got off nest, headed down gully for several steps, going very slowly and watching all about him - especially the blint, it seemed to me. He sneaked behind the grass clumps, watch- ing from behind them and seemed to pay no attention to the chicks. Got about 1 1/2 yards down to left and made a loop back. This took at least 15 minutes. He occasionally pecked at the ground. Once he ruffled out his feathers and I saw his deposits - within a yard of the nest. Three of the chicks gathered at his feet, and he turned and set off down gully again. The last two chicks struggled well over 2 yds. behind the nest. There was little organization for the chicks sometimes preceded him a little or wandered around to the side. By 20 of 12 the procession had gotten about 9 ft. from the nest. Papa did another loop, sat in the bottom of the gully watching me and some sheep going by the head of the gully. At that point I left. Looked in the gully from 3-4 trying to locate the redbird but I couldn't find him. I looked at the nest & it has a ring of large droppings about it (about 12). The shells are all broken & mixed with feathers in the bottom of the nest.