abandoned robins?

[bubbles4920]

there's a robin's nest on a fence outside our house. it has no shelter whatsoever and it poured down last night. im very concerned as there are 3 baby robins in the nest probably 1-2 wks old max and i normally see one adult bird sitting over them at night. shes not there tonight which seems strange. im wondering as it poured down last night that she's had enough or even got sick, dont laugh! she was really so good always going off to feed the babies. what should i do? i dont want the babies to die. when it downpoured last week both adult birds were on the nest spreading out their wings to protect their young, so cute! so how long should i give it before i should do something? should i contact the rspb? after all i cant feed these robins myself, i wouldnt know where to start. i just dread looking at them later in case they are dead. also is it normal for the adult not to be on the nest at night sometimes, particularly as the young get older, there are lots of trees around.

[ACtheTROLL]

circle of life ... just leave them to it

[Schutzengel]

If mum isn't back today, contact RSPB asap.

[bubbles4920]

there is a God! an adult bird is back today feeding them, be it mum or dad.i am so protective of these beautiful creatures, i can only guess that now the babies are getting bigger she doesnt need to sleep on top of them now, does anyone know this? would the male bird still come and feed the babies if the female didnt return?
also what im intrigued about is the fact that when the babies are fed, i can see the adult with a big white spittle looking blob that she maybe? takes out of the nest first and then eats, not sure if she regurgitates it, what is this?

[Schutzengel]

So glad mum and or dad is back. What a relief. Your question - mum is cleaning the next. Now just enjoy watching the robin babies, they'll be learning to fly soon.

[Schutzengel]

Sorry that should say - cleaning the nest.

[whifffey]

Wildlife can be very upsetting. If you can see the nest and it has no cover, then regrettably magpies and other predators also will be able to see it.

I have some really tame robins. One comes into the house, and I mean comes in at the conservatory, flies upstairs, and out of the bedroom window. They land on my bedroom windowsill when I pull the curtains to remind me to feed them. Last year magpies got the nest. Little wonder that whenever those ghastly cackling creatures start croaking away in my cherry tree I rush out and throw bricks at them.

[gen2]

Re the white bit.
It is a faecal sac. The parent bird takes it straight from the youngster and removes it from the nest. Natures answer to disposable nappies.

[bubbles4920]

my little baby robins are almost grown now, should be ready to fly any day now. was wondering where they would go once they left the nest, will they still come back to the nest? will the mother or both parents use the nest for the rest of the year?

[bubbles4920]

awww, theyve gone but will they ever come back?!

[madmaggot]

Nature is a wondrous force, don't be tempted to meddle.

If homo sapiens had left nature to herself we would not be in the mess we are today; once we have managed to make ourselves extinct the world will be fine thanks.

[bubbles4920]

youre right madmaggot, please dont think i am meddling though, just wondering how nature worked! how anyone can be cruel to animals i will never know.

[mrs.chappie]

I'm with you all the way, bubbles.

I have some tiny tits in my garden, trying to fly. I have a problem with cats (two of 'em) and all the time I am at home, I am on cat-watch, willing the little birds to get strong and fly away.

The most frustrating thing for me, is that the cats kill the birds and just leave them on my garden. It's nature, I know, but it wouldn't be so bad if they ate their kills.