The Terre Haute Robin Project
First of all, yes, I woke up early to watch the royal wedding. Not too much earlier than usual -- about a half an hour -- and I only got to see William and Kate (Catherine) after they left Westminster and got into their carriage, but, gosh, the whole thing was lovely. The world has made a habit of kicking us in the teeth lately, and this wedding was exactly the kind of happy spectacle we all needed. Congratulations to the happy couple!
Second, I don't know if you're following along on my Facebook, but a mother robin made a nest outside my window last weekend. And when I say "outside," I mean right the hell outside -- I can't open my window screen because she's got the back of the nest butted up against it. Anyway, I've sort of been photo-documenting what's been going on over the past week. I've gotten really attached to this mother robin, who I've named "Lucy," after John James Audubon's wife (ISN'T THAT DELICIOUSLY PRETENTIOUS OF ME?).
AND TODAY, YOU GUYS. TODAY THERE WAS AN EGG.
This was the nest on Tuesday, when I first discovered its existence. It had been a pretty dreary weekend, so I hadn't raised or adjusted my blinds since the previous Friday. The nest itself is about the diameter of a large tea saucer and about four to five inches high. The outside was smeared with mud, which I assume is to keep the bits of grass and twig together.
A better view of the inside of the nest, taken on Wednesday morning. The robin had worked through the night to pad her nest with more grass and twigs. It looked pretty cozy.
On Thursday morning, before work, I finally managed to get a few good shots of the mommy robin in her nest.
There weren't any eggs yet, though.
But today, when I got home from work, there was a single, gorgeous egg sitting in the center of the nest! It's about the size of a large grape and the most beautiful shade of blue! The normal gestation period for a robin egg (yes, I did that Google search) is about two weeks. After that point, the father robin (who I will have to call "John James," or "JJ" for the sake of continuity) teaches the fledglings how to survive in the big, wild world.
I'll keep you updated with nest events, if'n you're interested. Hell, I'll probably update anyway. This is so cool.
Second, I don't know if you're following along on my Facebook, but a mother robin made a nest outside my window last weekend. And when I say "outside," I mean right the hell outside -- I can't open my window screen because she's got the back of the nest butted up against it. Anyway, I've sort of been photo-documenting what's been going on over the past week. I've gotten really attached to this mother robin, who I've named "Lucy," after John James Audubon's wife (ISN'T THAT DELICIOUSLY PRETENTIOUS OF ME?).
AND TODAY, YOU GUYS. TODAY THERE WAS AN EGG.
This was the nest on Tuesday, when I first discovered its existence. It had been a pretty dreary weekend, so I hadn't raised or adjusted my blinds since the previous Friday. The nest itself is about the diameter of a large tea saucer and about four to five inches high. The outside was smeared with mud, which I assume is to keep the bits of grass and twig together.
A better view of the inside of the nest, taken on Wednesday morning. The robin had worked through the night to pad her nest with more grass and twigs. It looked pretty cozy.
On Thursday morning, before work, I finally managed to get a few good shots of the mommy robin in her nest.
There weren't any eggs yet, though.
But today, when I got home from work, there was a single, gorgeous egg sitting in the center of the nest! It's about the size of a large grape and the most beautiful shade of blue! The normal gestation period for a robin egg (yes, I did that Google search) is about two weeks. After that point, the father robin (who I will have to call "John James," or "JJ" for the sake of continuity) teaches the fledglings how to survive in the big, wild world.
I'll keep you updated with nest events, if'n you're interested. Hell, I'll probably update anyway. This is so cool.