With the onset of summer here, youngsters abound on Londolozi and we are seeing plenty of baby impala, zebra, warthog and wildebeest out on game drive. However, this morning I would like to introduce you to some youngsters of a different kind, who are currently growing up right in amongst the Londolozi family.
A pair of very lucky little Bearded Scrub Robins found an idyllic home in which to nest thanks to our executive chef, Anna Ridgewell. Anna started noticing increased activity around this little home as some robins began flitting backwards and forwards with nesting material. It seems that both the male and female were building the nest although it is hard to say, as the sexes are very alike. They created a cup nest at the back of the cavity using mostly rootlets, dead leaves, dried grass, lichen and moss, which took only a few days. Then on successive mornings, the female laid two to three eggs, which are typically blotched and freckled with shades of brown and greyish mauve. Bearded Scrub Robins are obviously aware of the colouring of their eggs because the Red chested Cuckoo, which parasitises the robin, has developed the ability to mimic the robin’s eggs and lays very similar looking ones instead of laying its typical brown eggs, to avoid them being tossed out of the nest by the robin.
One of the Scrub Robin pair emerging from their home, where they currently have two little chicks hidden away
The cosy home provided by Anna Ridgewell.
The female then incubates the eggs for eleven days before they hatch naked, blind and totally dependent on their parents. We have based their age on when we first heard activity in the nest but judging by their appearance, they may even be a day or two older than originally thought. This is because at about a week old their eyes are fully open, primary quills are growing and they are erupting quills on their head, which gives them this pincushion look you can see in the picture below.
The two chicks flashing their brightly coloured gapes. There is controversy regarding why exactly young altricial birds have such brightly coloured mouths but it is generally believed to indicate their health, fitness and competitive ability and to induce feeding by the adults. I quickly poked my lens at the entrance to the hole while the parents were out collecting food and was amazed to see how even the sound of the shutter induced these youngsters to start begging for food before I quickly disappeared again.
At the moment, both the adults are working tirelessly to feed their hungry brood. All morning they can be seen flitting backwards and forwards with various treats such as beetles, ants, termites and caterpillars.
One of the pair checking that the coast was clear before landing at the nest entrance to feed the youngsters with this tasty morsel.
These birds will only nest for about 15 days, so it is incredible to think of the massive growth and change they will undergo in the next week and a half from these tiny featherless, useless chicks to youngsters able to fly. After that they will remain under the care of the adults for another four weeks before they become totally independent and begin to explore further afield on Londolozi.
Have you ever seen such small chicks? Let us know in the comment section below.
Written and photographed by Amy Attenborough
Thanks Amy!
Thanks for looking after them too!
Ames what a lovely article and pics, I need yr skills at home as we have a pair of Ashy Flycatchers (blue grey flycatcher) nesting on a ledge on the side of the house. Can’t get to it so haven’t seen the nestlings yet. During incubation the arriving parent would start calling loudly from afar all the way up to the ledge – then the parents would swop. Now both parents are busy feeding and they flit in and out without calling. Can’t wait to see the fledglings – wish I had the skills to photograph them like you have done with the robins.
Lovely story….. we loved having birds nest in our home and felt very parentish about the whole nesting thing…and so became very protective against the Shrike attacking! Well done and here’s to many more
Our robins here in Britain have red breasts, so I take it these are a variation of the species?
I thank you becuse these pictures are very beautiful . really do not tired
regarding your question “Have you ever seen such small chicks”, the answer is yes, even smaller – baby hummingbirds in a nest here in Arizona.