The "A New Family Moves To Harrington Drive" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Snickerdoodle, our new cat who arrived at our back door a few months ago, was looking out the window next to me and making noises that emanated from deep in his throat.  I knew he had spotted something so I put down my book and stretched my body to take a look for myself.  To the right of the window, about ten feet up in the arborvitae trees, was what had drawn his attention.  

If you look hard you can see three beaks sticking up in the
air, waiting for mom or dad to divvy up a few worms.
Click on image to enlarge it.

A robin had just arrived with a mouthful of worms to feed her new family that was alive and well in the nest she and her mate had constructed along our home.  I could see three tiny heads with small yellow beaks sticking out of the twigs and grasses they had been used to make their nest.  One by one the mother feed the brood and after she left to find more food, the male robin arrives with more worms.  

Feeding time once again.

The recent wet weather has made finding worms an easy chore for the mom and dad.  For the next two weeks Snickerdoodle and I made multiple daily checks on the parents and fledglings, watching as they grew and gained a fine covering of feathers.  I even managed to shoot a few photos from the sharp angle where they had built their nest.  One afternoon a storm arrived and one of the adult robins sat on top of the nest, with wings spread open, to protect the three fledglings.  If we needed to check on Snickerdoodle, we knew exactly where we could find him.  And then, just as quick as we found them, they were gone.  Snickerdoodle still looks out at the nest, but after a quick check, he's at the back door waiting for the squirrels and chipmunks to stop for a peanut that Carol has just thrown out to them.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

Snickerdoodle keeping a close watch on the bird's nest.

One more view of feeding time.