How I Spent My Summer Vacation - Part 5

Meet Irene.

Irene began life like most robins...in a nest safe from predators. Only Irene's parents had the misfortune to build their nest in the backyard of 311 Wellesley Rd. where the in-ground swimming pool claims the lives of many a small creature.

I often wondered if this pair of robins were the same pair to build a nest over the floodlight, but above the back door, in May of 2010. While the light nest was safe from cats and squirrels, the eggs got very little warmth from the parents due to our constant comings and goings. The tree nest was easier for me to observe on a daily basis and the parents never minded our backyard activities. Of course, I did move the grill so I wasn't barbequing directly beneath the small family.

The eggs hatched and the babies grew with the constant feedings from the parents. As they got bigger and bigger, I kept closer watch on the nest. One day, the unthinkable happened. One baby was found dead under the tree and the other was hopping around the pool, much too small to leave the nest in my opinion.

I spent the entire day in the backyard ready to dive in and save the bird at a moments notice. I was in constant contact with my friend Kerry, vet technician and pediatric emergency care nurse since I was concerned about the small size of the fledgling and it's inability to fly or feed independently. She suggested I pop him back into the nest so minutes before we were to leave for a Chiefs' game I made Rob drag the ladder up from the cellar so I could re-nest the baby. When I put baby 1 into the nest, baby 2 jumped out and eventually both were reluctant to remain in the nest. Meanwhile, the parents are nowhere to be found and I needed guidance. Jumbo beers and peanuts were calling me.

We came home from the game and I went immediately into the backyard to check on the babies. I could only find baby 2 and he didn't look good. I built a nest in a small woven basket and hung it in the tree with the hopes that his parents would find him before the neighbors cat.

Alas, baby 2 did not survive the night but baby 1 was alive and well and hopping around the pool edge. I spent another day at the poolside watching over baby 1 and even feeding him worms. Actually, the mother would hop down and feed him periodically but I was ready to put in a call to CPS for neglect. I dug up worms, washed them off, cut them in half and popped them into his mouth. Rob thought I was going above and beyond with the washing off part but he accepted my robin vigil.

Early the next morning, Rob found the baby in the pool...floating around on his side. He scooped him out and placed him under a bush in the garden and came inside to wake me with coffee and the terrible news. I blamed myself for intervening in the first place and getting attached and moped around the house in a funk. Around 9 am I forced myself to go check on the baby and he was still lying on his side under the bush, mouth opening and closing in silence. I wrapped him in a towel and carried him around for several hours like a baby...eating my breakfast, reading the paper etc with this bird. When it was obvious there would be no improvement, I took him outside and placed him under the Black-Eyed Susans to die. I returned from a walk about an hour later to a very loud squawking robin begging to be fed. Day 3 of not leaving the pool but now we were in the grips of an impending hurricane, Irene. I cared for him during the day and went inside when the winds and rain took over. He was perched on a ladder behind the shed and I went out several times during the night to make sure he was safe.

He survived the night and was promptly named Irene. At this point I needed to get into work and prepare my classroom but I was reluctant to leave the yard during daylight hours. Also I was worried that Irene was never going to master flying so he could manage the 6ft fence surrounding my yard. Rob was not open to the idea of driving him south for the winter. I turned off the pool pump and went to work, confidant that at least he wouldn't be sucked into the filter if he hopped into the pool.

I returned home later in the day and he had mastered the big hop...showing off by hopping up onto the top of a bush or the cross piece of the fence. He enjoyed the Moon Plant and the ladder, hopping up and down with a little flutter of wing. At this point, I was ready for him to leave since the stress was too much.
The next morning I checked on him before leaving for work. He was doing his hop-flutter step to the top cross rung of the fence. I was proud but happy I would not have to teach him to fly. When I returned home in the evening he was gone. No note, no good-bye...nothing. I hope he is happy.

Did I mention that Ian left for school days before Irene left the nest? I think I need a dog.