More, what a blast!

There's another robin family in the garden, 4 newly fledged kids, 3 in the bushes, 1 on the ground. The "groundling" will get its act together soon, but for now it has difficulty swallowing, glugged over a big berry, and carried a worm around in its mouth for five minutes. Think spaghetti hanging loose.

Meanwhile, in the nest on Maternity Row the quads continue to grow in size and fame. They're going to be the most photographed babies in the neighborhood. The nest is so crowded that sometimes it's hard to tell where one fluff ball begins and another ends. When they all start testing their little wings it could become perilous. For now it is a very funny jumble of feathers, fuzz, wings, beaks and big feet.

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The best show in the neighborhood

I was going to write about the beauty of Central Park in the summer, but I never got beyond the garden path, Maternity Row. The baby robins are growing and putting on a wonderful juvenile show. There's one neighbor who's wheelchair-bound. She can sit for hours and watch the robin antics. Other people stop in their tracks, gawk, run back home for their cameras. There isn't anyone who isn't enthralled by the jack-in-the-box sight as they pop up for a food delivery and as goofy as the babies are looking now, they are adorable. The nest is crowded and is going to get more crowded. The parent robins know what they're doing, so with luck nobody will tumble out of this nest before being fledge-ready.

Meanwhile the mourning doves are doing their thing. Mama incubates all night. Papa incubates all day. There is construction taking place over their heads and they don't seem to be disturbed. The "changing of the guard" takes place in about 3 seconds, approximately 10 a.m. and 5p.m. I've missed it every time.

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One week mark

The first hatchling appeared one week ago today. Look at the first post. Now their eyes are open. They're tracking movement. They have feathers and fuzz and their antics are terrific. There's a lot that goes on under mama's tummy and this little nest is going to get awfully crowded. From 10a.m. this morning till 5p.m. this afternoon I think they all grew an inch each. The daily activity includes begging for food, eating, pooping, napping, preening, stretching little limbs,begging, eating, pooping, napping, preening, stretching, etc. Neighbors walk by and admire the little family. Only one arrogant dope insisted on walking right up to the nest and looking in. Across the path and a few feet north is the fuse box with the nesting mourning doves on top, so this stretch of path has now been named "Maternity Row".

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Real little kids

It is one week since first baby hatched. The growth is astonishing. Worms = head fuzz. I wonder if it would work for people. Mama is feeding kids fire flies. I wonder if their innards light up.

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In Memory, Beverly Sills

Tomorrow, July 2nd, marks the first anniversary of the death of the extraordinary American soprano, Beverly Sills. Comedy, tragedy, and everything in between, she gave the audience inspiring performances. She performed in a time when there were no translation machines. They were not necessary. The audiences understood and were enthralled. What she presented was done with total respect for the integrity of opera as an exquisite art form, no distortion. It was hard work - the preparation, the dedication, the sacrifices- but she made every performance seem easy. This is posted as a deep thank you. The performances were thrilling. I will never forget.

Growing fast, 7/1/08 a.m.

The growth rate for the nestling robins is very fast. They're going to go the equivalent of nursery school to Junior High School in about two weeks. The little wing feathers are appearing. This nest is going to get very crowded. And the mourning doves are back, but that's another tale.

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