The Mother Robin patiently sits on
her nest for about 2 weeks, leaving the nest only to eat and bathe. Muscles
separate her belly feathers so her skin comes into contact with the egg
shells, conducting her body heat to the eggs. During this time she also
rotates them.
During these 2 weeks, the Male Bird may bring
food to the incubating Female, or sit nearby singing his "All is well"
song, which becomes a warning alert at the first sign of a cat or other
potential danger. Later, he shares the duty of feeding the Nestlings.
On Day 1
above, the first two chicks hatch, bare, blind and helpless. Note how large
and developed their eyes are upon hatching. Already their tiny brains know
to open their mouths and accept food from the chirping parents. By Day
6 feather development is evident.
By Day 9
the 4 nestlings are about half grown and their eyes are open. By Day
12 they have become very alert and aware of
their surroundings. By this time they overflow the nest. By Day 14 they
are the result of phenominal growth, and very capable of flight.
By Day 16
the nest is usually empty. Often the parents will sit nearby with food
to entice the grown Nestlings to leave the nest. The Nestlings can be seen
following their parents in lawns searching for the luckless Worm, grub,
or larvae that got too near the surface.
Read our Poetic parallel to Human Nestlings
HERE
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Robin
Nestlings
