The parent birds will stay with whatever chicks might still remain. It is possible that you are just unable to see them. The parents are probably just out hunting for food. Keep your eye on them, they are probably OK.

Thanks birdguy. Since time was of the essence, I looked further online and was able to find a NY State Wildlife Rehabilitator and got her on the phone. I was only seeing one Robin adult on the ground, sitting in the corner of the garden below the pear tree. It had been sitting there for several minutes, which seemed odd. I had seen either this one or another hopping around, but for over an hour there was no adult getting INTO the tree and taking care of the one hungry chick I could see. She recommended that I go outside and walk near the adult that was sitting in the garden to see if it would fly to the nest or away.

When I went out to test the situation, it hopped away and hid under another bush as I approached, and I could see that one of the wings had feathers askew. The rehabber thought that I should get a towel and try to bring both the wounded adult and the remaining chick(s) to her house where she rehabbed many birds, since nobody was getting into the tree to feed the chicks and the adult may also be in danger.

I went into the house to get some boxes and towels (she recommended separate boxes for the chick and adult to reduce stress on the adult), came out and the adult was no longer in the area. Perhaps he/she was just mildly injured and could not make it into the tree, but could fly or hop away to a more secluded spot to recuperate and rest. At any rate, no adult Robin was in the picture, the chick had not eaten in some time, so I got up on a stool and took the nest down. As I suspected, there was only one chick in the nest. It was only partially covered in a soft downy fuzz and was mostly pink and grey.

So, my suspicions that there had been some sort of battle for the nest and chicks the night before were correct. Two chicks were taken, and either the parents had decided to abandon ship or were injured beyond ability to care for the remaining chick. Perhaps that injured adult that was hanging around was hoping to get the strength to care for the chick, but was unable to do so.
I feel that somehow I was meant to see the situation.

I took the nest in a towel, covered the top (left space for air) and put it in the box gently, and hit the highway to get to the rehabber.

I could hear the chick chirping occasionally, and from time to time it would lift its head with open mouth waiting to be fed. It was heartbreaking. At every red light I looked down to confirm that the chick was still breathing, which I could easily see through the gap in the towel.

I got to the rehabbers house and she couldn't be nicer. She had many small chicks of all varieties in paper towel-lined baskets in bins, with heating pads underneath to keep them warm. She immediately gave the chick some fluids with minerals subcutaneously, and said that you have to wait a while for that to take effect before giving other foods or the chick would not digest the foods properly.

I had to leave shortly due to some business, but I'm waiting to hear if the chick made it through the day. The rehabber said that some chicks will make it for a few days, but then will fail to thrive and not make it, so I think she was preparing me for a 50/50 chance.

The rehabber told me that every spring and summer she gets many Robin chicks with deformed feet, and that she suspected lawn and garden chemicals since Robins eat mostly worms and other insects that may have consumed these chemicals as well. She said that veterinarians always dismiss her theory about the chemicals, but I don't! I resolve to stop using any lawn chemicals from this day forward (my garden areas are already chemical-free).

I have learned a lot from this episode, I hope the chick makes it, and next time I hear such a screetching sound and a nest is reachable, I will not hesitate to help if I can help. I feel so bad for the little family that I photographed so happily the day before.

I know it's nature's way and that not all chicks will make it, and that there are eternal rivalries for food and territory among and between species, but it's still sad this evening when I look out the kitchen window and don't see the nest, the attending adults, and the chicks.

Perhaps I'll prune the branches of that pear tree to discourage other robins from using it, as this is clearly not a good territory for them to nest in with so many bluejays and starlings around.

Thanks again birdguy.

Actually, it may not be "Nature's way" in this case, but too many people feeding birds like Starlings and Blue Jays until they choke the neighborhood.

How nice of you to take action ROZ. I hope your little chick makes it too. Rachel is saying that there are many out there that feed peanuts, etc. to the Blue Jays because they are fun to watch, keepig more of them in the area than shoud be. Though I have never seen it (I dont feed the Jays) It is a fact that Jays do raid other nests and snatch babies. But then Crows will snatch Jay babies and so it goes. Robins nest several times a year because the loss rate is so high. Hope your adult gets better and is able to start again before the season is over. Your rehabber should give you the bird back to let loose in it's birthplace when it is ready. Thank you again for helping. Birdy blessings to them.

I would say that the culprit is more likely a cat.
Starlings might take over a nest before there are babies in it but, not during the raising of a brood. And, since a Robin builds a new nest every year, that's not usually a problem as it would be in, say, a Bluebird house.

Blue Jays, although it might cost parent birds an egg or a very young juvie, are the first to warn the others and attack a predator. Just the price the birds pay for protection. It has been working out for a million years.

Neither of those birds would injure the adult parents. It might have been a bird of prey but, still, most likely a cat. I'm glad you were able to help.

The rehabber emailed me last night that the Robin chick I brought to her is doing well, eating well, and chirping loudly for attention!

I'm very glad I was able to save at least one of the chicks. I did see a Robin adult on the OTHER side of my yard near some dense and tall euonymous trees, maybe they're the same pair building a nest in a more secure place (dense foliage you can't really see into)?

One will never know. But score 1 chick saved for the new birdwatcher!

Good job! Many would not have taken the time and trouble to care for this chick and seek a rehabber in hopes of saving it. Hope the little one continues to do well and makes it! Please keep us posted.

Donna

YEA! A bright spot in the day for all of us! YOU ROCK!