The Seasons of the Robin (Mildred Wyatt-Wold Series in Ornithology)

In a small nest in a large oak tree, the drama begins. A young American Robin breaks open his shell and emerges into a world that will provide the warmth of sunny days and the life-threatening chill of cold, rainy nights; the satisfaction of a full stomach and the danger of sudden predator attacks; and the chance to mature into an adult robin who'll begin the cycle of life all over again come next spring. In The Seasons of the Robin, Don Grussing tells the uncommon life story of one of the most common birds, the North American Robin. Written as fiction to capture the high drama that goes on unnoticed right outside our windows, the book follows a young male robin through the first year of life. From his perspective, we experience many common episodes of a bird's life--struggling to get out of the egg; awkwardly attempting to master flight; learning to avoid predators; migrating for the first time; returning home; establishing a territory; finding a mate; and beginning the cycle again. This creative approach of presenting natural history through a fictional, yet factually based, story allows us to experience the spine-tingling, nerve-wracking, adrenaline-flowing excitement that is so much a part of the life of every wild thing. As Don Grussing concludes in his preface, "Once you experience the world through a robin's eyes, I hope you'll look at every wild thing with new appreciation and respect for what they accomplish by living." Contents......Page 8 Preface......Page 10 PART ONE. Infancy......Page 14 CHAPTER ONE. Spring......Page 15 CHAPTER TWO. Spring......Page 18 CHAPTER THREE. Spring......Page 24 CHAPTER FOUR. Spring......Page 31 CHAPTER FIVE. Spring......Page 36 CHAPTER SIX. Spring......Page 43 PART TWO. Adolescence......Page 48 CHAPTER SEVEN. Summer......Page 49 CHAPTER EIGHT. Summer......Page 55 CHAPTER NINE. Summer......Page 61 CHAPTER TEN. Fall......Page 67 CHAPTER ELEVEN. Fall......Page 74 CHAPTER TWELVE. Fall......Page 81 CHAPTER THIRTEEN. Fall......Page 86 CHAPTER FOURTEEN. Winter......Page 92 CHAPTER FIFTEEN. Spring......Page 95 PART THREE. Adulthood......Page 102 CHAPTER SIXTEEN. Spring......Page 103 CHAPTER SEVENTEEN. Spring......Page 108 CHAPTER EIGHTEEN. Spring......Page 113 CHAPTER NINETEEN. Spring......Page 119 CHAPTER TWENTY. Spring......Page 127 CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE. Spring......Page 132 CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO. Spring......Page 137 CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE. Spring......Page 143 CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR. Spring......Page 148 CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE. Spring......Page 154 CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX. Spring......Page 157 In The Season Of The Robin, Don Grussing Tells The Uncommon Life Story Of One Of The Most Common Birds; The North American Robin. Written As Fiction To Capture The High Drama That Goes On Unnoticed Right Outside Our Windows, The Book Follows A Young Male Robin Through The First Year Of Life. From His Perspective, We Experience Many Common Episodes Of A Bird's Life - Struggling To Get Out Of The Egg; Awkwardly Attempting To Master Flight; Learning To Avoid Predators; Migrating For The First Time; Returning Home; Establishing A Territory; Finding A Mate; And Beginning The Cycle Again.--book Jacket. Pt. 1. Infancy -- Pt. 2. Adolescence -- Pt. 3. Adulthood. By Don Grussing. In the tradition of classic animal biographies such as Ernest Thompson Seton's Wild Animals I Have Known and Fred Bodsworth's Last of the Curlews, this fictional, yet factually based, story reveals the dramas of survival that we hardly notice in the life of one of America's most beloved birds.