While my offspring entertained me ALL DAY LONG on Father’s Day, this past Sunday also marked what appears to be the end of my short but sweet relationship with a robin hatchling-turned-nestling-turned-fledgling. The baby bird has now left the mud-and-straw nest cobbled together behind a rose bush outside our bathroom window.
We discovered the nest and four small blue eggs (another was added to the 3 above) back in mid-May. Mom freaked out every time we walked out the back door, and dad watched sternly from various places in the yard.
A featherless baby was born on June 3 as we celebrated our oldest son’s birthday in the backyard. As it would turn out, none of the other eggs hatched, and one disappeared.
By June 9 the little bird had sprouted wings and was fussing up a storm whenever mom left the nest.
The very next day the bird absolutely transformed and I was able to take this National Geographic-worthy shot.
On the 15th of June it was clear that our young feathered friend would soon be busting out of the nest.
And on Father’s Day, after seeing “Tweets” perched on the edge of the nest, I knew the inevitable was near…
I half expected to see a few clownish attempts at flying before the speckle-bellied robin flew off for good, but this was my last glimpse of the bird.
But perhaps not the last we’ve heard from that little rascal, which I could swear woke me up this AM.
