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The Nest Location |
The Tall Holly Nearest the Porch |
Camera in the Holly |
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All Rights Reserved- HL Greer |
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Read more about Robins Eggs at Journey North American Robins |
May 11, 2004
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No Chicks Yet |
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The American Robin Incubation time is from 12 to 14 days
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The X10 Camera was placed on May 11, 2004. I am not sure exactly when the eggs were laid and the Clutch was complete. Therefore not sure when the hatching will occur. Will attempt to document each day with a streaming video of the highlights of the day and hopefully will have the complete cycle from this point on. |
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Click on Robin Pictures for the Video |
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Read more about Robins Eggs at Journey North American Robins |
May 12, 2004 |
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Three Eggs revealed |
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The American Robin senses the temperature of the eggs through a bare spot on the breast produced by molting and the blood vessels under the bare spot both provide warmth for incubation and convey the information to the mother . This spot is called the "Brood patch" |
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The Last two days have been Sunny and Warm with temperatures in the mid 80's. The Female Robin is incubating the eggs alone although the male is close by and waiting to assume his role in caring for the chicks when the blessed moment arrives. The mother spends most of the day on the eggs and turns them many time. Today the third egg became visible on camera |
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Click on Robin Pictures for the Video |
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May 13, 2004 |
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Wind Rain and no hatching |
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The American Robin Mother like all bird mothers will rearrange the eggs in the nest many times a day. She does this with her beak and feet and is necessary to keep all the eggs and portions of the eggs at an even temperature as well as keeping the embryo from sticking to the shell. |
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It is Thursday with a little bit of rain and cooler temperatures . The Mother Robin's work continues. Cover the Eggs, turn the eggs, and leave for eating for up to 15 minutes before returning. At times today the wind rocked the nest. | ||
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Click on Robin Pictures for the Video |
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| Journey North American Robins FAQs |
May 14, 2004 |
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A Day Closer But No Cigar |
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On warm days the Robin Mother will raise up in the nest to allow some cooling as there is perhaps more danger in the eggs becoming too warm than in cooling slightly. She also will be gone from the nest for longer periods in search for her own food on these warm days. |
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Today is Friday and at least so far today no hatching activity. Mothers do have to eat and this female robin snags a giant bug very close to the nest and then has a problem in devouring it. Finally succeeds though and resumes her clutch tending duties. |
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Click on Robin Pictures for the Video |
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May 15, 2004 |
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Rainy and Cool And No Chicks |
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An American Robin can produce up to three successful broods in one year. Only 40 percent of nests successfully produce young. 75 percent of fledglings will not survive past Summer. After the first year the mortality rate of robins is 50 percent per year. A lucky robin, however can live up to 14 years. |
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A Rainy Cool Day and no hatching activity. The Mother Robin stayed on the nest much more today, leaving less frequently and retuning quickly. With a high temperature of only 60, the eggs cannot be uncovered very long. Somehow, someway, she knows this and adjust. |
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Click on Robin Pictures for the Video |
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May 16, 2004 |
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Cool Sunday and No Chicks |
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While the female Robin does all of the incubation duties, the male stays nearby. If on rainy or very cool days , the female will not leave due to the danger in the egg cooling, she will signal for attention and the male will bring food to the nest and feed the female. |
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The Work goes on. Today for the first time the female Robin gets support from the male. Since it was cool (55 degrees) this morning the Mother to be stayed on the nest to keep that egg temperature at 96 degrees. The male brought the catches of the day to her until it warmed up and it was safe for her to leave the eggs again. No Hatching today but hopefully soon. |
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Click on Robin Pictures for the Video |
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May 17, 2004 |
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The Home delivery value meal |
Another Day without hatching but Cicada Comes a calling |
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Good Fortune comes to those who sit and wait. ( well sometimes anyway). While the chicks are still not hatching today, Mother Robin gets an unexpected fast food delivery right to her nest. The 17 year Cicada appearance is in full swing and one of the 17 year old big eyed bugs gets a little too close |
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Click on Robin Pictures for the Video |
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May 18, 2004 |
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Warmer Today but No Hatching |
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Only The Female Incubates the Eggs which can be from 9 - 15 days although the usual time is 12-14 days. The Female also builds the nest which usually takes about 6 days. The male will help by bringing food to the female when necessary and sharing feeding the chicks when they arrive. The Male will continue to feed the fledglings up to two weeks after they leave the nest. |
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A bit warmer today with temperatures in the 80's. Hour after hour our Mother Robin sits on the eggs , now turning them more frequently. Occasionally she will rise and let the eggs cool a bit sometimes just nearby watching. The Male is close by and his song can be heard. He has brought food to her only on the one cool and rainy day. On warm days she can leave for up to 15 minutes. |
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Click on Robin Pictures for the Video |
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May 19, 2004 |
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The X10 view in my office |
Thunderstorms and no Hatching |
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Today is the ninth day the camera has been on the nest. Since I could not be sure how many days of incubation had elapsed at the time I placed the camera and since incubation time is 12-14 days, it seems to me that they must hatch if they are going to in the next two or three days |
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Click on Robin Pictures for the Video |
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| Journey North American Robins FAQs |
May 20, 2004 |
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Getting Close to crunch Time |
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An American Robin can produce up to three successful broods in one year. Only 40 percent of nests successfully produce young. 75 percent of fledglings will not survive past Summer. |
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So once again this will not be the hatch day . It does seem that she moves the eggs around much more frequently but still no signs of egg shells cracking. She is still taking advantage of the 17 year Cicada phenomenon and nails any that venture close to the nest. |
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Click on Robin Pictures for the Video |
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May 21, 2004 |
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| Journey North American Robins FAQs | Today is Hatch Day But Joy is Short-lived | |||
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The Last Day |
Click on Robin Pictures for the Video |
The First Chick struggles to free itself from it's shell. This was day 11 from the time I set the Camera. It was a day the Robin's were looking for and I must confess, so was I. It is a day of the miracle and then ---- Well for all those who like Happy endings, this is as far as you should go. I would have liked to have provided a video for the next 14 or 15 days as the Robin chicks grew and fledged. This cannot happen and now we are reminded once again why only 40 % of clutches ever make it. . For those who would like to see the final video click on the Eden Lost link below . I am not putting it on this page because it may be too harsh for some children and indeed some adults To find out what happened next click on the link below |
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Wildlife visiting our Louisville Kentucky Backyard scroll and click for each bird or animal video, sound and or picture
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Please Visit our other Robin Nesting Pages
Click here to go to The 2003 Robin's Diary Click here to to the 2005 Robin and Cardinal Nest BLOG Click here to go to the 2006 Wildlife Diary The 2008 Journal Two Robin Nest that end Tragically . |
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