2012.08.08 16:23
(Continued from the previous webpage #5769 of August 3, 2012) On July 9th, 2012, my wife noticed an some extra twigs bulging out at the right lower corner.July 9, 2012: She took a closer look and found one small bluish egg in a newly built bird nest. The nest was built with dried grass, dead tree twigs, and dried iris leaves in the yard. July 10, 2012: We found two small eggs in the nest. No mother bird was seen. July 11, 2012: Now there are three eggs. We noticed a small bird flying out in the morning. But it seemed that the nest stayed empty most of the day. July 12, 2012, there were four eggs. The eggs seemed to have been rotated around because the dots on the eggs seemed to have been changed to different places on the eggs. One egg was much smaller than the other three. From July 13, 2012, we noticed that there is a small bird in the nest even during the day. On July 15, 2012, while the mother bird was out, I took a peek and there were only four eggs and no more. We have completely stopped using the front door. Because of the location of the door, there was no way I could take the picture of the mother bird in the nest. I decided to wait until the eggs hatch. I am studying a way to take pictures of the baby birds without disturbing them. I have not been able to identify the bird. I am sure that she's not a robin by the size. July 18, 2012: The mother bird seems to stay in the nest almost all the time. July 30, 2012: I took a quick peek at the nest. All I could see was two baby birds (by the orange-colored beaks and very fluffy feather balls). There may be another, not visible from my camera angle. Anyway, it was strange that the mother bird stays in the nest all the time, meaning that there may be still one or two unhatched eggs in the nest. What happened to the remaining two eggs?
According to Mrs. Shin's (신성려) blue birds, our finches may be able to fly off on August 7. But I am not sure. August 8, 2012: They are still here at the door !! I took another picture today. This picture could be the last but, in a few days, I might add a picture of an empty nest for the sake of the happy ending. According to those "Blue Birds" of Mrs. Shin Sungryu, it's about time for them to fly off. Just in five days, they look very alert with their eyes wide open. It looks like they are almost ready to get out of their nest. One of these mornings
Although bird watchers may see the male with nesting material, the female builds the actual nest. The nest is cup shaped and made of twigs, grasses, and leaves. These finches will nest in a variety of artificial and natural cavites such as old woodpecker holes, hanging plants, and occasionally birdhouses. The nest is located 5 to 10 feet above ground. The female lays 2 to 6 bluish with fine speckling eggs. Incubation is done by the female for 12 to 14 days and the young will leave the nest in about 11 to 19 days after hatching. During the incubation time and for about five days after the young have hatched, the male, will feed the female on the nest. He does this by regurgitating seed into the females mouth. The female regurgitates the food to the nestlings. After the young have fledged, the parents continue to feed the young. The female may find a new mate and raise another brood while the male continues to feed the young. House finches have been known to raise more than two broods in a season.
During courtship, the male will touch bills with the female. He may then present the female with choice bits of food, and if she mimics the behavior of a hungry chick, he may actually feed her. The male also feeds the female during the breeding and incubation of both eggs and young, and the male is the primary feeder of the fledgelings (who can be differentiated from the females by the pin feathers remaining on their heads). In response to mite infestation, the mother finch may lay one gender of egg first, which increases the chances of the young finches' survival. The female incubates the eggs for 12 to 14 days. Shortly after hatching, she removes the empty eggshells from the nest. The hatchlings are pink with closed eyes and tufts of fluffy down. The female always feeds the young, and the male usually joins in. Before flying, the young often climb into adjacent plants, and usually fledge at about 11 to 19 days after hatching. Dandelion seeds are among the preferred seeds fed to the young. Whatever in this article seems to be true with what happened at my house. |
2012.08.08 17:11
2012.08.09 00:30
2012.08.09 00:40
2012.08.09 01:03
2012.08.09 03:36
2012.08.09 05:07
새 종류마다 새끼의 poop을 치우는 방법이 다른것 같습니다.
Robin의 경우 어미가 먹이를 가지고 오면 새끼들이 받어 먹고 나서,
꽁지를 들어 poop을 싸는데, 이걸 어미가 기다렸다가 모조리 삼켜버리더군요.
따라서 Robin의 둥지는 전혀 똥자국도 보이지 않습니다.
Finch는 둥지 주위로 poop을 쌓아놓고, 나중에 불쌍한 "할베"를 시켜서 똥치우게 만들것 같군요.
요 앙증맏은것들이 Robin보다 더 똑똑한것 같습니다. ㅉ, ㅉ, ㅉ...
이들은 한여름에 두세번 알을까서 부화 시킨다 하는데, 같은 둥지로 다시 돌아 올지...
둥지를 어떻게 하나, 할베가 고민이 생기네요.
Anyway, it was a hot summer but it was a good one for the finches, their eggs, and babies.
We provided them a good shaded shelter and well-protected cozy nest.
Because of the finch family, it was a good summer for us too.
I will be glad to clean up their messy nest next year.
2012.08.10 07:48
The last update:
There were three baby birds hatched.
All three baby birds left the nest on August 10th about a month after the first egg was laid.
One egg did not hatch and still remains in the empty nest.
I guess it will never hatch.
According to the literatures, the mother bird may or may not use the same nest.
Since it's August, she may or may not have another brood.
I guess I will remove the nest and clean up the door,
mainly because of the mite infestation.
There are so many tiny mites at or near the nest.
2012.08.11 07:39
2012.08.11 16:24
성려 님;
Thank you very much.
You blessed me more than anyone else, probably including the supreme one in the heaven.
If I get a blessing to play "suddenly improved golf" and can empty the pockets of my golf enemies,
I will set up the wreaths all around the house for them to make nests.
I wouldn't mind cleaning their poops.
Comparing the amount of time to practice golf swings, cleaning the nest is practically nothing.
Thinking about the snakes, the nest was about 1.5 meter high on the door panel.
This will keep any snakes from coming to the nest.
We do have a couple of garden snakes around our house but they stay in the flower garden.
Wishing my best for the baby finches...
2012.08.12 22:27
Summertime
Music by George Gershwin
with lyrics by Ira Gershwin and Du Bose Heyward, 1933
Summertime,
And the livin' is easy
Fish are jumpin'
And the cotton is high
Your daddy's rich
And your mamma's good lookin'
So hush little baby
Don't you cry
One of these mornings
You're going to rise up singing
Then you'll spread your wings
And you'll take to the sky
But till that morning
There's a'nothing can harm you
With daddy and mamma standing by
Summertime,
And the livin' is easy
Fish are jumpin'
And the cotton is high
Your daddy's rich
And your mamma's good lookin'
So hush little baby
Don't you cry
"Summertime" is the name of an aria composed by George Gershwin for the 1935 opera Porgy and Bess. The lyrics are by DuBose Heyward. The song soon became a popular jazz standard. Gershwin began composing the song in December 1933, attempting to create his own spiritual in the style of the African American folk music of the period.