American Robin Nest for Rent

Date: June 16, 2007
Time: 7:15-7:30 a.m.

Weather Report: Sunny, 60°F, 81% Humidity, Winds: From SW @ 6 mph; feels like 60°F.

Location: The backyard of our home in the upstate New York city of Rochester in Monroe County.

Bird Species/Markings/Features: 1 female American Robin (Turdus migratorius).

Sights/Sounds/Activities: There is quite a few peaceful natural sounds hanging in the crisp morning air: the slight breeze blowing through the large ornamental grasses in our yard, some bird chatter, and, thankfully, silence.

A member of the growing community of American Robins referenced in my previous birding post, has moved into the nest that I "followed" in a series of posts last summer. The nest was well preserved during the past seasons ranging from August to May, during which it was empty, due the fact that it was positioned below the soffet in a corner of the structure which did not get directly hit by the seasonal elements: wind, snow, rain.

There was no sign of the "father" bird, but Mother (pictured above to the right) was clearly visible in the nest, where she was, presumably, sitting on her eggs.

Notes: My goal remains to follow the Robins from June through August this year. Last summer, when Anne and I went away for two weeks in early August, when we returned the nest had been vacated, its renters moved on to "parts unknown."