May 19, 2001: Studying the World
What do you think these babies are thinking about? Baby birds in species that migrate by night notice how the stars move around Polaris. What do you think baby robins look at all day? Scientists know that they notice where the sun is during the day, and that its position in the sky changes as the day goes on. How will this awareness help them during migration? The nest is getting pretty crowded, isn't it?
Q. How will noticing the position of the sun in the sky during the day help a robin during migration?
Q. How does this crowded nest change the family's nighttime sleeping arrangements?
Q. Before they open their eyes, how do they recognize their parents? How do they know when their parents are arriving with food?
When these babies first hatched, they didn't recognize
their own parents! They could feel the vibrations or shake of the nest
when a parent landed on the rim or nearby on the branch, and could sometimes
feel the parent's cool shadow looming above them. Each baby knew by instinct
to pop up with its mouth open, and instantly a yummy worm materialized
in its mouth! Little by little, as they hear their parents' voices they
will learn to recognize them by sound. And so as soon as they open their
eyes, they'll know who their parents are.
See the next Robin Nest Photo Lesson and discussion of today's questions.