Robins nest

About 2 weeks ago A robin couple was making a nest in one of the bird boxes.
I had a perfect view on it from my window. 
I was so happy that the robins were going to nest there.
But then something happened.
After a very windy stormy night, I suddenly noticed that the nest box was laying up side down on the ground.
 I was shocked and immediately I tried to save the nest box. The roof had come off a bit. and I could see that there were not any eggs in the nest yet. So I quicky replaced the roof and put it back on the same spot and tied it with some wire, so that it could not removed. 
Was it a cat, who was able to jump on it and crashed it? or was it blown over by the wind?

I was so sad about it and hoped that the robins would return to the nest box and continue with the breeding. To my sadness I did not see them back. 

After a week (last Tuesday) I saw the robins fly in and out of another bird box in my garden.
I was amazed and happy that they had planned a new nest in the ivy arch.

I saw them bringing leaves inside the box.

So glad this is not the end of the story and that they are just continuing the breeding in another place in my garden.
I supported the birds with some extra food, because I think its a lot of work for the birds, to start all over again.

 

Robin nestbox

 This morning I placed a nestbox for robin. 

I had noticed a robin sitting on the fence. He was a kind of searching and looking... probably for food. Maybe he was also having inspection for a nesting place. 

Anyway, I thought it might be lovely for me to have a good sight on it when he decides to pick this box for a new family of robins! I have a great view on it from one of my windows.

Robins nest

 A few days ago the robins have begun building a nest in the nestbox. It was so my desire that they would do so. 

But of course you cannot tell them to do so, They have a mind of their own and the only thing I could do for them is to have a nest box inviting them.

So it was a great surprise they accepted the invitation. Every morning I see them building on the nest. I keep myself at a distance to not disturb the party.

Robins building a nest

When I was awake very early, I looked out of my bedroom window.
I almost could not believe my eyes,
When I watched longer it was really true.
A pair of robins is building a nest, right near my window.
Both robins are bringing leaves and mosses into the nestbox.
Such lovely sight!
So happy I can follow the building process !

A couple of years ago (5 years) another pair of robins had young in this nestbox as well,
and I really hoped they would one day come again.

Young robins video

As I had some problems last week with my computer, a good thing was that I noticed that my hard disc was almost full.
Because of that I decided to clean it up as well and make some back-ups.
While cleaning up I found some old video's I had made years ago!
Somehow I never took the time to finish it.
Bought some cables in order to get it down on my mac.
and surprise surprise!
So happy with these old films.
This one is a short footage of young robins in my garden 5 years ago.
to view full video, Here is the link on youtube

Robins out!

This morning all the robins were gone.
They were gone very early this morning, without saying good bye.
Yesterday they were all bravely sitting at the back of the house, for me not so good to see them all.
or make photo's...because it is too dark inside at the back of the house.
When they were sitting in front of the house, when it was so extremely hot, that was an unique moment, I now see.
There have been 6 little robins in the nest!
One gone out, some days ago, the others five of them, I could see when they were all up front.

It was so nice as well that when I reinstalled the birdhouse for the second time, I arranged a nearby rosebranch over the house and some ivy, to camouflage the house a little bit.
Now the last couple of days the rose started to flower, with beautiful red roses!
That rose did never blossem so beautifully as it does now!
It was such a perfect sight, those little robins with those beautiful red roses arround!

First baby out!

Yersterday it was extremely hot. After having a lot of rain the last weeks, suddenly the weather changed into a very warm hot day.
The birds in the nest had been moving to the front of the birdhouse, I think to get more fresh air.
That was nice for me, so I could have a much better view on the little baby birds.
and make some photo's.
Suddenly, I sat down outside, I saw something pass by, it was a little tiny bird landing under the table.

I could not believe my eyes!
It must be one of the robins....
So immediately I grabbed my camera, thinking meanwhile...This is way too early or not????
Shall I grabb the bird and put it back in the nest?
First I decided to make a better photo, from low perspective.
Such a tiny cute little birdy...with all the fluff on top of his head.
Than the birdy started running before I was able to get him.
Also not knowing if this was a wise decision...I let go of the thought.
He ran under the hedge...and than disappeared.
Later I saw mother and child in my garden.
She had found him...so that is a good thing.
The other birds are still in the nest.
Today less warmer, they all sat in the backside of the nest, not so visible for me to take photo's.
But yesterdays shots are great!

Glimpse of the robinbabies

The robin-young are growing rapidly.
For the first time i saw a glipse of the babies.
Their beaks spread out wide open, when mother or father robin arrives with a beakfull of snacks.

Robin's meals for their young

This morning the robins were very busy getting all kinds of creepy crawly, flying objects to feed their young.
Its such fun to see what they have collected.
Now I am seeing them more often, because the young are getting bigger and need more food.
Also he is landing on the rosearch first, before going to the nest...that's fine for me so that I can see and determine the prey.

Robins have young

The robins have young!
A while ago I shared that the nest the robins had made, was ruined by a neighbor-cat.
I had removed the nest, with 4 eggs in it, because it was torn upside down and the robins had left.
Too late to restore the dammage.
After that I had put the nestbox on the same spot, thinking I need to find a better place for the nestbox.
At that time I did not know yet where...to put the nestbox, where to find a better safe place?
So I left it there, without taking action.
Some days later I saw to my great surprise, that the robins had not given up!
They were building a new nest in the same house!
I was so stunned by their determination...and so surprised!
Also paniced a bit, that the cat would find it and would destroy the nest again.
So I took some action and put the nestbox a little away from the fence hanging it on a nearby rose-arch.
It was about half a meter away from the fence, and much less easy for a cat to get into.
Only would the birds accept the move?

The next day I found out they did!
Eggs were brought into the new nest.
I have seen 3 eggs, but after that I did not want to look again, because of the risk to disturb them.
Now after some time breeding I noticed last week, the robins coming in with creepy crawly things!
That means, there is new life in the birdbox!
Though I don't see the birds so often, and wonder if all is going well...
I was able to make some pictures of the birds bringing the food in.
Its such a lovely sight!

Robins nest damaged

Its so sad to share that the robins nest has been damaged by....I think a cat.
The nest and the eggs were lying upside down in the nestbox.
For seversal weeks I had not seen the robins around the nest.
But because of breeding you don't see them a lot, so I hoped they were breeding.
But after so many days not noticing any robin near the nest, I feared the worst.
I let it rest for many more days, because I was not sure.
But yesterday I checked it, and saw that the nest was upside down with 4 eggs in the nest...
Because the nest was pulled upside down in the box, the birds could not return for breeding.
A neighbor cat must have destroyed it.
So sad to see.

I think/hope the robins have made another nest someplace else.

Robin singing

I don't know if the robins are making progress in the nest.
The last ten days I did not see them arround the nest so much, so I doubt a bit if they are continuing.
One day I noticed them again, trying to defend the area. chasing away other birds.
So that seems hopeful to me.

I am also very careful, not to disturb them by looking close, knowing that they will not like so much attention.
Yesterday one of the parents was singing his springsong.
I hear them actually all the time through the day,
listening to their silvery special sound.

Time out

In between the construction work the robins have time out,
just arround the corner.

More funiture

Today the robins brought some more furniture in the house.
He was willing to show it from all sides!