Finding a robin’s nest on her front porch wasn’t unusual for Debra Copeland from St. Thomas, Ont., but discovering a nest occupied by two feisty female robins, eight eggs, and a couple of male visitors was quite something else.
Typically, Copeland mentioned that she sees no more than five light blue eggs in a robin’s nest during springtime. So, she was taken aback when she noticed more crammed into a new nest above her porch light at the end of April and decided to set up a camera for further observation.
“I was shocked and amazed that by nightfall, there were two females incubating the nest at the same time,” she remarked, noting that their relationship started off rocky.
“At first, you could tell they were very unhappy with one another … They would bite each other’s beaks, peck at each other, and sometimes one would jump on top of the other to get them to fly away,” she shared.
“But I think these must be the most stubborn and devoted robin mamas ever because neither one was willing to give up,” Copeland added.
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The bird’s nest on a St. Thomas front porch begins to overflow as baby robins continue to grow. (Submitted by Debra Copeland)
After three days of squabbling, both female birds finally opted to cooperate in raising their eggs in the shared nest; they now take turns watching over and feeding their newly hatched chicks.
“They hardly argue anymore. It’s almost like they’re really bonded and care for each other because they snuggle up together in the nest,” she observed.
This behavior is not typical for robins but it’s not unheard of either, according to Andres Jimenez, executive director of Ontario Nature.
“From the perspective of having an attractive male in an excellent territory with limited safe nesting spots, it makes sense for females to share a nest,” Jimenez explained. “I call it a housing crisis.”
While Copeland’s mother birds split parenting responsibilities, Jimenez noted that “helpers” – birds that assist with raising young ones who aren’t necessarily theirs – can exhibit different behaviors based on their relationships.
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Debra Copeland (second from left) and her children, Berea, Emmaus and Canaan (from left to right), stand on the porch where a group of adult robins are raising their babies in a shared nest. (Submitted by Debra Copeland)
“There are birds who don’t lay eggs but help out; sometimes doves or robins share nests and feed all the chicks … there are cases where some birds postpone laying eggs just to assist their parents raise others after returning from migration,” he said. “Anything is possible.”
“[Robins] are adaptable; they’re flexible and find solutions in ways we still can’t fully explain,” Jimenez stated.
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A male robin visits the two female robins sharing a nest perched on the porch light of a St. Thomas, Ont. home. (Submitted by Debra Copeland)
Copeland also noted there’s at least one or two males involved, adding that while she’s uncertain about how many males are around , she’s seen at least one bringing food back for his cohabitating females.
“I have strong suspicion there might actually be two separate couples here which adds another layer because it’s not just one male mating with both-it suggests some reason why these females chose this arrangement,” she explained. “It feels like one big family living under one roof.”
The story has caught attention within birdwatching Facebook groups as hundreds engage with daily photos , videos , and updates shared by Copeland regarding this unique situation.
“It’s such an unusual situation that’s intriguing ; people seem eager for answers making them want to figure things out ,” said copland. “We all hope they thrive despite facing challenges – we’re cheering them on.”LISTEN | Hear what it’s like to house this large robin family:
Metro Morning7 :28 Drama in a birdnest.Coming up , the true story behind st. thomas ‘avian sister wives ‘. it’s captured interest among both birders & non-birders alike. stay tuned as we chat with both homeowner & avian expert about this rare throuple.
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How many dads?
On Copeland’s porch, six of the eggs hatched ultimately; however, one fledgling fell out of the nest during the long weekend resulting in five chicks left for both moms to nurture. “It’s really cramped living conditions. They’re packed in there … you can see them flapping their wings trying to create space among themselves,” Copeland said while mentioning she’s built a soft landing pad under the nest and often checks so no others tumble out.Source link
