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Megan noticed a robin making a nest in the honeysuckle vine on our house. I've since watched
as it has been gradually filled with eggs. The mother appears to be brooding the eggs now. One
looks as if it is about to hatch. (2006-05-18)
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 Eggs in the nest Ref: 2006_0847 |
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2006-05-30: the robin's eggs hatched in the last day or so (hmmm, 12 days after I noticed
four eggs in the nest - matches the expected 11-14 days for hatching). I've added a few
pictures of the very young robins.
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 Sleepy Babies Ref: 2006_0934 |
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2006-06-03: the babies are growing. I didn't bug them over the last few days because it has
been rainy and cool. They are continually asking for more food. Busy parents out on our lawn.
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 Snoozing in the sun Ref: 2006_1167 |
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2006-06-05: just two days later and the change is amazing. Coloured feathers are springing
forth.
Young birds grow incredibly quickly. There was a bit about this on Quirks and Quarks back a
bit. It was comparing the growth rates of dinosaurs to that of birds. For the first part of
life, both groups have comparable growth rates (I vaguely remember that birds might be even
faster than dinosaurs.), but birds turn off the growth factor quite abruptly and early in
their lives whereas dinosaurs didn't. Lots of food required to sustain such rapid growth.
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 Still space in the nest ... Ref: 2006_1190 |
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2006-06-07: another two days and bigger and more awake again. They don't even seem to get
parental cover at night now.
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 Space is getting tight ... Ref: 2006_1196 |
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2006-06-09: another two days and bigger and more awake again.
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 Still four beaks Ref: 2006_1203 |
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2006-06-12: they are gone, ...
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 Empty Nest Ref: 2006_1213 |
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2006-06-12: ... but not very far. This guy can almost fly. It's more like a slow drift
earthwards. With a branch underfoot, he can go up. This is one reason Smoke has been under
house arrest while he is here.
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 Spotted front Ref: 2006_1217 |
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2006-06-12: Another reason Smoke has been under house arrest while he is here. This nest is
located in our tin shed. These eggs hatched a day or two after the ones in our honeysuckle.
When I stuck my head in the shed to get this picture, the young were stretched way above
the drawer, but as soon as they noticed me, they hunkered down into their nest hoping that I
won't notice them. I did, but I don't have a penchance for gnawing on warm feathered bodies
that are still squirming.
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 About to Fly Ref: 2006_1211 |
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What me catch birds and eat them? Never!
Well, hardly ever.
He is pretty good at keeping the drool to a minimum when birds go by the windows, except
when the goldfinches landed right outside the windows. It was a bit too much for any
self-respecting cat.
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 Cat on Rug Ref: 2006_1210 |
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