Birds Nesting & Activities in The Garden 2011 vol. #4

I was hoping it didn't happen yet.... That pot is going to be crowded for sure.... maybe you should add another smaller right below it just in case any of them fall out, then they kind of have a step down pot before landing in the water.....LOL

Jan

Ummm, sounds like a good idea. Let's me put my thinking cap on and see if there is anything I can do this weekend coming. For right now, the nest is well hidden from other predators. I'm so pleased.

Thought I would pop in to look for new ducklings. Kim, I hope you get to see them leave the nest. Don't be surprised if all do not hatch...but all of them may. She is very well hidden. I almost could not find her and I knew she was there!!

Oh thanks Kim for your visit to the thread. She's in that very pic. I promise. Okay, so not all the eggs is going to hatch? I'll see about setting up the birdcam to the corner of the pier this weekend to catch some pix to share too. :))

Yeah, I can see her in pic. It just me a while to spot her!

Many times all eggs do not hatch. Mom (as well as humans) can hear the ducklings cheeping inside, so she will know if they are not viable eggs. Then she will walk her new babies to the water.

Oh my, how interesting. Kim I've noticed that the moma will leave the nest for a short break each day. While she's gone, can I touch the eggs? Maybe try to hear the ducklings inside?

Is the momma eating any of the plants in her nest??? LOLOLOLO

Jan

Jan, from my observation. She's very careful with the plants in the pot. Or it seems to me. She carefully 'borrow' some of the leaves to cover and hide her eggs when she leaves the nest. But she kept everything else lush looking to keep her cool and the egg well hidden. Oh I should mention too, she apparently plugged alot of her own down feather to cover her eggs each time too.

sounds like a good momma duck...

Jan

LOL Well, you can touch them but be very careful not to move them...that's mommas job ;o) I would wait until right before due date to take a listen. Most likely you would not be able to hear them now. Oh yeah, and you will have to get very close to the eggs.

LOL, Kim. You know, with my lucks, I may tip over and fall into the water as I try to get close to the eggs without moving them from the nest. So that's out. Awww, this morning. Caught momma duck making her way back to the nest. But before she does, she took a leasure bath and grooming relaxation. A nice spa. lol

aww!

Well, no pictures, but the Chickadees have been evicted and House Wrens moved it. I suspect this may be the same pair that just had a brood, but really have no idea.

Poor Ric and Lucy, those Wrens should have been grateful that they had their own (nest) prior and wasn't evicted by the gracious hostess of the garden. lol

LOL. And I have that third box on the tree. I thought they were going for that one since I saw them go in and out. Lucy and Ricky had a good run this year. Though they were still in and out of the box, still no eggs (year three!), so i don't feel as bad about the takeover.

I'll get some new pics today.

I'm hoping I'll catch some pix of the Cardinals in the garden. Apparently they (both momma and pappa) are still tending to the nest on the bamboos in front.

Wooohooo, I've babies! I think. I meant Cardinals have babies. lol

The nest is about 9 feet off the ground. I sure hope they won't fall out until they're ready.

awww, awesome. 9' sounds good to me though, no pesky outdoor kitties. Looks like that bamboo is pretty thick too.

No kitties with our furbabies around, I've got to watch my furbabies closely though. It's so nice to see babies. Wooohoooo.

Wonderful, Kim. Keep us updated.

I'm so happy. I surely will. At the mean time, the momma duck continues to love on her eggs. I'll send more pics. tomorrow. Have a good day/evening.

babies are so much fun to watch grow up.

Can't wait to hear about the new baby duck arrivals.

Jan

Momma duck is just contented as can be. :)) Pic. was taken early this morning.

But the big news is, the Cardinal babies! Their eyes are open this morning. What's joy!!!

oh how cute those c babies are.

I've only every watched robin babies, so c babies are new for me.

Jan

My goodness, one of the babies is out of the nest, sitting above the nest level! I noticed the momma and pappa were very vocal nearby, so came for a closer look. Needless to say, all my furbabies are now indoor and out of the birds territory.

See the brave younster? Marna, how many day from the day they hatch until fledging? I'm not sure when they hatched, but yesterday the babes were with their eyes closed. This morning they opened. And wham! They're ready to venture out?

See the juvy is well above the nest. So it didn't fall out unintentionally. I don't think.

Papa Cardinal stayed close by and was making a racket of a scene. lol Notice he's molting.

Momma cardinal was out there hunting to feed the young.

From a series of pix, I believe I saw both juvies were outside of the nest, wow how early!

papa is molting due to his kids trying to leave the nest so early...LOL

Great shots there.

Jan

Wooooh, I've baby ducklings! Be back soon with pics. I've been away all morning long, came home to find baby ducks. Woooooohoooo......I'm toooo excited to type. Woooooohooooooo!!!!!!

Whoa! But before you see the ducklings. Which I couldn't possibly get a good clear pix. First you've got to see this adorable Cardinal fledgling. It looks much too young to be out of the nest. But it's. It perches on a lower branch at eye level so I can really get a really good look. The youngun is too young to show a healthy fear of people.

Cardinal baby;

Before I went inside to grab the camera, I saw momma duck and two ducklings. When I returned to the site, the Momma has tucked one underneath and hid her from view. Not sure what I've captured here.

One more. It's hard to see but the little one is just behind the bleeding hearts blossoms. See the white twin flowers? The white flowers with the red 'bleeding hearts'. Just about 3 o'clock position from the tree branch.

Wooo Hooo! What a little angel! Momma will most likely will leave the nest (with her brood in tow) no later than tomorrow afternoon. So, be on the lookout!

Oh my, so soon? Thanks Kim for the head up. I'll be setting up the bird cam. ASAP. At the mean time, the Cardinals have really fledged. The nest is empty. I'm going to be an empty nester two times over. Bahummbug!

Wonderful, Lily_love. The Cardinal chick sure does look too young to be out of the nest, but if it survived its first night, it's a good sign.