Our Baby Robin

Okay, this has been the BEST homeschooling project we've done in a LONG time! The kids have done a LOT of work on this, and I'm so proud of them and how it's been going.



We found "Robby Ray" out of his nest on July 2nd, 2009 in our yard. His nest was in the gutter above, 2 stories up. After looking him over and figuring him to be about a week and a half old (based on web-photos of other robins), we decided to go ahead and try to raise and release him. This video is of day 12, so he's roughly just over 3 weeks old (maybe 23 days or so). You can see that after raising him for 12 days that he's really imprinted on my daughter. It's the sweetest thing ever!



And, everyone will be happy to know that we've been in contact with a rehab center, who looked him over and gave him a clean bill of health (except for a tiny bubbly sound... he's been a little sneezy, but no other symptoms) and remarked at what a wonderful job the kids have done with feeding him and raising him. He has good muscle tone, good hydration, good grooming, good active level, he's even been learning what to eat, etc. The ONLY thing they worry about is his socialization, that he enjoys people way too much, and we all agree. (However, I must point out that my hubby said, "Socialization? Didn't you tell them that Robby Ray is homeschooled?" Socialization is a big joke with us homeschooler-types. ^_^)



Anyway, the rehab center has five aviaries in its backyard. They said that the other robins Robby Ray's age are just about old enough for an aviary, that as soon as an aviary opens up they will put that group in. After talking it over with my kids, we all agreed that as soon as that group "graduates" to the aviary, we will relinquish Robby Ray to them. Since we're raising him out-of-doors, with no cage anymore, we don't feel it's right to give him to the rehab center until the other caged babies are out of the cages and enjoying the freedom of flight. In fact, Robby Ray threw a big fit tonight being in a cage again just to take a trip to the rehab center. He didn't like it at all! Can't say that I blame him.



So, later this week, off he'll go to the rehab center to play with the other robins his age... a "Fifth Grade Camp" or "Senior Trip" if you will... ^_^. Heh heh. AND... the center is so impressed with how well the kids have done raising him that they're going to keep us on file for next spring to help with the Starlings, maybe some Sparrows, too! Won't that be fun!? Homeschooling is the BEST!



Hope you enjoy the vid! Blessings!