Jun. 14, 2008

A Fledgling Has Left The Nest!

Last night before it was to dim to take any pictures I got one last shot of the two baby Robins in the nest with Mama....


And this morning there is only one left. Our second 'fledgling' has left the nest, and I think it was successful this time! There is no signs of it anywhere, so we're crossing our fingers that this one has made it safely to it's new perch. When the fledglings leave the nest and are successful at flying they don't return to the nest again. Instead they will join Daddy Robin on the tree branch he sleeps on :) Mama will continue to bring it some worms and it will remain there for roughly another 2 weeks before it is a 'good' flyer and then moves on by itself.

Do you know why baby Robins have speckled chests instead of bright red ones? To camouflage themselves in the brush and leaves below their nests. When the baby fledgling leaps from the nest and lands on the ground the color of it will give it some protection for hiding so that it won't be as easily spotted by predators. Their red breasts will grow in in a couple of weeks when the downy feathers are pushed out by adult feathers :)