Baby birds

Happy birthday, birdies!

We had a robin build her nest on a windowsill on our back porch.  Right at eye level with the kids...I don't know what that mama was thinking, but it was fun to watch.  One day there was one egg, and then 2, and then 3.  We waited and waited for them to hatch.  Soon there were 2 of the ugliest little creatures you have ever seen.  We were worried about the other blue egg, but it hatched the very next day.  It was amazing to watch the mama diligently taking care of her babies.  She sat on them, until a kid tapped on the window or went outside and disturbed her.  If she wasn't setting, she was feeding.  Another robin came along (the dad or grandma?), and they tag-teamed on the feeding.  They fed and fed those baby birds all day long.  They were never far from the nest.  You could go up to them and make a tweet sound, and they would throw their heads back and open their mouths wide.  I mean it's amazing the little pink creatures even could move or knew what to do.  At first you could almost see through their skin and see their organs and hearts beating.  Their heads just bobbed around.  I thought for sure they were sick and would die.  But take a look at the difference between week 1 and week 2!  They grew like weeds! More feathers popped up every day.  All of mama's hard work payed off.

One week old

Just a few days later, barely able to fit in the nest.

They didn't stick around long after that.  It might have had something to do with little fingers stroking their heads.  I sure hope they made it when they flew away!  I can't remember now what the kids named them, but it sure was an awesome sight to behold.  Later, we found a sick little baby bird on our porch, and I decided to put it in the empty nest to see what would happen.  Well, it fell out and bonked it's head a couple times, but soon a bird (maybe it's mom?) had taken notice and started feeding it.  I think they were sparrows...very messier than the robins with their poop and all.  So, I was glad to see it fly the nest.  So cool, though!