Watch the Birdy (OT)

Before I write this morning's post I thought I'd mention that the robins' first brood has hatched back in the eaves under the covered patio, and I managed to get a few snaps of Mr. and Mrs. at home. They're getting used to me and the dogs, and no longer fly away every time we come outside—especially if we move slowly. Lulu ambling arthritically past doesn't seem to perturb them. They also seem less skittish about me if I make noise, so I keep up a patter of nonsense in a soft voice when I'm near them. (Some people would say that's no different than the rest of the time.)

I'm not a wildlife photographer, far from it, and I know some of you are, so I beg your indulgence for my paltry reporting:

I don't know what the pose means—head back and up, beak open. They stand motionless that way, when I'm around at least. Poised to attack? Ready for evasive action? Overwhelmed with a sense of portent and glory, like Taber (Christopher Lloyd) in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest? I don't know.

Maybe they noticed the camera and they're just stylin' for their cameo.

A detail of the same picture

According to Wikipedia, both the male and female robins help care for the young, so I assume that's who the guy is. It's just been Mrs. sitting on the eggs.

American Robins are thrushes. They can live up to 14 years, but two years is the average lifespan in the wild. Songbirds are declining at a ferocious rate in the U.S., because of pesticides, habitat encroachment, feral cats, and windows, which kill more birds than anything else by a considerable margin. At least directly—habitat loss and environmental poisons probably do more damage to populations. I think robins are the most common songbird in North America. As ground birds, they're especially vulnerable to feral cats, which is the second largest cause of direct bird mortality overall but possibly number one for robins. We have lots of robins around here, because the coyotes and raptors get the feral cats.

There is one hatchling so far, or at least one. I see him when the parents aren't home, weaving back and forth, beak open wide toward the sky, begging for dinner. Young robins hang around their parents and beg for food even after they fly away from the nest.

Seems like a happy family. From what I can see, anyway.

Now on to this morning's posts!

Mike

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(To see all the comments, click on the "Comments" link below.)
Featured Comments from:

ASW: "Hi Mike. I suspect your avian friends are just overheated. Unlike humans, most animals cannot sweat when hot. Birds, like dogs, use rapid breathing (panting) to move air across blood-infused tissues in their respiratory system and mouth to expel heat (very similar to the radiator in your car)."

Richard Skoonberg: "I think it is pretty darn perfect wildlife image. It has beautiful expression and shows a relationship we don't see very often. It is composed with soft light in a pleasing geometric setting. Well seen, Mike."

Mike replies: Thank you! I should mention that I very seldom publish compliments as "Featured Comments"—it just seems too egotistical on my part, since I control which comments get featured. But of course "every good dog deserves praise," and like anyone I appreciate compliments. A blanket thanks to everyone who's ever said anything nice about me or one of my snaps.

Tom Burke: "Did you know that American and European robins are completely different birds? The European robin is much smaller, doesn't flock, and isn't even a thrush. They can be very tame—many UK residents working in a garden will be familiar with the local robin getting very close (within a metre or less) and watching the gardener's work, to see if any juicy worms appear. The males are extremely territorial, and arguments between two robins are quite common."

Mike replies: I did not know that, until I posted this. That so often happens. Whatever I post about, I learn more about. Almost regardless of what it is.

Comments

[Stephen Gilbert]

Now on to this morning's post?

I thought that was a post.

[PacNW]

Very nice photo, thanks. Birds are so wonderful. It's horrifying that people eat chicken corpse. Chicken production:

“. . . in both magnitude and severity, the single most severe, systematic example of man's inhumanity to another sentient animal."
--John Webster
Emeritus Professor of Animal Husbandry
School of Veterinary Sciences
University of Bristol, UK

http://www.onestepforanimals.org/

[cfw]

Where I live, feral cats are not the problem, but rather the inconsiderate neighbors on the block that routinely let their house cats out to "hunt" the neighborhood. I have several high powered, long range water rifles placed strategically around my property, as well as piles of throwing rocks, which I use to run them off. I've managed to scare off the cats and since I now work at home they seem to know someone is present all during their hunting periods and stay clear. I watched a cat the other day walking up the street. When it came to my property line it crossed to the other side of the street before continuing. I must be doing something right.

When I lived in the country I had several mousers around, and never had any problem with the bird/cat dynamic, but in town it is much worse.

[Bourquek]

I have several pairs of cardinals in and around my backyard. They're VERY territorial. One male in particular spends most of his time flying into his reflection in the porch door. He's no doubt thinking, "Look at that handsome virile hunk of bird-hood. I'd best protect my baby mama". THUNK!

Time to put up the plastic sheeting again.

[DB]

It's a beautiful picture.

[Brian Taylor]

From a British perspective it occurs to me that the early settlers who called those thrushes 'robins' must have been short sighted, or horribly homesick! :).

Unfortunately many of our birds are in serious trouble too for similar reasons.

A couple of years ago a pair of blackbirds built a nest a few yards from our kitchen window. Everything stopped, and neighbours came in to watch proceedings. I hope yours do well.

[emptyspaces]

I had a family of wrens last year that took up residence in an empty citronella candle. Five babies and momma. I was able to set up a small video camera about a foot away and gather footage in secret. I miss them!

https://youtu.be/MEBjRepoE6k

[Tony Collins]

American robins are fake!
https://www.blipfoto.com/entry/2003971270047170975

[Rick Baumhauer]

Assuming you're having similar weather to the rest of the Northeast right now, they're likely panting to regulate their body temperature (like dogs, they don't sweat).

[Dave Millier]

They don't look much like the robin's in my garden which look like this:

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=robin+uk+vs+us&client=firefox-b-ab&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwicuPnw9vzTAhUGOsAKHa59DJgQ_AUIBigB&biw=1914&bih=956#imgrc=CKg74noRqWThPM:

[Anthony shaughnessy]

Well who knew that Americans and Europeans had different kinds of Robin. I've never seen that bird before and it certainly isn't the Robin I know and love. European Robins are very bold and will land between your legs to catch worms when you're digging the garden.

[Dennis NG]

setup a small tripod and do a bit remote video (sorry, wrong blog; then) time lapse ... if you have a silence one and the thing is covered up a bit.

Have to very careful in case the parents dump the bird. Seems not so challenging in your case.

[Tom]

I'd go with cooling too. Incidentally, some birds while happy to live and nest around humans do not like you to stare at them directly for more than a few seconds when you're near. They'll be happy for you to go about your business around them but looking straight at them can be threatening.