Birding/Robins' nest

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Expert: - 5/25/2007


Question
I've been observing an active Robins' nest for the past five days. For the past two
days I've only seen one bird, I assume the female, nesting there. Before both
parents were taking turns attending the nest. Can the babies survive with only
one parent at the nest.

Answer
The female Robin does most of the work, building the nest, incubating the eggs, feeding the nestlings, etc. The male usually just stands guard somewhere and may even sit on the eggs once in awhile, but the female is far more important in the parenting role. So the male may or may not be around, but he is not essential to the babies' survival. Roger Lederer at Ornithology.com

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Roger Lederer

Expertise

Any and all about WILD birds - the science of ornithology. Information about birdwatching, ecology, conservation, migration, behavior, banding, rehabilitation, feeding, songs, binoculars, identification, and careers in ornithology. No questions about pet or caged birds, please.

Experience

Have a PhD and over forty years as a professional ornithologist - research, teaching, author, speaker, webmaster of Ornithology.com . Have written thirty scientific papers, three bird field guides, a textbook in ecology and two recent books entitled "Amazing Birds" and "Birds of New England". Have traveled to over 90 countries watching birds.

Education/Credentials
PhD in Zoology/Ornithology; Emeritus Professor of Biological Sciences; former Dean of the College of Natural Sciences at California State University, Chico

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