The Robin Saga

[Fogey]

One year we had a pair of Robins decide to build their nest in the Wisteria growing against the shed.

My wife chose a load of leaves and placed them in  a pile in the patio where the Robin/Robins took their pick. 

The female Robin was a lot more trusting than the male but we were allowed to watch as they built their nest. 

Once the nest was built we  had a quiet spell when the eggs were laid and incubated.  Dad Robin? would visit the nest with food for the incubating parent.

Then a lot of frantic activity when both birds were feeding their young.  

One morning Dad went missing, (we think he was taken by the local Sparrowhawk), and the Mum was left to feed her family by herself.

So my wife decided we would help out and make sure there was enough food for Mum to feed the family.
 

Mum Robin.

Mum became more and more dependent on our help as the chicks grew and she would peck on the window when the fat block crumbs ran out.  She would take food from our hands and actually flew onto our laps as she became so trusting.

 

 

Of the four chicks, two survived and when they left the nest, Mum was flying back and forth nonstop.

Once the Chicks were deemed self sufficient, Mum simply chased them away to fend for themselves.

 

One of the surviving chicks.

[Denis]

That is a heartwarming tale fogey,  One of, if not, my favourite small bird

[Fogey]

It doesn't end there Denis.  This little bird flew into the annexe and cleared it of spiders in about 5 minutes flat.

Then it flew into the house, where I found it perched on the tea cosy.

Just before she abandoned the chicks, she flew onto my wife's lap and warbled her song to Anne - almost as if she was saying, "Thank you,".

The chicks did come to us for food, but Mum would have non of it - she simply flew down and drove them off.

[Denis]

Wow, what a thing to see and witness

[Ryewolf]

Kingfishers do the same, once the young birds can fend for themselves the adults chase them away

[Fogey]

I know Anne was very upset when Mum Robin just stopped visiting - she had difficulty accepting we were just a food source.

[Fogey]

2 minutes ago, Ryewolf said:

Kingfishers do the same, once the young birds can fend for themselves the adults chase them away

Perhaps we could learn from them.

[Kobione]

Lovely story and lovely birds Fogey, nice!