Single Parenthood

jetgirl · #1 (**permalink**) 19-05-2010, 06:26 PM

My favourite, most tame, one-legged Daddy robin has been missing for about 5 days now.. I suspect most likely eaten by a predator or killed in a territorial fight ( I am very sad about this indeed

)

Mummy robin's eggs have now hatched, perhaps today or the day before.

Is she going to cope with raising these babies on her own? Can I put any special kinds of food out to help her? Will she continue to look after them as fledglings or just leave them to fend for themselves to find another mate?

Grateful if questions are answered, to put my mind at rest.

shenk1 · #2 (**permalink**) 19-05-2010, 06:32 PM

I don't know about the other things but I do know she wouldn't say no to some live mealworms.

Don't you just get attached to robins though!

jetgirl · #3 (**permalink**) 24-05-2010, 09:18 PM

Unfortunately, the robin nest has been raided by some sort of predator - leaving no chicks behind (I blame the new neighbours, who cut and trimmed our overgrown branches, exposing the nest box).

The mother robin has not been back since, she might have left of a broken heart! Lost her husband, lost her babies.. all within a week or so..

I have come to a conclusion that single parenthood for a robin is highly unlikely if in the early stages of the chicks just being born. The mother needs to tend to the chicks within the nestbox, whilst the male has the duty to hunt for food and bring it back to her. With the absence of the male robin, my female robin was out all the time, looking for food. This is where the most danger was, for the poor chicks.

I am eagerly waiting for a new male robin occupant as I miss their presence a lot!! Its not quite the same without them.