Expert: Roger Lederer - 7/22/2006

Question
I live in N.H. and early this summer a robin built a nest in the wreath on the side of my house. It layed 2 eggs and the hatched and I wathced the babies (obviuosly never touched them, etc) for about 2 weeks at which time the male bird (I think it was the male anyways) became very annoyed and even aggressive (diving very close and calling loudly) when I came out of my front door or was in the frony yeard (which was very close to the nest, the wreath hanging about 2 feet nest to my door). Thn all of a sudden the 2 babies were gone and I've not had any robin activity in my yard or nest since. The babies had feathers - did they fledge? Do they leave the nest permanently when they fledge? So that was about 3 weeks ago that they all left and 3 days ago I noticed another robin visiting the nest. Then I noticed her sspending quite a bit of time sitting in there and I peeked and there's 2 new eggs in there! Is this a different bird than the first? Did she find the nest and decide to move in? How common is this? Thanks!


Answer
Sounds like everything is normal; the female has had a secon brood. It is not uncommon at all. When the babies fledge they leave the nest permanently.  I don't know if these are different birds but if they are using the same nest they are probably the same birds. Roger Lederer at Ornithology.com