22 Days Old
They are twenty-two days old today and it has been nine days since they fledged. They are still getting fed by Dad. Mom started sitting on the new nest yesterday and was on it this morning. Yesterday I was feeding the parents in the morning, with both young nearby in the gardens - when suddenly the parents got upset about something and began vocalizing. I walked around to see what it was and found a young raccoon nearby. It came into the gardens. I wasn’t sure where the fledglings went. Later on I went out a couple times to feed but the only one to show up was Mom (who flew in from the nest), she was not feeding, only eating. I figured the young (although slightly early) left the immediate area for good.
This morning I went out to feed. Mom flew down from the nest to eat. A moment later Dad flew in, he was taking mealworms to feed. I followed him and found the first fledgling in a tree nearby. I continued to feed the father and the fledgling came down to the ground to get fed. It walked around the back gardens and found one of the birdbaths where it took a drink and a bath. Then it flew out of the gardens, and went some distance away.
A moment later the second fledgling flew into the back gardens, right next to me. He/she is more vocal than the other one. Dad came in to get mealworms to feed it.
He ate his first mealworm on his own.
I was able to throw it right in front of him. Usually I throw them and Dad will quickly get it to feed to the fledgling.
This second fledgling also found the birdbath, took a few drinks and took a bath (possibly for the first time). He/she also spent a little time learning how to be a robin - picking up little twigs.
Later in the day I went out front to feed Mom. Within minutes Dad shows up. The fledglings join Dad on the walkway to get fed by Dad. After a few minutes a Common Grackle shows up in the nearby tree. Dad went after it. The grackle wasn’t backing down and Dad was getting the worst of it. I stepped forward and the grackle flew off.
I think Dad needed a moment to himself after that encounter (even a bath).
