A Nest Caught In Rising Floodwaters
Brown, churned floodwater lapped within inches of a hollow opening carved into the base of a submerged tree trunk.
Huddled tightly inside the damp hollow sat a mother robin, her orange breast puffed out over two wide-beaked chicks.
A small grey inflatable boat drifted alongside the thick bark, rocking against the murky current.
A gloved hand reached out across the water, palm open, moving inches from the edge of the submerged trunk.
The mother bird did not fly away. Instead, she dug her tiny feet into the woven twigs of the nest and stayed glued over her babies.
The rescuer’s fingers slid gently beneath the round nest, cradling the mud-and-grass structure from beneath.
With a slow, level lift, the entire nest was raised out of the hollow and brought across the gunwale of the boat.
Shelter On The Rescue Boat
The rescuer lowered the nest onto a clean, folded pink towel laid out on the aluminum floor of the boat.
The mother robin remained firmly perched on top of her young, her feathers slightly damp from the spray.
Her dark eyes watched the rescuer’s gloved fingers adjust the towel around the base of the nest to keep it from tipping as the boat navigated through the high water.
Inside the nursery, the nest was transferred into a shallow woven basket lined with a soft cloth.
The chicks stretched their bare necks upward, opening their yellow-rimmed beaks wide in search of food.
Using a pair of metal tweezers, the caregiver held a small morsel and lowered it directly into one gaping beak, then another.
The mother robin stood on the rim of the nest, leaning forward to inspect every movement of the metal tool.
Growing Strong Under Open Wings
Moments later, the mother robin stepped down into the center of the basket and extended both wings wide, draping her feathers across both babies to cover them entirely.
Over the following days, the chicks sprouted speckled brown feathers across their chests and wings.
The woven basket was replaced by a tall wooden branch set up inside a bright, sunlit rehabilitation room.
All three birds perched in a neat row along the rough wood—the orange-breasted mother on the left, flanked by her two rapidly growing offspring.
The caregiver offered mealworms with the tweezers, feeding the young fledglings as they gripped the bark with sturdy claws.
One fledgling leaned forward, puffed its mottled chest, and beat its wings rapidly, testing its lift in the quiet room.
The second fledgling copied the motion, fluttering its wings vigorously while maintaining its balance on the branch.
Feeding Side By Side
A small white dish filled with mealworms was mounted securely to the middle of the branch.
The young robins leaned down together, dipping their beaks into the bowl and picking up worms on their own.
The mother robin hopped beside them, tilting her head to watch them swallow the food before spreading her wings and fluttering in place beside the dish.
Know someone who loves seeing animal families stay together? Send them this rescue.
