April 18 - The platform is a success. Not only was a nest built but four blue eggs were laid.

May 1 - All four chicks hatched. They are fuzzy and sleepy.

May 3 - They grow rapidly. Already the fuzz is turning into fine darker feathers.

May 5 - In four days, the oldest are stronger and almost completely covered.

May 6 - Their wings are filling in.

May 6 - This is 12 hours later the same day. The youngest is still smaller and less developed. The glue on the platform started to fail. Duct tape can be seen as an emergency fix. Unfortunately, we went out of town right after this. Robins typically fledge in 13 days, which would have been around May 14th. When we returned the nest was empty.

April 19 - Noticed a new nest on the rebuilt platform. The old one was too unstable. I had worried the new one was too narrow but they don't seem to mind.

May 1 - Four beautiful eggs are laid. The mother sits on them regularly.

May 11 - Three out of the four eggs have hached. Mom sticks close to keep them warm. The eggs must have been laid a couple days before I saw them.

May 11 - In the first video, Dad is constantly bringing things to feed them. Mom takes some nibbles then down the hatch to some out of sight chick. In the second video, Mom feeds a baby who pops its head up. Then Mom eats a fecal sac. Robins do this to keep the nest from smelling and attracting predators. It also maximizes the nutrients since baby robins guts are not very efficent yet. Nothing goes to waste...

May 13 - Unclear if the fourth egg has hatched. Everyone is getting a little bigger. The hungry chicks are restless. Mom sits on the nest but it is too warm. The temperature was over 80 degrees fahrenheit. Chicks stick their heads out to cool off and beg for food. Their eyes are closed and ringed with fuzz. Even Mom pants in the heat. Dad keeps the food coming.

May 14 - The fourth egg did not hatch. The constant feeding continues! I noticed the female does not sit on the nest during the night.

May 20 - The young ones experienced rapid growth (seen 5/14, 5/15, 5/17, 5/20 above). They now stick over the nest and their eyes are open. They give their wings some beats to begin testing them out.

The female will vigorously guard the nest area. She comes and yells at me when I go out back.

May 20 - The nest is quite crowded now. The little chicks are probably half the size of adults. They jostle each other around as they stretch or look out and see the world. They should fledge in the next four days.