I found the nest last Tuesday - does anyone know how long they take to hatch? I think the bird that laid them is some kind of finch.
Monday, April 30, 2007
New Tenants
We have a bird's nest behind the wreath ON OUR FRONT DOOR! I don't know how they like living there, since the kids have been playing outside alot lately (translation - lots of noise and lots of going in and out - our favorite game right now is "trick or treat").
I found the nest last Tuesday - does anyone know how long they take to hatch? I think the bird that laid them is some kind of finch.
I found the nest last Tuesday - does anyone know how long they take to hatch? I think the bird that laid them is some kind of finch.
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11 comments:
How cool is that???? It is hard to believe she would build there with all the commotion and movement! That is very funny! You got cool pictures!!!
Jill - great pics! It looks like one of them is another kind of bird...be careful (I don't know how you could be) but they might have a starling's egg in there....I should ask my dad this weekend, when I see him....
Awesome pictures, Jill! Is the mother dive bombing at your heads every time you get near the front door? Why do the eggs look so different from each other... different dads or male/female??? That reminds me of a couple Easters ago, we had been eating those little candy robin eggs. Well, Bryce came inside the house saying, "YUCKY!" and I noticed he had bitten into a blue robin egg...the real kind. Of course I freaked out and called poison control. They said it happens all the time - no big deal :) Thats what I get for giving my kids candy!
G-Knee - I thought it was strange that the eggs were different, too. I'm no expert on nature, but I know that isn't how it's supposed to be, right?
Sturgillmom - Luckily, we are not getting dive bombed (yet). I don't know what will happen when the eggs hatch! And then when they learn to fly...this might get scary real quick! Loved your story about Bryce!
Jill - I emailed my dad and emailed his reply to you, but I thought I would post his reply here as everyone can benefit from this information. (and they can enjoy reading my dad's thoughts going on and on like always :) )
DAD WETZEL:
If it is an egg which is a little larger - then the odds are that it is a cowbirds's egg. They do not build their own nests, but parasitise other birds nests and allow someone else to raise their young. Sort of like some human parasites today? Their egg hatches in a shorter time then the other birds (usually a little larger and thus gets more body warmth from the female sitting on the nest). Then when the interloper hatches the parents begin feeding it already and it gets a jump on the legal babies in the nest. Also since it is a little older its head is raised above the others and thus mommy and daddy feed it more often and it may crowd the other birds out of the nest before they can survive. After it leaves the nest it soon abandons Mom and Dad and feeds on its own and then they somehow find another of their own kind and go about their business. Of course the new female also never builds a nest of their own, but sort of watches other birds in the spring and sees where nestle down to lay an egg and then they hop on the nest before the female gets serious about hatching the eggs. They were identified as one of the main reason that The Endangered Kirkland Warbler almost became extinct. The Government and now also the Bird Societies (Audubon, for one) have done extensive trapping and removal of Cow birds in those areas where the Kirkland Warbler is presently located. One of these major areas is the upper peninsula of Northern Michigan.
Its a real problem to the Protectionist societies, since the solution is to trap and kill as many cowbirds that can be attracted into your traps. Unfortunately the Cowbird is very adaptable to other ecological sites and can also be found in fields, brushy areas, farms, small towns and major urban areas. Its so good at what it does, its to bad no one particularly likes it.
Tell her to check it out in a bird book or call the local Audubon society representative in her area. If it was me I would just "remove it" ( the egg ) before it hatches or if it hatches and it is bigger than its nest mates "get rid of it then".. It is not a protected species. That is, it is not protected by the Federal migratory bird statutes . Some States do protect them, but usually no one takes a positive attitude toward this species.
yikes...looks like it is a cowbird egg - check it out:
http://www.wbu.com/chipperwoods/photos/cowbird.htm
G-Knee, I feel so honored that I have your dad's comment on my blog!!! I can just hear him telling me in person! He is very knowledgeable (and humorous)!
So, I checked out the website you sent, and it DOES look like a cowbird's egg in our nest! Do you think I should try to take it out? What if I took the wrong one out?
Jill - I think you should remove it....if it's not a cowbird egg, it's something else.
I'm glad my dad's post gave you some added interest. He probably spent so much time on it, because Monday he had his pacemaker replacement surgery and the doctor told him "No golf for 24 hours." He was probably thrilled to have the assignment of giving the National Geographic description of the Northern American Cowbird.
I am amazed at how much Mr. Wetzel knows and enjoyed the humor :) You have to tell us what you did with the egg. That is so crazy where that nest ended up.
Jill--I have tons of these cowbirds and my bird book does concur with what Mr. Wetzel was saying...I'm with Jeannie...take it out of there! This is so interesting.
Hilarious. This is one of the all-time greatest comment threads.
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