Growing Up

It’s the time of year when a lot of birds go quiet - the breeding season is over for many, so no longer a need for the males to attract a mate or to tell other males to keep out of their territory. And the denser foliage provides cover for the new generation, who are having to learn how to be an adult.

Many of the young will not make it to adulthood. This young Robin is going to be easy prey for a stoat or other predator unless it learns quickly to fly up and away to safety. Not a skill it had yet mastered when I took this shot, it was still at the “what am I supposed to do now” stage of development. Mind, we’ve all been there.,