of feathers.
It's been a few days since they were hatched and we can occasionally see little beaks poking out the top. They will be in the nest for about two weeks after hatching. Then, the babies will fledge and within a couple of days, they will fly away.
Robins will reuse nests if it is a good location, often laying another set of eggs as soon as the first babies are fledged. I haven't decided if we are going to lose the use of our back patio for that long. Probably. :)
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What a lovely share! (By the way, "PoopyFoundaMate" is a great name for a band.)
Jess, the Robin sitting in the nest built in the lights right there is just as precious as can be. Isn't that something how that momma bird built all that nestled in the lights. I love your entire story of Poopy the Robin.
And the babies, oh, I am just enthralled with it all. And to capture the little ones in their nest is remarkable.
GREAT photos, you really have got some incredible pictures here.
Thank you so much for sharing your feathered family, it gives me totally warm fuzzies to see this :)
Even though some things may be interrupted, they are beautiful!!!
I'm glad they aren't scared of us when we open the door anymore. I'll probably postpone painting the house on that side until they are all done with the next set of babies.
Beautiful!
Marg from England.
That's so funny Jess, having to wait to paint that side of your house because they're there. I sure understand and can relate.
We've got so many nests in the trees and shrubs, we have to wait also to have those trimmed for the same reason, we don't want to disrupt any of them in there, the birds nests.
I scared the only baby left in the nest yesterday and he flew away like a pro. No one has been in the nest since. I think that was the last time I'll see them unless Mama comes back to use the nest again. I'll keep it there for about another month or so before we take it down to paint.
Update: We allowed the robins to come back and have a second set of babies before we cleaned up the area. It was not very messy at all and the nest was very cool up close. I wish I had taken a picture.
Just a few days ago, my husband and I were cleaning up the back patio and getting ready for barbecue season. We saw two robins land on our fence together and just look at us. We both thought it was our sweet robin couple. We decided to let them rebuild the nest but they haven't yet. I hope they found a safer spot but I will miss watching them grow.
Hi Jess, I really enjoyed your "Poopy Robin's Family Nest" story. You are so very nuturing. Your story put a smile on my face while reading it. Before I sold my house, I always used to put a large hanging plant outside each side of the front door. One day in the spring, I went to go out the front doot, before I could lock the door, a bird flew out of the hanging plant and charged for my face. I just ducked in just the right time. When I looked later, I noticed a nest, with babies. From rhat day, we had to also start using our back door until the birds grew and flew away. We weren't quite as nuturing as you. It was just too close to the front door and potentially dangerous. But, it was fun watching the mama & papa bringing the babies food until they grew and flew! Thank you for sharing your story and reading mine!
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