Birds

The Changing of the Guard

May 3, 2011 by Corey 1 Comment

On a recent visit to Prospect Park one of the many wonderful sights was a nest belonging to a pair of American Robins in the Midwood.  Probably one of the most familiar nests to North American birders, their eggs are known well enough to have a color named after them and many individuals are acclimatized to people, which means that they are comfortable enough to nest near our buildings.  It was not a surprise to see a robin’s nest but it was nice to notice that the darker male was guarding the nest, relieving the female who likely was out taking a break from keeping the eggs warm and likely foraging for food and grabbing a drink.

Not long after I spotted the nest the male suddenly took flight and the female immediately swooped in and took his place.  She had dirt on her bill which made me think she must have managed to get something to eat, and paused for a moment and gave me a hard stare as if she were trying to judge my intent, and then she grabbed and moved a tiny twig before settling in to incubate.

I bet that this pair successfully raises a big brood…here’s hoping that they do!

…

Written by Corey
Corey is a New Yorker who lived most of his life in upstate New York but has lived in Queens since 2008. He's only been birding since 2005 but has garnered a respectable life list by birding whenever he wasn't working as a union representative or spending time with his family. He lives in Forest Hills with Daisy and Desmond Shearwater. His bird photographs have appeared on the Today Show, in Birding, Living Bird Magazine, Bird Watcher's Digest, and many other fine publications. He is also the author of the American Birding Association Field Guide to the Birds of New York.