Gone....

The nest is now empty as we got to watch the last 2 fly from the nest and hear mama calling them and they calling back.  WOW that was fast!!  Time to let go.

As a mama of 4 little (well grown) birdies myself this has been a wonderful but somewhat bittersweet experience.  I too have watched as 3 of my 4 birdies have flown the nest.  My one that is home is married and they lead their own life just under our roof for a time.

It is so fun to watch them grow and then to watch as they are young adults flying the nest.  It is also a bit sad to see the empty "nest" or rooms....which I have already filled with my stuff so I guess it didn't take long to grieve. 

Just like the mama bird I am here for my kids.  They can call out to me and I will be there for them.  I am thankful that it took 18 years for my kids to grow and not just the 2 weeks it does for a robin. 

More on the babies....

Well the time has come for our baby robin's to leave the nest.

Yesterday their nest was overflowing.

When arriving home from the store we found one had "dropped" out of the nest.

On to the bricks under the nest.  I did not think this was the safest place for this little one so I read up and decided to put it back for now knowing that most likely it would be out by the next day or so.  I didn't want to just put it on the ground for animals to eat.

A little closer....so cute!!  We know where all their poop has gone...haha.

This morning I go out to check and this is what I see....

One was standing proud or scared ready to fly if I got too close.  Plus I only could see 3 in there and looked around on the ground to see if I could see #4 but my guess is that one took off.  Hopefully it is safe.

Well I did freak the little one out enough that it flew over to a near-by bush (better than the ground to me).

Of course it should have known that it would have to be photographed.  It was cool to see this little one fly after seeing it nearly hairless and so small just less than 2 weeks ago.

Then there were 2!!

My guess is this nest will be completely empty before the end of this week. 

Maybe we will get lucky and mama will decide to use this nest again in the near future but next time I will try and leave them alone.....I said TRY!!

It has been a great joy to watch these birds go from eggs to "teen" birds and flying the nest.

What a difference a week makes!!

Just a week later and look how much they have changed....

Won't be long now until they are leaving the nest.  Mama has done a really good job taking care of her babies.

Update.....

Well the robin eggs all hatched.  Not sure exactly when as I was out-of-town and asking my husband to check on them.  On the 9th he did not look but didn't hear anything so assumed they were still eggs.

I returned late on the 11th so the next morning I check and there were 4 little babies in the nest.

By the looks and what I have read they were probably a day or 2 old at this point.

They are growing fast.  In my reading I learned they usually leave the nest about 2 weeks after hatching.  I can see why as they are starting to get to big for the nest. 

They are funny because when I go to look at them they stick their heads and mouths up like this (above picture).   I am sure they are expecting mom to feed them.

We also have a nest in the back which we cannot see into but can hear the little ones.

This morning I went to check on them and they filled the nest, have feathers starting and mama came up right  above my head to let me know I better leave her babies alone.

From now on I might just have to watch at a distance knowing that in about a week those little ones will be taking flight and leaving the nest.

I am very happy mama robin decided to build her nest right at my front door.

Guest at the front door

Okay so I just posted an update but I felt this needed to have its own post.  We have a robin's next right out our front door.  It is so close to the door.  Here is mama (or daddy, can't tell which one since they look alike and both take care of the nest) sitting on the nest....

See it is right next to our front door so every time someone goes in or out mom/dad leave the nest.  I had to go from the back to get these pictures.

I got a little closer and got this right before she/he took off.  They don't go far and will scream at us when we get close.

They did a really good job and it is protected by weather.  Just a bad place right by the front door.  I am guessing that mama is saying "next time we will find a place with less people coming in and out all the time".  Just my thoughts.  There is also one in the back but I can't get to it to see if there are any eggs in there.

And here are the eggs!!  I am really hoping that at least 2 or 3 hatch and we get to hear them and see them.  What I read was they should hatch between 14-16 days.  We saw the first egg on 4/24 so sometime this weekend there should be babies!!!

Hopefully I can report, with pictures sometime next week.