Baby Robin

Every spring a pair of robins nest close by the East Side Gang.  And every spring I worry that the babies will survive when the cats are so close.

A couple of days ago as I was walking the path back to the feeding area for Ollie and Spirit I notice an adult robin on the path.  Then I realized that a baby robin must be close.  Sure enough I saw a young robin learning to fly. Actually this little bird knows how to fly but he is still spending a lot of time close to the ground.  

Yesterday I saw mom and dad robin so I knew baby was around.  I was happy this little guy was ok.  While I was sitting with the kitties during their meal I heard chirping. I looked up to see both parents a few feet away which meant baby was there too.  This was just a little too close to the kitties.  I moved towards the birds and the parents flew in opposite directions but not too far.  There on the path sat baby robin.  I knew where Ollie was but Spirit had wandered off and I had no idea where he was.  Thankfully baby robin flew up into the trees away from the cats area.

When I was leaving the cats one of the adult robins flew by with a worm or bug in its beak.  I stopped to watch.  The parent sat on a low branch looking around.  I backed off a little and then saw the parent fly down into the tall grass below to feed baby.  

Today I didn't see or hear the robins when I arrived but as I was leaving the area after feeding Spirit and Ollie I saw the parents and the baby.  

I love watching the happy side of nature.  

A different dynamic

In my last post I mentioned Ollie had been missing for about 48 hours.  She did return and she was so hungry.  She disappeared again a week or so later but only for about 24 hours.  I came to the conclusion she was hiding in one of the sleeping shelters, not from me but from Spirit.

The dynamic has changed since the loss of Doodle and Jag last January.  Spirit has become much more of a bully and Ollie is really frightened of him.  Ollie just has to see Spirit and she runs into the sleeping shelter and often Spirit chases her.  Poor little Ollie.  She is not a very big kitty and I think of her as being very dainty.

Over the past month things seem to be a little better for Ollie.  Spirit seems to be less mean spirited.  He eats his food then wanders off leaving Ollie to eat in peace.  

I'm so glad that the weather is warming up for the kitties sakes.