Feeding Time for the chicks . . .

 

I was sitting about 4 feet away from the bird for this shot. Taken at 100 ISO and 1/100s at F5.6.

Feeding Time - Parent collecting mealworms for the fledged chicks

 

I've been putting out mealworms since the chicks hatched. The bowl is normally inside a cage to prevent larger birds taking them. Today I thought I'd see how close I could get to the Robin. Initially holding the bowl the bird flew within inches of it but wasn't brave enough. So I put it on the ground. Initially ~4 feet away then about 6 feet away for this shot (100ISO, 1/640s F5.6). Click on the photo to see full size.

Robin nest - female relining ready for 2nd brood

Robin Chicks a few hours before leaving the nest (28-03-09)

 

Robin Chicks 15 days old before leaving nest today

Robin Chicks 14 days old and about ready to leave

Robin Chick Hatching Story

Using the video conferencing technology that I support for my company I was able to link the Robin nestbox up in such as way as to be able to dial from my office into the PC which had the camera feed from the nestbox. I suddenly noticed on Friday afternoon 13/3 that the first chick was hatching (Mother was in the nest hiding the view) and ~20 minutes later I was able to record the complete hatching of the second chick since the Mother bird had left the nest (kindly!!) An amazing event - see below

Robin Chick hatching caught on video!

Robin Chicks 12 days old (filmed over video conference link CIF resolution)

Robin Chicks 11 days old (filmed over video conference link CIF resolution)

Robin Chicks 10 days old (filmed over 384k video conference link)

Robin Chicks 9 days old

Robin Chicks 8 days old

Robin Chicks 7 days old

Robin Chicks 2 days old (~48 hours)

Chick Feeding and Cleaning!

Robin Chicks being fed (1 day old) 2nd video

Robin Chicks being fed (1 day old)

Female Robin entering nest

Male Robin feeding the female on the nest

Robin incubating five eggs (1/3/2009)

Robin laying 4th egg in Nestbox 28/2/2009