"My" robins

VeeEmmy

"My" robins paired off (tolerated the other's presence) in late Dec or early Jan. As time has gone on and they are staying close together, I have not observed the male feeding the female, nor have I seen her doing the "feed me" quiver.
I just happened to see them mating yesterday, and she did do the quiver, but got nothing.

Anyone with more robin knowledge out there?
I assume they've already selected/built their nest before mating?

I'm curious as to whether she's going to get fed once she is into the incubation phase. I think the male is a new one this year, and the female is the same one from last year. Hope he isn't a dud dad! I certainly have no intention of interfering, regardless, but just curious. I love watching them and learning some of their habits.
All info welcomed. Thanks.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

The nest will be prepared already and the male will feed the female while she incubates

Half-cocked

My pair are up to their usual tricks. Half build a nest in the camera box, then abandon it and build another one elsewhere:mad:

VeeEmmy

Thanks very much, Srameen. I knew the male feeding the incubating female was the norm, so I was becoming curious that this fella might be missing an aspect of his "courtship instinct gene." However, concern averted: I'm seeing him "courtship feeding" her today. My perch here affords a good view of "my" birds' hangout area near the feeders, and in the two years before this, I observed quite a long period of active courtship feeding before this time in the year with the robins, hence my curiosity.

Thanks again for your reply. You are a good source of information!

VeeEmmy

Condolences, Half-cocked.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Banished-She wrote: »

Thanks very much, Srameen. I knew the male feeding the incubating female was the norm, so I was becoming curious that this fella might be missing an aspect of his "courtship instinct gene." However, concern averted: I'm seeing him "courtship feeding" her today. My perch here affords a good view of "my" birds' hangout area near the feeders, and in the two years before this, I observed quite a long period of active courtship feeding before this time in the year with the robins, hence my curiosity.

Thanks again for your reply. You are a good source of information!

While a 12 year old robin has been recorded, the average life span is only 1.2 years so don't expect them to be the same birds every year.

Squidvicious

Cali Putrid Terrier wrote: »

While a 12 year old robin has been recorded, the average life span is only 1.2 years so don't expect them to be the same birds every year.

I assume that the average life span could be quite deceptive though? By that I mean that many robins would die in their first year(or even before leaving the nest)which will drag down the average. The average will refer to life span at birth. However, if a robin survives its first year, do we know what kind of life expectancy it has? Would I be right in guessing that if it survives the dangerous first year, it'll probably have a reasonably high chance of getting to 4 or 5?

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Squidvicious wrote: »

I assume that the average life span could be quite deceptive though? By that I mean that many robins would die in their first year(or even before leaving the nest)which will drag down the average. The average will refer to life span at birth. However, if a robin survives its first year, do we know what kind of life expectancy it has? Would I be right in guessing that if it survives the dangerous first year, it'll probably have a reasonably high chance of getting to 4 or 5?

If I recall our recovery data correctly. The average after first winter was indeed about 5 years.

Squidvicious

Cali Putrid Terrier wrote: »

If I recall our recovery data correctly. The average after first winter was indeed about 5 years.

That really underlines what a high attrition rate there is for the fledglings.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Squidvicious wrote: »

That really underlines what a high attrition rate there is for the fledglings.

It's the same for most birds and animals. If it wasn't we'd be overrun by them. It's also why clutch sizes are what they are.