4 Robins near to fledging in parking garage in a

June 30, 2018: 4 robin chicks that look to be near (or at?) the fledgling stage in a busy parking garage with no easy way to get to the outside unless they can somehow fly out an opening on one end of the garage that about 5 ft from the floor with a 12ft drop to the ground on the other side. I am not sure how they will get down from this nest once they do start to fledge, which should be any day now it appears! I am so worried about this phase for them because of the risk of falling to the concrete floor with only pipes to at ceiling level to perch on. Also the risk of frequent cars entering and exiting especially at dusk and dawn, not to mention a very loud scary garbage truck during the week. I’m fretting, to say the least! Any help? Nevertheless, both parents have been extremely attentive to them the entire time. Today, July 1 2018, we heard them for the first time making little chirps when one of their parents flew in with a bill full of food for them. The dad has been very territorial all day with his squawking and swooping around near some bushes and tree outside of the garage not far from the nest. Mom also has no qualms about scolding passerby as they walk past the nest from their cars. This is a recent behavior of hers, so she must be getting very tired of this situation and just wants them all out of this concrete box, especially considering it was over 95°F today and humid.

Crowded Robin’s Nest

My Robin neighbors’ young are quickly developing feathers. Last week they still looked like the baby from the movie “Eraserhead” but now they resemble their parents, showing more personality, curiosity, and ever more verve. It must be itchy to grow into your feathers because they are constantly picking at themselves and each other (either that or they have mites — ouch). Mom (nicknamed “Serene”) and Dad (“Serenade”) show signs of weariness as they continue to strive to meet the demands of this maturing brood.

The biggest, and perhaps the first hatched, is on the far left. I have predicted it is a “he” because each time he has stretched out his neck, he displays the brightest breast and wing feathers. He will most likely jump out of the nest first. I also thought he would be the greediest when it came to food, but from what I’ve observed, the parents go back and forth dividing food in turns. They really pay attention to details.

Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Cornell Lab of Ornithology