THE ROBINS NEST

THE ROBIN'S NEST

We have a family of robins nesting on our patio. I am going to follow their family until the babies grow and leave the nest. This post is for the Grandkids to follow, so keep checking and I will update the photos on a regular basis.

The family of Robins built their nest around the middle of April. It took the Momma Robin about 5 days to build the perfectly symmetrical nest using mud mixed with grass and small twigs. She used her bill and feet to mold the nest into a cup shape. then she added a fine lining of grass. The mom laid the clutch of eggs and of course, they are robin egg blue. The eggs are about the size of a quarter. It takes about two weeks to incubate the eggs. During this time the Momma Robin sits on the eggs while the Dad Robin guards the area. The eggs should be hatching into nestlings any day now.

This is the dad Robin, He spends a lot of time guarding the nest by dive bombing you if you get to close. He gets very upset when anyone gets to close to the nest. Mostly he eats worms and berries while he waits for the eggs to hatch.

This is the Momma Robin. She sits on the eggs to keep them warm and can only be off the eggs for a short time to eat and drink. When the eggs hatch the mom and dad spend most of their time feeding the nestlings. The babies prefer worms and they keep the parent hopping to feed them. They eat about 100 worms a day.

May 8th Baby Robins Day 1

The Babies hatched out last night. The temperature dropped below freezing last night but the Mamma kept them warm. When I checked on them this morning the mom and dad were both feeding them.

MAY 9th Baby Robins Day 2
The momma and dad are taking turns covering them for warmth. While one is in the nest the other is out gathering food. In two days they have doubled their size.

May 10th
Baby Robins Day 3
I have built a blind close to the nest so that I can get some close ups.

Robin fact: The Robin is one of the first birds to sing in the morning and is one of the last to be heard at night. They are one of the few birds to sing all year long.

If they bring a big night crawler to the nest they will tear it into small pieces to feed the nestlings.

MAY 11th Baby Robins Day 4

It is a rainy day and it is good for catching worms. It is cool enough that one parent will set on the fledglings while the other hunts for food. I was able to get both parents in this shot. Normally the parent sitting on the nest will fly of as the other arrives.

Fact: Robins usually live for six years, but can live up to 14 years.

May 12th Baby Robins Day 5

The babies are starting to get pin feathers. This is the first time that I have seen all four
Nestlings. I thought the runt of the of the family had died but as you can see their are four little heads in this picture.
Fact: Nestlings take about 2 weeks to develop feathers before leaving the nest.

The Dad is a great provider.

May 13th Baby Robins Day 6

It takes a lot of work to keep this family fed.

Fact: Robins make a musical phrase, Cheerily, cheer up, cheer up, cheerily, cheer up.

MAY 17th Baby Robins Day 10
Wow! I go out of town for a couple of days and look what happened to the babies. lots of feathers and their eyes are open

May 18th Baby Robins day 11

Beeks and eyeballs. The nestling are always hungry and both parents take turns guarding and feeding. We have a crow that is hanging around but the parents are feerless and dive bomb the crow to run it off.

May 20th Baby Robins Day 13

The fledgling left the nest today. This was the last to leave. They will spend a few days on the ground with thier parents teaching them how to catch worms and bugs. In thirteen days they when from eggs to the fledglings flying off. amazing!

May 22nd Life is good!

Hope you enjoyed!!!

BIRDS

I found a pair of Oprey Hawkes that are building a nest. The male is doing most of the work. I have seen him bring in 5 foot branches, small sticks and weeds to consrtuct the nest. I am going to photograph them all summer so watch for updates.

I shot this photo when colleen and I were watching the grandkids. It is one of my all time favorite pictures with the reflection of the goose and weeds.

Every spring Sage Grouse congregate on traditional strutting grouds called leks. I took this photo by Arco April 24th. The males put on quite a show trying to impress the ladies.

BUFFALO

On a recent trip to Bozeman Montana I put my self into harms way, got the wind in my face and let these Buffalo feed into me. At 15 yards you can get some great pictures. He turned his head and the morning light lit up his eye..

This guy was dozing in the afternoon sun on a ridge above the Madison river.

This was the Bull I worried about the most you can tell by the crazy look in his eye.

This Bull was above the Madison River.

This stud walked buy at 10 yards. I like how the light is catching his eye.

I got lucky and caught a herd crossing the Madison river.

BIGHORN PICS

BIGHORNS NEAR JACKSON HOLE 3-6-2010

ELK HEAVEN

ARCHERY ELK HUNT 2009

IF YOU HAVEN'T EXPERIENCED SOMETHING LIKE THIS YOU HAVEN'T LIVED!