Here's another update on the next generation of birds in my backyard. Lately, I've been chronicling the lives of nesting birds and their offspring. I'm pleased to be able to share these new images of the young birds living among me.
Robin
This is my first time writing about robins in this series. I have no idea where their nest is. However, one morning I peered out my window and saw a plump ball of feathers sitting in the middle of the yard.
The images came out a little blurry. This young robin was a good distance away and the camera was on auto-focus. I didn't want to switch it to manual and risk missing the moment. My camera has a difficult time auto-focusing on small objects, especially ones farther away. But, I feel these images are interesting enough to share.
Based on my research, this is what American Robins look like when they are around 14 days old. By this time they have complete feather coverage and are nearly the same size as adult robins. That's a lot of growth in just two weeks. Notice their upper breasts are mostly white and speckled with dark brown spots.
As I stood there filming and observing this fledgling robin, an adult robin suddenly swooped across the yard. It swooped back again. Only, this time, it landed next to the youngling. And it had a worm in it's mouth. The little robin hungrily stretched it's beak open and the proud parent fed the worm to it.
The adult then flew off, only to return a few minutes later with another wriggly worm. Once again, it fed the eagerly awaiting maw of it's brood. After this second observed feeding, the parent stayed with it's young for a while. Standing proudly and protectively over it's child.
Starling
This young starling was seen chilling in the same tree that houses the suet feeders. The feeders are empty, and have been for a while. I'll refill them in the fall. With the tree in full bloom, the feeders are mostly hidden behind it's leaves. So, you can't really see the birds. Besides, there's plenty of other food for the birds right now.
In fact, this young starling was pecking away at something up there in the tree. A lot of birds seem interested in the berries that grow on it. I'm not sure if they actually eat them, though. They seem to enjoy picking them and dropping them all over the ground.
This starling is a little older than the aforementioned robin and the starling young I've written about previously. Heck, maybe it is one of the starlings I previously wrote about. That would be cool.
Doves
Of all the birds who have graced me with their presence this spring and summer, none have done so more than the Mourning Doves. Interesting though, after their eggs hatched, the parents and the young abandoned the nest. I had no idea where they went.
That was, until about two weeks ago. I was standing underneath the area where their nest is when I heard a rustling on the ground behind me. The sound was coming from a little alcove underneath the house. I crouched down and saw two young doves staring back at me. I had found them! I was so excited. I ran inside the house to grab my camera.
So cool! A brown one and a blue one! So cute! Since discovering them that day, I've seen them quite often. They are beginning to explore the big world around them. Discovering new places to perch.
Usually, one or both parents will be nearby, watching attentively. One day, one of the parents was sitting on the ground near it's children. It was the perfect opportunity for a family photo. I grabbed my camera.
Thank you for reading. If you would like to read my previous posts covering the young birds in my yard, here are the links:
Nesting Birds: Mourning Doves & Starlings
Nesting Birds: Update
Wherever we are, we are surrounded by nature. It's always trying to communicate with us. Take time to notice. #NoticeNature.
All gifs and images are my own unless otherwise stated.
