The morning after my “Baby robins” post I saw the young birds, but by afternoon the nest was empty. I was surprised at how much I missed them and wondered if something had gone wrong. However, in a few days a young robin that would have been about the right age appeared in the backyard. It was frequently begging for food and being fed by an adult male.
It’s been fun watching the interaction between the two. “Dad” gradually distanced himself from the “I’m hungry and want food now” cheeps and let the young robin begin to fend for itself. We frequently see the young one in the backyard. It’s now finding its own food, has grown considerably, and is no longer a “baby robin.”
Is this the robin that began its life in our wooden planter? A female robin is busily gathering material for a new nest high in the silver maple tree (Acer saccharinum). Is she the same mother starting another brood? We’ll never know, but in both cases I like to think so.
Lovely, Betty! And now I want to put in a plug for keeping cats indoors. I love cats, I have two, and they are indoor kitties because outdoor cats kill songbirds by the millions. I had two baby blue jays in my yard and both got killed by a neighbor’s cat. Not happy… I have read that wildlife friendly backyards can end up being “bird sinks”, meaning they attract the birds and also provide easy hunting for cats, so rather than helping the birds we end up attracting them to their detriment. What to do???
Ann, I’m with you all the way and appreciate your plug for the birds. So sorry to hear about the baby blue jays. I believe cat owners should be responsible for their cats the same way that dog owners are responsible for their dogs. In the meantime, I use a broom or a pan of water to let stray cats know they are not welcome in our yard. This is not the answer but the best I know to do for now. It’s a challenging problem.
Yes! I have a mostly indoor cat and she’s only allowed outside to walk around with me on her leash and harness. I was lucky enough to get her harness trained young, but it’s something I believe all kitten owners should do along with shots and fixing. We have to protect our wildlife and cats do some serious damage to local populations.
I think you’re right on with your speculations Betty!
I appreciate your vote of confidence, Keli.
Wonderful Betty
Thanks, Linda.