The big kids

Time for an interlude.  Big babies seen on June 22nd. I'm trying to stay away, because the hawk paparazzi who don't obey rules of nature really make me nervous.  There are a couple of guys who don't understand the need to stay back. Their ethic is, "have camera so I have the God-given right to do anything I feel like doing".  First rule totally forgotten, DO NO HARM. These hawk images were taken with powerful telephoto lens that doesn't require cramping the hawks' space.

Back in the garden.  Looking for cardinal family. Will search more today. Meanwhile the young robins are finding their way.

First day out of nest. One doesn't realize how big the fledglings are, because it's not possible to see their legs when they're in the nest.

Hooray for mulberries. Hundreds of birds are gorging.

Cooling off at the "beach".

This was cool.  Big lens not exactly the right lens for this subject, but it's what I had.

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Later in the afternoon

Late afternoon. Mama has time to preen. I can't find baby. Time to search in the trees.

Oh, is that a peach up there? a fuzzy apricot?

It's the runt. Finally got higher.

And left eye is open.

Mama looked for kid. Papa looked for kid. Kid silent.  But there must be another nest. Robins. Time to search.

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Bobbling

Watching this kid try to mature is nerve wracking.

Thank goodness,   back in place.

I never before saw a baby lick its "lips".

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Progress, thank goodness

Having left the runt on the ground as dark approached I would not have been surprised to find a little dead body in the morning. The dog walkers use this space.... human feet, nosey dogs, perilous for a slow moving runt.  Got downstairs, waited and listened. "Peep, peep, peep". Followed the sound.  Great!  Runt got into a tree, not very high, but safely in a tree.  Left eye still a slit. Baby has one thing in mind: food!  Parents have to get the food down the gullet or it will sit in baby's mouth.  Lots of food available in this space- bugs, berries, seeds, worms (for the robins).

More images later on.
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