Iron Jean-Paul: Backyard Birdwatch: American Robin "Baby" Update

Time: 3:10-3:23 p.m.

Weather Report: Cloudy, 83°F, 52% Humidity, Winds: NNW @ 7 mph; feels like 84°F.

Location: The backyard of my home in the upstate New York City of Rochester. (See map at the bottom of the left column for spacial reference.)

Bird Species/Markings/Features:--1 female American Robin (AR)and one fledging.

Sights/Sounds/Activities: While there seems to be a fair level of aviary chatter, the hum-buzz-crackle of my neighbor's air conditioning windo unit is so pervasive, it is diffiuclt to focus in on the songs.

Notes: It would appear as though the egg(s?) have indeed hatched and that the American Robin (AR1), I have been following (dubbed "Birdie"), has left the nest, perhaps to find food.

There is definately no adult bird in the cup nest, but I believe I can make out the sillohette of a fledging bird beak at the opning of the nest. (I had at first called it a "baby bird," but checking the field guide, am reminded that the proper term is fledging:

Fledging is the intervel between hatching or flight or leaving nest.

I also checked carefully around the area just belwo the nest and none of the feldgings have appeared to fall to thier demise, as has happened in the past.

As a territorial species, this particular American Robin family has appeared to establish this area as thiers. There is no other observable aviary activity other than that involving AR1, the fledging(s), and a male, AR2.

The following series of images illustrates the intercations I observed today while watching the yard, which turned into watching this particular AR family. AR1 is first on the back fence, then returns to the nest with something to eat, and finally returns to her spot in the Hub 1 maple tree where she can still easily see the goings-on back at the nest!