Meet the robins!

At the end of May I noticed a nest just outside a bedroom window. I thought I could see at least two eggs in there, in addition to one very watchful parent.

There were three eggs, shaded by the heart-shaped lilac leaves.

The parents were careful to stay on top of those chicks, day and night, in all kinds of weather. We did have quite a few rather violent thunderstorms around this time, but the nest was of sound construction.

At first the chicks seemed barely alive. They didn't move much, and their pitiful feathers didn't even cover their little naked bodies. I worried about them.

But they grew rapidly. My, what big eyes you have!

They slept and slept, gradually taking up more and more space in the nest.

And actually, they looked a little bit lizardy.

The parents took a dim view of my attempts to preserve these precious moments.

Within just one week, the babies had grown immensely, had sprouted respectable feathers, and were obviously hungry.

And within just a week and half, the nest was beginning to be more than a bit cramped.

Both parents were brave protectors, raising a fuss whenever I was near the nest, and following me back to the house. They scolded me until I was inside. I tried to stay away as much as I could while still getting some photos, going near the nest every third day or so.

About two weeks after they had hatched, these chicks were way too big for their tiny home.

But they still wanted mom and dad to take care of them, of course.

And then one day there were only two in the nest.

And soon after that, none. And they left their nest nice and tidy, too.

I read in Wikipedia that a pair of robins often hatch as many as three broods each spring, but that they build new nests for each brood. I don't expect to ever again have such a close-up view -- what a privilege!