Robin Nursery, August 25, 2025. 354 words

Sometimes Mother Nature brings new life up close and personal. In a small lilac bush outside my office window, I am a witness to the growth, care and feeding of a family of three baby robins. About three weeks ago, John noticed active nesting activity in the bush leaves hidden except for the parents coming and goings. By the end of the week, the female is sitting on her brood. She doesn’t leave the nest until after chicks are hatched.
We had a hard rain with an inch of rain. The robin hunkered down on her brood keeping them safe and warm. Baby chicks open their eyes after 5 days. The three babies keep their mouths open, ready to receive offered food. The male robin will help to find food. He feeds the mother who regurgitates the food for the chicks.
I can hear the baby’s cheeping signals the return of one of the adult birds. When I walked too close to the bush, the adult robin dove at my head, making much noise. I later learned this warned the chicks to hide deep in the nest for protection.
I am content to listen at the window and get verbal descriptions of the families antics from my husband.
In another week, the oldest of the birds will step outside the nest to teeter on the edge before taking a first flight. The young robins will return to the nest to be fed for another two weeks.
Since this is August, I assume this is the second family for this pair of robins. It is a joy when nature is so close at hand.
The female robin is light gray with light orange breast feathers. This is in contrast to the male’s dark gray body with bright red breast feathers makes him the center of attention. The chicks are are speckled brown and white. Their colored breast feathers will develop as they mature. Until then, I will enjoy the peeping of the family.
***. poem
Family affair
Carry, drop, twigs, leaves.
They labor weaving tight nest.
For summer’s last brood.
carolaspot@aol.com
copyrighted 8/25/2025