Feathers and Fuzz

one woman's cure for the empty-nester blues

All the Others

Raising a House Finch Family

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Being an observer of "Raising a House Finch Family" on camera has been quite the experience.  Obviously, the whole Cowbird nightmare was a piece of it.  What has been equally-educational to me is how different a Finch family is from the other songbirds who have nested on camera.

Finch Nesting Differences

  • Fresh, green plant material is used in nest construction.  The other nests I have observed contain only non-green material.
  • The nest cup is shallower and much more-loosely "thrown" together.  (The bottom to the current nest on my property is completely pushed away.  The nestlings are resting on the bare wood of the platform.  Makes me wonder what would happen if this nest were on a branch!)
  • The female parent spends considerably more time sitting on the nest -- almost constantly during incubation and well-into the first week of the nestlings' lives.
  • It appears the female parent's primary nourishment comes from her mate feeding her -- compared to the male providing an occasional meal to the female.
  • The male parent also appears to take primary responsibility for feeding the nestlings -- a duty shared by my other on-camera songbird parents.
  • Nestlings are fed almost exclusively a vegetarian diet -- quite the contrast to the mealworm-feasting families inhabiting my other nest sites.
  • The parent eats the plant/seed material and then regurgitates it when feeding the nestlings -- hmmm -- some similarity to cows here.  I wonder if that's what attracts the Cowbirds?!  (Okay, I don't really wonder that.)  Regurgitation behavior has not been observed among the other nesting species.
  • The shape of the nestlings' beaks is also quite different -- much narrower; almost heart-shaped -- not broad and triangular like the others.
  • It strikes me how the two nestlings in this brood commonly eat with their beaks touching each other.  It's a striking difference from the other species' nestlings whose only goal in life is to reach closest to the incoming food.
  • Finally, I don't know what it is about Finches and their busy-body nature!  Poor Mom and Dad Finch spend considerable time chasing off other Finches (mostly female) who feel compelled to stop and stare at the nest/nestlings.

 

Foreign Female Finch Visits Finch Nest

Foreign Finch Visits House Finch Nest

In the feature video, you will see Dad House Finch feeding his offspring on two different occasions.  Note that Mom Finch is on the nest in the first feeding and she appears to duck out of the way while Dad does the feeding.  In between the two feedings, yet-another visitor arrives to stare at the nest and nestlings.  You'll see one nestling begin to respond to the visitor's presence with open beak, but appears to quickly realize this is a foreign species and backs away.  In the second feeding, Dad dares to turn his back after he arrives with lunch and at least one nestling is quite unhappy about it.

Happening at the Feathers and Fuzz Zoo

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I have to chuckle when I reflect on what's been Happening at the Feathers and Fuzz Zoo these last few days.

A raccoon showed up at the peanut feeder in broad daylight -- undaunted by my presence some 50' away.  Fortunately, the Pit Bull was out by the pool sunbathing so he didn't see her.  (I assume it's a her -- probably a pregnant female making sure she gets first dibs on the peanuts and marshmallows.)

Raccoon at Feeder in Daylight

Momma Finch

Proving once again I am NOT in control of nature -- Momma Finch drew the battle lines as she rearranged the eggs in her nest.  Finch eggs were lined up on one side -- Cowbird egg to the side.  The real victory, however, is this:  After all of my hand-wringing and gut-wrenching, the Cowbird egg failed to hatch.  Two of the 3 Finch eggs have hatched -- and both hatchlings are thriving.  This is a joy I had not expected and for which I am very grateful!

Finch Battle Lines are Drawn
Cowbird Egg Fails to Hatch

The Eastern Bluebirds

The Bluebird eggs in the East house have hatched.  The Bluebird nestlings in the North house are bouncing off the walls.  As I watch these nestlings mature, side-by-side, on my viewing software -- I just never stop being amazed by His creation.  The photos share this view with you -- a mere 10 days difference in age between the two nests.

BB N at 13 Days
BB E at 3 Days

Eastern Phoebes

Not to be left out of the zoo, the Eastern Phoebe nestlings were busy exploring their platform today.  I love it when they "branch" -- hopping out of the nest onto a nearby branch -- then back to the nest.  This is a common practice among Bald Eagle nestlings, but with birds in birdhouses (and the typical Phoebe nest mudded to the wall of a structure) songbird nestlings don't often have the luxury of practicing their flying skills before taking that maiden flight.  Because I have attached artificial foliage to the platform (originally intended for winter roosting use), several broods of Phoebe nestlings have practiced their flying skills before fledging.  I love thinking they will fare better in the world.

I was hopeful I could show you their antics ... topped off with their fledging ... but last time I saw them, two of the three were content to simply view the world from their lofty perch.  You will see them branching in one photo (being fed by Mom or Dad), and peering over the edge in the other photo.  Note the unhatched egg in the background -- another reminder of what a difference a couple weeks makes!

Parent Feeds Branching Phoebe Nestlings
Spent the Day Thinking About Fledging

When the Zoo Comes to You

And, finally, we have the scene that put the word "zoo" into my head.  In broad daylight, a Red Fox trotted down the sidewalk in front of the house like he owns the place.  Okay -- so probably he does -- I'm just the zookeeper.

Fox Trotting Down Sidewalk