Empty Nest

For the past week , I have watched the two baby/fledgling robins spend most of their time standing/sitting on the edge of the nest . Mom and Dad haven't been around for at least three days . I guess if you want to get those kids to leave home , stop feeding them . This morning on my daily check this is what I found.


When I noticed that no one was home ,I gingerly pushed my camera in among the branches and thorns to get a shot . While out there , I heard the tentative calls that sounded definitely-young-robins from the tall spruce a few metres away. That is the tree the parents had used to watch over the nest at a distance during the past two weeks . Flying school headquarters .

Darn it all ! I was hoping to see the first leap of faith as a fledgling flung itself to the winds . Not up early enough today . No worm for me .

Baby Robins Watching Back

Gee , I wish I had a better camera...

...or a live camcorder...Nah ! A nest of robin's can't rationalize that type of expenditure...Sorry!

Hitch Hiker Extraordinaire

When I came out of the grocery store today , I found this sitting on the hood of the car.

" Oh, well ! It will blow off once the car is moving ."

NOT...

This Katydid merely made adjustments and clung to her/his spot with determination in the face of major forces . Neither speed , wind nor inertia was able to move this little insect from its place .



rear view

 As our car accelerated the Katydid simply oriented itself to face the wind . When the speed increased , it placed its back legs fully out behind until the legs were almost straight. It bent the front legs until it crouch-touched its thorax to the hood. When we turned left , the Katydid moved its back right foot to the right a centimetre or so to counteract inertia . On right turns , it moved the left one .

Even when the car was going up to 90 kph (50-55 mph) , the Katydid clung to the car's hood navigating carefully the whole time . Mind you , the wind at high speed did shake her a bit but she prevailed . I figure 5-10 km faster would have lifted her free . Thank heaven the car was dirty and not freshly washed and waxed .



front view

 Well Katy did make it to my place and stayed just long enough for me to snap a couple of pics ,before she flew/hopped away . I expect to see her ... well her camouflage makes it difficult , so 'notice her presence' is more appropriate ... when large chunks of leaves start disappearing in my garden.

Actually I hope this insect hitch hiker is not a Katydid but a 'Kenny-did' . I don't think I want a plague in my garden .

Well , maybe the robins will find Katy/Kenny before I do .