Burlington. ON. August 18 2024. This was an evenly warm and somewhat sticky mid-summer day, one in which work around the house, painting and a bit of weed pulling, was the order of the day. Taking a break from the painting, I spotted a couple of Northern Flickers atop an old snag, they were sharing alarm over something, perhaps the whining calls of a young Red-tailed Hawk who was pleading with his parents for food.
This is fattening-up time, by now most young of the year (those that have survived the perils of fledgling stage) have figured out how to find food, how to fly effectively and when to take cover. But nature deals the unexpected: late last October (28th) I was surprised to find a very late in the season fledgling Indigo Bunting, it may have been fully independent but was still showing the yellowish edge of its nestling gape. It was in an area of plentiful food, maybe that helped. Working it backwards, the nest building, /incubation,/nestling growth,/independence cycle is about 45 to 50 days,7 weeks; taking us back to mid-September when the parents started on the brood. Pretty late to get started, I think.
Back to today. This fledgling American Robin, perhaps one from of its parents’ second or third brood, was calling for attention with its grating and gurgling squeal, and was getting results. At this stage the young are dotted with warm speckles but they will molt quite quickly to take on the classic brick red breasts. In a month or two this bird will be joining flocks either heading south or at least settling in somewhere that promises shelter and food.