The smallest robin

It's normal to see the alert babies, but sometimes there's a tragedy. What follows is sad, but is a reality in the robin world.

The day before the male robin pecked at this youngster. It showed no interest in eating and it had a blow fly on its wing, all problematic signs. It rained during the night. Robin not moving around and not being fed.

No reaction to stimuli, just sitting quietly. Noon.

1 p.m.

It got closer to the ivy plants and the short border, a protection? A place to hide?

It snuggled into this cover. 2 p.m.

3 p.m.

4 p.m.  the end.   I had rubber gloves, a cotton cloth, plastic bag, small body disposed of.  In the robin world if they have 12 children during the breeding season  if four of those kids survive to adulthood it's a miracle. There's high mortality in the bird world.

Family life, continued

Food collection

Healthy kid, eager for food, patient, the way it should be

A different baby, also dependent

The kids have to figure out what to do with the berries. They haven't mastered swallowing.

That's right. Probe. Maybe you'll find a worm. Instinctive behavior.

                                                  Sorry, just some bits. No worm.

New broods

There appear to be at least four robin broods in the garden, at least 12 babies. Lots of food... berries, bugs, worms. I watched one particular baby, a great sprinter, but low-level flyer. I had to keep reminding this baby that I was not the mommy. It looks as if I was very close, but my lens is the equivalent of 720mm, no need to be close.

I brought down organic blueberries knowing the robins love them.

For some reason this baby wasn't interested in food.

Parent found bread. They'll feed the babies anything. The demand is great.

For some reason this baby wasn't interested in food. Very strange.

I watched for a while and then noticed a blow fly on its wing. I've only seen blow flies on dead birds. This was a bad omen.

Papa approached baby with bread and then pecked it strongly on rear end. It was very fast. This was not a gentle peck or a reminder to deliver a fecal sac.

Still no interest in the food.

More pecking with verbal yell from baby.

Peck, peck, then adult ran off., Baby never ate.

There is more to this saga.   To be continued.

Always unexpected downstairs

Back garden, female finch

Male finch, her mate

I suspect this is a younger female, demeanor gentler.

Always the robins, a new kid, great sprinter

I delivered the blueberries, but baby not interested

A flash of yellow flew by my head. What??????? It's only July. Not migration. Oh my goodness, a female yellow warbler.

Haven't seen her again. This was the first time I ever saw a warbler in the city in July. I'll keep watching. We have bugs. Maybe another surprise will flit by.