This
baby probably got curious because its siblings had already left
the nest. It started hopping and landed in the gutter! All nestlings
usually leave a nest within 24 hours after the first one leaves.
Baby robins fledge when they are between 9 and 16 days old.
Oops!
This baby may not have left on purpose. It looks like
he started sliding and headed down backwards. Baby birds
have a natural instinct to flap their wings when they feel
air rushing past them. How
does that behavior help them survive?
If
a baby falls out of a nest—or a roof gutter—its
flapping instinct helps it stay upright and land more softly.
Some baby birds don't leave the nest until their wings are
strong enough to fly to a new place. But baby robins leave
long before they can fly well!
The
baby's spots look like the grass tips, helping it hide in the
mowed lawn. We can't see the robin dad, but he is probably nearby.
It's Dad's job to keep track of the baby birds now as they explore
their world. Mother Robin will prepare the nest and lay eggs
for another batch of babies.
This
baby will spend 10 to 15 days hiding and staying close to dad
before it becomes independent. It needs time to gain the skill
and strength to fly away from danger.
It seems to be crouching. What will it do next?
The
fledgling takes a jump and flaps, but isn't quite flying.
The baby is building leg and wing strength. It takes time to
build the skills to fly, just as it took you time to
learn to walk! Babies can take short flights a few days after
leaving the nest. As their flying improves, dad leads them at
night to a roost with other dads and babies. This teaches them
flocking behavior. It helps them join their first flock so they
can watch and learn from other robins. This baby's adventure
is just beginning!
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