Robins

Speaking about the log ends of the cabin... It took a few years but a pair of Robins finally decided to build a nest on one corner of our log home. The only surprise about that is that it took over two years (none in 2007 or 2008). We had to evict a Robin from the basement and the front entry way several times when we were constructing in 2006. We'd knock the nest down and the next day the foundations of a new one would be constructed. (The damn bird got up earlier than we did and lived on site so he had an hour or two head start. We didn't arrive until 7:30 AM and left around 5 PM each day.) We've had Robins nesting in the pines around the clearing but this was the first on the house.

Robins' Nest

It's definitely not one of the prettiest nests I've ever seen. I'll blame that on the use of man-made materials. The long plastic strips are from the tarps that wrapped the logs when they were delivered. I used one to cover the firewood and it weathered into these 3/16 inch wide ribbons. They were plentiful and available close to the nest site. A true Robins' nest of woven grasses and mud can be quite lovely. This jumble? Not so much.

Its location gets high grades, however. On the top most log end it's well out of harms way. It's under the eave so it's protected from the rain. It's on the southeast corner of the house so it's sheltered from the northwest winds.

Robin babies.

I will wait a bit to tear down and discard this ugly nest because--if I count noses correctly--there are three baby Robins in there at the moment. They remained perfectly still as I took their portrait so whether there is a fourth in the background or not is impossible to tell unless I climb a ladder.

They look to be a week or so from leaving the nest. There was considerable down visible from my vantage point but the coloration suggests they have started to grow "real" feathers. Certainly, they are being well looked after as Mom and Dad were hanging out in the trees a few feet away and giving me what for as I took these photos.