Now, if this don't beat all...

We had some unexpected T-storms that started to roll through here just now. I had to run out and cover some of our tiny seedlings so they don't get pummled. DH helped me by bringing in our Petunia porch planters so the flowers don't get wind whipped. Well, wouldn't you know...
All this time I've been wanting a bird to build a nest in our yard...HA! Well, what do you think was discovered in one of our porch planters among the flowers? A Robin's nest! Good Grief! LOL
Well, we did see this "silly" female Robin hopping around the planters for the past week or so and rubbing her belly within the center of each of the pots. I would walk up to the window to try and discourage her, but she kept insisting on continuing. What we thought was funny was, like other birds, they test out a few nest areas 1st before finding the perfect "spot". Well, this time around when DH was bringing in the porch planters, he also noticed "starter" nests in 3 other pots...ROFL
Well, bless her heart!
Sad thing though, it has now been about an hour since these terrible storms have started to roll through here in Lincoln...so bad that our cable is out and the electricity has been flickering on and off. I here the distressed female Robin in a nearby tree, but she won't fly back with the downpours. DH felt the egg and it's ice cold :(
I don't think the temps here got up to even 50 today. She only has one egg in the nest so now we are worried that the egg won't be good for a baby Robin now...Oh, I just want to cry!
Here's a few pics...
Look in the center of the planter you'll see part of the nest in this pic...

This message was edited May 12, 2010 7:33 PM

Here's a closer pic of the nest...

Even closer...the lone egg waiting for Mama :(

bumping :)

Hi SusanLouise...even if the egg ends up not hatching...she will lay more as long as you leave the nest be. Most Robins raise chicks 2 or more times in a season if food is plentiful.

Hello Burd,
Will she go back to the same nest or at least another one of our Petunia planters, or start all over somewhere else? Which do you think will be more likely? I'm just all torn up over this...very disheartning :(

Quite possible she will use the same nest...you will know when the weather gets better.

I would think she will go back to that one.

Ok, thank you both...I'll update if there is any news. Hopefully it will be good news :/

UPDATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
She is sitting pretty in the nest...WooHoo!
This pic would have been perfect if that darn spent Petunia bloom wasn't blocking her pretty face...but at least it shows she's a good Mama. I pray her only egg hatches and or she will use the nest again for her future broods...bless her heart. this made my day! :D

This message was edited May 13, 2010 10:00 AM

Very good that is great news! I hope she lays more eggs there.

Pelletory,

You mentioned in your last post about her laying more eggs. Well, you are spot on! I thought nest robbers took her other 1 or 2 eggs...
I can't stand the excitement...be still my heart!
I was waiting for her to leave the nest so I could water the flowers, remove that darn spent bloom blocking my view of better pics and guess what...she laid another egg!!!!!!!
I'm gonna be a Godmother! LOL I'm beside myself with excitement!
Here are a few more pics...
Just before she left the nest, she gave me her back side...hehehe

This message was edited May 13, 2010 2:15 PM

Here's the nest with 2 eggs...

Giving me "the look"...
I think she knows I opened my view for pic taking...LOL

Very cute, those eggs are beautiful!

And to think she didn't even have to decorate. Lucky you

They always leave the eggs cold until the clutch is complete (usually 5 eggs). That way, the first egg doesn't get ahead of the last egg, so all five hatch at the same time. So it is quite correct that the one egg on its own should be cold.

Resin

Thanks Pelletory!

Amos...LOL, you're a hoot!

Resin,
Thanks for the great info! I'm wondering if this might be her 2nd brood already then. She has been on the nest now for about 85% of the time today and there are only 2 eggs. From what little I read online and in reference books, the 1st brood will have 3-5, and the 2nd & 3rd broods will only have 1-2. I guess time will tell...but based upon what you said about warming them all at the same time, I wonder where her fledglings are from her 1st brood? Or maybe her 1st nest/brood wasn't a success...Hmmmmm. So many possibilities. I did see 2 shells of opened Robin's eggs scattered in our garden by the birdbath, so I don't know if they were from nest robbers or the mother Robin from another nest is doing a little house cleaning. I guess time will tell...cheers! :D

Finally an adorable picture perfect shot of Mama...so sweet! :D

This message was edited May 13, 2010 5:05 PM

Yippie! Mama laid her 3rd egg today!!! So it's her 1str brood!!!! It now makes me wonder which robin's egg shells are in our garden...pondering the thought...
I checked her nest while she was on the front lawn searching for grub. when I went back in the house to get the camera to take a pic of her now 3 eggs, she came back to the nest...Darn! I'll just get that pic later. I don't think she will leave the nest now til the sun is gone from the angle the sun is now. I'm sure she knows she'd have hard boiled eggs :/...poor thing. So she has her beak open for ventilation right now to help cool her off. Wish I could shade her somehow...oh well. Since the porch is covered and out of the sun for most of the day, she still has to deal with the afternoon sun from about 3:30-7:00pm. I'll post that pic with the pic of the 3 eggs later this evening...

I sneaked up to the nest after Mama left to get a drink of water at the birdbath and take a bath...Whew! Got the pics!!!
Here she is in the hot sun...

And the nest with 3 eggs...Oh, DH and I are so happy!!! :D

That is so beautiful Susan! Congratulations!

Thanks Pelle :D

I got curious as to "Why" did mama Robin lay only one egg a day and not all on one day? My curiosity got the best of me...so.....
For those folks who don't know some fun facts about Robins and info about the females laying their eggs, I found this link at Journey North. Although I post info/sightings to them for butterflies and birds migrating...even have our backyard/gardens/habitat on there, I still don't get a chance to read everything...
Hope ya'll have fun reading this :D
http://www.learner.org/jnorth/tm/robin/EggstraEggstra.html

Another pic of Mama. She seems to be sinking a bit in her nest to keep the clutch warm :D

The clutch has now reached 4...
It will be interesting if this is the end of her laying eggs or if there will be one more tomorrow. I'll be marking the calendar for the due date of 12-14 days from that point for the eggs to start hatching...Yay! :)

Nice shots Susan!

Really sweet shots you are getting SusanLouise...the setting is just beautiful! Congratulations on getting a nest in your yard...I know how much you have wanted one. Looking forward to seeing more...

How exciting it's for you Susan. Wow, fabuluous pics. congrats 'Godmother'!

Thanks Pelle, Dell and Lily!
The latest info is that 4 is the end count. she didn't lay #5 today, so I marked the calendar. Looks like the eggs will start hatching just before June...Woohoo!
I can barely stand the suspence...LOL

FOUR! Holy Moly!!!

That's good. I have three babies in my lilac bush. They grow fast, you'll have fun watching them.

Mrs_Ed and Susan, I'm so happy for both of you!

I'm marking this thread to "watch"... can't wait to see your pics after your new babies make their arrival.
Congratulations :)

Hello chris,

Well, bless your heart! That made my day :D

Nice pictures! I think it's especially pretty with the flowers surrounding the robin. You might want to save one of those for a calendar picture.

I have a bird camera and put it on my babies today. tomorrow I might move it closer.

That's a great pic Mrs_Ed! A proud Mama she is!!! :D

Mrs_Ed, I love that glare Momma seems to be giving the camera :)

You're not real far from the Quad Cities, are you? I'm about 1 1/2 hours from there :)

susan thanks for that link, very informative . I have a nest of robins in my star magnolia this year and I m excited too : )
I can't see up in there so I have enjoyed looking at the pictures you have posted
laura

Nope Chris, I'm not far at all. I'm in Rock Falls.