American robins (Turdus migratorius) live and nest near us but they’re so common that we often don’t notice them. Here’s an opportunity to watch a robin’s nest up close.
On Monday May 8, Cornell Lab of Ornithology announced the first hatchling at its American Robin Nestcam in Ithaca, New York. Baby robins take only 12-14 days to fledge so there will be lots of activity between now and May 20-22.
When I tuned in this morning before dawn there was no adult on the nest. I know so little about robin behavior that I was full of questions. Are the chicks already past the brooding stage so they don’t need an adult overnight? Was the mother up early to look for food? Or did something happen to her? I’ll have to watch and find out.
Click here or on the screenshot above to watch the American Robin Nestcam at Cornell Lab’s Sapsucker Woods. The wesbite includes screenshots and videos of their daily activity.
p.s. You can tell the male and female apart using this subtle characteristic: The male’s head and face are very black. The head and face of the female is much less black, shading toward brown.
(screenshot from American Robin Nestcam at Cornell Lab’s Sapsucker Woods. Click on the image to see the nestcam)
Hi Kate,
I actually watched a Robin’s next last spring under my porch (and took a daily picture to watch the chick grow). I observed that the mother did not spend every moment in the nest after a few days. However, both parents were always VERY close. They let me know if I wondered too close by chirping loudly. It was very cool to be a part of, especially the fledging. One day the chick was there, and the next it was gone! It happened so fast, I missed it!