Would a robin stay on a nest if the babies are dead?

Tags: Birds, Eggs, Robins, Baby Robins, Nest
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We had a really brutally cold night last night -- frost warning and everything (though as far as I can tell it didn't actually get to below freezing). There is a robin's nest up against our house that I've been keeping an eye on. We pissed off the momma bird yesterday by doing yardwork in her vicinity -- she kept fluttering around and glaring at us. I was worried that she wouldn't be on her eggs/ nest enough, given the temperatures.

This morning I've been checking -- the mom robin is there sometimes. I checked carefully to make sure she wasn't around (I know her usual spots) and grabbed the digital camera and took a picture. (I can't see the inside of the nest, but if I reach up the camera can "see" it.) Inconclusive, and I don't want to bother the nest any more.

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d130/sozobe/babyrobins.jpg

They seem to have hatched, but I can't tell whether they're OK. The robin has been on the nest every time I've checked since I took the pic.

I can't listen for cheeping of course and won't be able to 'til sozlet gets home this afternoon... (I know I can just wait, but I keep thinking about this so thought I'd ask.)

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View best answer, chosen by sozobe

@sozobe,

dont be too inquisitive. Id put a piece of black cloth or something like that to give some more privacy. They seem to be ok from your color balance. Theyd be bluish if they were dead.

Just give em space and dont "Love em to death" The mother is the main warmth they have for a few weeks as their surface areas decrease and they develop insulating feathers. I dont know why finches have almost naked babies and running birds (like chickens) young are all covered with down. COuld it be that the down covered young have to be ready to run rom when they are born?

Weve got several bluebird boxes with chicks. THeyre all mouth

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@farmerman,

OK, that's reassuring, thanks!

It's a corner of the house where they usually have complete privacy. (By a door we never use.) I'm confident the mom bird didn't see me take the pic, I won't do anything else. No more yardwork needs to be done over there.

Temps are supposed to be better from here... still chilly tonight but on the order of 40's, not 30's.

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Sometimes they live, sometimes they die. Give them the space they need to do what they were born to do.

If birth mortality rates for birds were kept i think you would find them surprisingly high.

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It is natural for them to be silent, in the ordinary course of events.
In 1969, I had a robin 's nest in my backyard.
The mother bird built her nest in my rosebush.
I watched the 3 babies grow to the size of their mother,
rendering it very crowded in their nest. Thay had no room to move.

I approached too closely, whereupon thay abruptly abandoned their nest
and began smacking me in the head, for a few moments.
I was not able to explain that I was the landowner and ergo, their host.
Thay never returned to their nest.

David

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Glanced over at the nest from a goodly distance away while doing other things -- four fuzzy little heads sticking out with mouths WIDE open! Yay. (Didn't stay long.)

Would a robin stay on a nest if the babies are dead?

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