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It’s Nesting Time!

Story and photos by Deanna Frautschi

By Deanna Frautschi May 4, 2016
If you look around your yard or neighborhood with your children, you will likely see signs of birds building nests….a bird carrying grass or sticks back and forth to a tree.  You may not see the nest , but you know some kind of nest building is going on under those leaves because of all the traffic in and out of the same area.

If you look a little closer, you may see robins or or wrens nesting. Just be careful not to disturb the nest so that the birds feel unsafe and move on to another site after having done all that preparation.



Robins Nest Early

Robins and wrens are some of the first to start their nest building whether in a tree or in a nest box. Nests are often located in the fork of a tree between branches or in dense bushes. It’s not uncommon to find nests above light fixtures or eaves…or even in decorative wreaths or porch supports. Robins and wrens don’t mind being close to humans as long as they are not bothered too much.



The two photos above are from my nature friend, Ann Hayes, who had this lovely robin nest built in a wreath outside her front door last year. She and her daughters and granddaughters had lots of fun watching the robin family grow. 



Constructing the Nest

Robins usually build an outer layer of course materials made from sticks and twigs. They often smear the nest with mud on the inside and line it with grasses for softness. The female usually does the construction work. A new nest is built for each brood.

The female robin lays a clutch of three to five light blue eggs. She incubates the eggs for about two weeks.  Fledglings leave the nest about two weeks after being born. All chicks leave the nest within two days of each other. Both male and adult female robins feed the fledglings a diet of insects, worms and berries.



Protecting the Young

Protecting the young until they can fly well is a duty for both parents. Predators include cats, squirrels and even snakes. Other large birds like blue jays, grackles and crows also eat robin eggs and young. Adult robins will often dive bomb birds, cats, dogs and even humans to protect their young…not unlike you protecting your children!

Watch for nest building going on in your area and monitor the process without being too intrusive. It can be a fun learning experience for you and your children.



Deanna Frautschi is a local Naturalist who is passionate about connecting families with nature. Using her knowledge of wildlife and her photography skills, she helps others enjoy the nature around them. If you have any questions about exploring nature with your children and grandchildren, you may contact Deanna at Decardinal@aol.com. Join the hundreds who follow her on Facebook where she posts photographs and short video clips of birds and other wildlife taken on her travels as well as in her yard.  You can also join her "Nature Lady Lessons" and "Hummingbirds Anonymous" Facebook group pages.

Photos provided by Deanna Frautschi.