Wild Animals/Fledgling Robins

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Expert: Jonathan Wright - 7/3/2009


Question
We've been watching a nest of four baby Robins who are right outside our
kitchen window. They all left the nest yesterday, and we saw them hopping
and flying a little all over our yard yesterday evening. This morning the
mother bird is crying for them with a worm in her mouth, and we don't see
the babies anywhere, and they aren't calling back. Is it likely they have left, or
is it more likely that a cat or other predator has gotten them? There is no sign
of them anywhere, and it's about noon.

Answer
Dear Anne

Thank you for your question.

Fledling is a dangerous time for young robins. They have to develop their independence, learn how to fly and how to find food for themselves. As the robins have left the nest, they are more vulnerable to predators, but are much closer to being independent adults. I can't tell if they have flown away or been killed by a predator.

Please note that a pair of robins only needs to produce two chicks that become breeding adults to replace themselves. This means that most chicks die before they reach adulthood. This may sound sad, but if all the chicks survived, there would be a far higher population of robins. This could lead to mass starvation or to robins replacing other bird species, which would also cause problems for the local environment.

All the best

Jonathan

Wild Animals

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Jonathan Wright

Expertise

I can answer questions about wild mammals and other animals, as well as extinct animals and zoos. I am not an expert about every animal species. I can look up information from books and the internet, but can't verify if all the information is true. Please don't ask questions about: 1. Pets. I am not a vet. Please contact a vet if your pet is ill. You may need to spend some money if you want your pet to live. Don't get a pet if you don't know how to look after it and if you can't provide it with the space, food and possible companions that will help it live a healthy life. Don't take animals from the wild, unless they are ill and/or injured and you can protect them until a wildlife charity can help. It is cruel to take animals from their parents, especially if the parents will look for the babies, while putting their other babies at risk. You may be breaking the law by keeping wild animals or you may need a licence to look after some species. Please check with a local wildlife group. 2. Eggs: Please don't remove eggs from nests. The mother birds provide the right temperature for the eggs and won't sit on them if the temperature is warm enough for them to develop naturally. It is illegal to remove eggs of some species and, unless you have an incubator or a broody hen, the egg may not develop. If you are allowed to touch the eggs, you can candle them to see if they are fertile. If theys aren't fertile, they won't hatch. 3. Fights: Please don't ask about fights between different animals. These questions assume that individuals of two species fight each time they meet and that one species will always be victorious over another. This is untrue. There are cases where a live mouse has been fed to a venomous snake, bitten the snake leading to the snake's demise. 4: Diseases: Please ask doctors or other medical experts about diseases that you may catch from animals. I can't advise on how to deal with viruses, bacteria etc.

Experience

I have a zoology degree and have been interested in animals since I was two. I am a zoo volunteer at London Zoo. I have appeared on a BBC Radio Quiz, 'Wildbrain'.

Organizations
WWF. ZSL. Natural History Museum. RSPB. London Bat Group.

Publications
Newsletters of London Zoo volunteers and the London Bat Group

Education/Credentials
BSC degree in Zoology. 'A' level in Zoology. 'O' Level in Biology.

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