American Robin Robin Nest Cam Lesson #4: Final Discussion In the first clip, which baby seems closest to leaving the nest? How does the biggest, strongest baby have an advantage at feeding time? The baby closest to us seems to be a bit bigger and more alert than the others, though it's hard to be sure. When the parent flew in, that bird was closest and most assertive, and was the one who was fed. In the second clip, one of the babies is preening. What are the other two doing? Why do you suppose they spend so much time preening? The other babies seem to be observing their surroundings. Baby birds spend most of their awake time stretching, preening, and watching the big world around them. These activities will make them strong and have good coordination, with smooth, sleek plumage making flight easier, and knowledgeable about their environment. The preening nestling is also shaking its wings. This shakes off little bits of the feather sheath that are flaking off as each feather opens up. Notice how the feather itchiness and instinct to preen lead to the baby exercising its wings for flight. In the fifth clip, why do you suppose the parent robin is sitting on top of the two babies? Notice how the babies' and mother's beaks are wide open: this is what birds do when they're overheated. It looks very sunny out, too. We think the mother must be trying to shade her babies to keep them from getting too hot! In the sixth clip, watch how one baby ends up out of the nest. Does it look like it jumped out on purpose? What do you think will happen next? It looks like the baby didn't know what would happen! If this nest had been on a branch or a smaller platform, it might have ended up on the ground! Baby robins don't seem to have a really clear view of what's going to happen, and right now this baby is sitting tight, but soon it will flap and hop and end up out of the nest. In the seventh clip, notice how the baby still inside the nest seems to be trying to leave the nest. Both nestlings have been exercising their wings. Do you think they need practice before they can hop and walk? It looks like this birds head and body want to leave the nest, but the feet are still hanging on tight. These birds have never used their leg muscles to hop or walk, and have never gotten off the ground with their wings. This exercise is helping them so when they try these things for the first time they'll have a good chance of survival. The eighth clip is our favorite one! Do you think the baby who fledged was leaving on purpose? What do you think its brother or sister was thinking when it saw it leave? The first baby was clearly studying the ground, and seemed to fledge from the nest on purpose. The second baby seems to be paying close attention! It will fledge soon, too!   Lesson #1 Lesson #2 Lesson #3 Lesson #4 Back to the Beginning Facebook Pinterest Twitter © 1997 – 2024 Journey North. All rights reserved.