Feedin' Time

[Michael]

I have a wisteria vine growing around the column holding up my front porch. I have had enough of trying to keep it trimmed (stuff grows like kudzu!!) and was going to remove it...until I saw the robin's nest tucked away in the branches. As a result, I haven't even trimmed it for the last few weeks and it's getting out of hand.

However...........ain't this cool?? :)

[Sejanus]

Awwww! NICE!

[AsylumGuido]

Very cool. :happy088

[sparky5693]

That's really cool. Looks like you'll get a birds eye view of the youngsters growing up.

[Queen of Blades]

Are they calling you "Mama" yet? ;)

Very cool!

[soapbuddy]

What a wonderful pic. Glad you found them.

[Mottern Man]

Someone get them kids a Happy Meal.

Looks like Starvin' Marvin.

OK, nuff with the jokes.

Everybody, on three.


1...


2...


3...


AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!

[SuperSpeed]

VERY nice of you to leave them undisturbed, Michael! Kudos!!! ;)

That being said, now that they've hatched and are vocalizing--if it becomes necessary to move the nest for some reason, it can be done without ill effect.

Let me know if, for some reason, you have a problem with the nest location and I will be glad to offer assistance. For the price of, hmmmm...let's see...a gently-used EJ Medium Silvertip? :happy102

(KIDDING--but that brush of yours does look pretty sweet!)

--Morrie

[freemartin]

Great shot, send that one to the local news.

[soapbuddy]

Great shot, send that one to the local news.

I agree. :)

[moviemaniac]

Very cool!. So, when are they going to the Chinese restaurant?

[mastermute]

So, when are they going to the Chinese restaurant?

Not really sure what you mean here... they look too young for the wok...:rolleyes:

[moviemaniac]

Not really sure what you mean here... they look too young for the wok...:rolleyes:
That's exactly what I meant :D

[Mottern Man]

Leave the birds alone.

Eat the nest. :D

[Padron]

Nice pic Michael, you can always do the pruning / trimming in the fall :cool:

[Michael]

Nice pic Michael, you can always do the pruning / trimming in the fall :cool:

Yup. As long as I don't mind using only the back door to my house. In a few weeks, I probably won't be able to see the front door! :D

I've got to ask myself one question...'Do you feel lucky? Do ya, punk?'..........:eek:

[Bronco]

Nice find! Great pic! Kool save!

[soapbuddy]

Love that pic!
It looks like an environmentally friendly house. :)

[Padron]

Yup. As long as I don't mind using only the back door to my house. In a few weeks, I probably won't be able to see the front door! :D

I've got to ask myself one question...'Do you feel lucky? Do ya, punk?'..........:eek:

http://www.theshaveden.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=4665&stc=1&d=1215267783


Hahahaha :rofl:rofl:rofl Let's hope it doesn't get that bad :D

[Michael]

For those of you not familiar with the landscape of the southeastern US, go to google images and search on kudzu. Amazing stuff!

There's a story about a guy who bought a house with a bunch of kudzu in the backyard. When he cleared it all out, he discovered he had a swimming pool!! I always thought it was folklore, but after seeing some of these pics, I'm a believer!

[Michael]

Five days makes a BIG difference! :)

[Michael]

No sooner had I posted the last pic, than I walked out the front door and saw this! He even waited while I went back to get the camera.

I don't know where the other two went. I haven't seen them in a while. I just assumed they would all mature at the same rate and leave the nest. Guess not.

[Jimbo]

That's very cool! Certainly looks like they grow fast.

James.

[soapbuddy]

He has beautiful feathers. :)

[Padron]

Great photos Michael, I had no idea they grew so quickly :shocked003 :)

[SuperSpeed]

Michael,

Some birds begin to incubate their eggs after all the eggs have been laid. Thus, they all hatch on the same day. Good examples of this behavior would be ducks and geese. Robins, however, begin incubation as soon as the first egg is laid. Thus, each egg (laid one day apart) will hatch one day apart from oldest to youngest. They reach each step of maturity one day apart. The hatchlings become nestlings then branchers then fledglings one day apart. The bird in your last picture is a "brancher." The siblings have no doubt "fledged" from the nest and are hopping and flying around a rather expansive area driving their parents NUTS...much like teenagers with new driver's licenses. :happy102

The last remaining one will also fledge in a day and add to the confusion for its folks. Once all of the babies are "flighted," the parents will gather them all up and teach them to forage and everything else a Robin needs to know to survive!!! :cool:

Hope you enjoyed the whole experience and THANK YOU for sharing your wonderful pictures with us! :D

The very best,
--Morrie

[Michael]

Thanks very much for the education, Morrie. Birds have wings and robins have red breasts and blue eggs. That's about all I know on the subject. And you were right - today, the nest is empty! I miss the little buggers! :sad024

I think this experience is going to cost me though. If I had had something other than my point and shoot Canon, I could have gotten some shots of feeding time...from a respectable distance. Ever since I saw my first F1, I've wanted a Nikon SLR. Maybe a nice D80 with a zoom? :)

[SuperSpeed]

Michael,

I am very happy to have been of service! ;)

Your pictures were EXCEPTIONAL.
I shutter (!) to think how much nicer they would have been with fancier equipment! :happy102

Thanks again for sharing with us!

--Morrie

[Michael]

Your pictures were EXCEPTIONAL.
I shutter (!) to think how much nicer they would have been with fancier equipment! :happy102

--Morrie

You just blew it, bud. That was, well, like something I would have said!! :o

[SuperSpeed]

Michael,

I am sure you have heard the expression...

"GREAT minds think alike!" :D

Seriously though, wonderful job with those pictures and kudos for not interfering. Neither is surprising to me, by the way!

Happy Shaving,
--Morrie

[Michael]

Michael,
Seriously though, wonderful job with those pictures and kudos for not interfering. Neither is surprising to me, by the way!

Happy Shaving,
--Morrie

Thank you. NOW can I cut the wisteria down?!

[SuperSpeed]

ABSOLUTELY!!! Feel free to "have at it" with the Wisteria. :cool:

Of course, only after you pack up and send your gently-used EJ Medium Silvertip brush to me! (For evaluation purposes only...to be returned at a later--unspecified--date) :happy102

--Morrie

[Michael]

ABSOLUTELY!!! Feel free to "have at it" with the Wisteria. :cool:

Of course, only after you pack up and send your gently-used EJ Medium Silvertip brush to me! (For evaluation purposes only...to be returned at a later--unspecified--date) :happy102

--Morrie

Thanks. Nice try on the brush, btw.

Oh, and here's my last pic on the subject............:sad023

[Queen of Blades]

Empty nest syndrome. :)

[Michael]

Empty nest syndrome. :)

Years ago, Luv...years ago. :)

[Queen of Blades]

uh huh. :rolleyes:

[Queen of Blades]

Discovered a few babies today. 2 chairs (less than 5 feet away!) from my smoking chair on the porch.

3 babies that I can see, and 1 is so obviously a bit older than the other 2.

http://www.theshaveden.com/forum/vbpgimage.php?do=full&p=1712&d=1217200498

[JayKay]

Birds are cute :D

[soapbuddy]

How cute!

[Michael]

:signs108

Hey, this was MY thread!! ;)

JoAnna, you have a better angle than I did. I couldn't see from above the nest without getting a ladder and disturbing too much stuff. Cool pic! Keep your camera ready!

[SuperSpeed]

Hi JoAnna,

Congratulations! You have captured on film a rare sight, indeed: one of nature's anomalies. I'm not sure where you are located, so I am not sure exactly which one, but the larger bird is one of the three species of Cowbird in North America. Cowbirds are brood parasites (where the female bird lays her egg in a host nest). Possibly the nest belongs to wren-type birds, as indicated by their size, shape of their beak, and the bright yellow coloration of the beak and flanges (soft "lips" on the side of the beak). Cowbirds have pink skin, bright pink inside the mouth, and cream-colored flanges (which your larger bird has). This is according to my better half and resident wildlife expert--Peggy! Me, I am red/green color blind and lacking the knowledge that she has regarding birds!!! :rolleyes:

Cowbirds grow very quickly, often out-competing their step-siblings, who may fail. The Cowbird fledges (leaves the nest) at about ten days old and its "foster parents" will continue to feed it for two weeks following! It is very difficult for the foster parents, who are raising a "Baby Huey" for a child! Many people don't like hearing about this, given the probable fate of the original nesting baby birds, but it is an example of "Nature at Her Finest" by way of species specialization!

Enjoy the show--take more pictures, please! :D

Peggy wanted to know if you get pictures as the nest develops, can she use them on our Center's website (with full credit to you, of course!)?

--Morrie

[Queen of Blades]

Wow! That's kinda cool indeed!

I'll do my best to take pictures every day.

And yes, by all means, you may use the pictures.

Oh, and I'm in southwest Virginia.

I actually discovered the nest this morning when I noticed a small wren in the chair. When it flew off I looked at the "leaves" in the chair, and said "Oh, that's a nest." I did think it was probably late in the year for baby birds, but I don't know about those things. I was thinking about "cleaning up" the nest. But decided not to. Then this afternoon I saw the wren bringing food. Took a look again, and sure enough, babies.

Is there anyway I can help the parents feed the babies? Or will that even help the wren babies?

[Queen of Blades]

JoAnna, you have a better angle than I did. I couldn't see from above the nest without getting a ladder and disturbing too much stuff. Cool pic! Keep your camera ready!

That's not actually the top of the nest. It's the front. I had to climb under the patio table to get the pic. But there is a small opening on top that I can see through.

[Queen of Blades]

Top of the nest

http://www.theshaveden.com/forum/vbpgimage.php?do=full&p=1713&d=1217217587

http://www.theshaveden.com/forum/vbpgimage.php?do=full&p=1714&d=1217217595

Another from the front

http://www.theshaveden.com/forum/vbpgimage.php?do=full&p=1715&d=1217217605

[SuperSpeed]

Hi JoAnna,

Due to your location, the large baby is most likely a Brown-headed Cowbird. Best to leave the feeding entirely to the adult birds, they are gathering insects to feed the babies. They need a HUGE variety for balanced nutrition. Any attempt at supplementing their diet will usually end up causing problems for all concerned. Best just to watch and enjoy! ;)

Peggy says "thank you, thank you, thank you" for your permission to use the pictures!!! :cool:

--Morrie

[Queen of Blades]

Seems there are now 3 wren babies, and the 1 cowbird.

http://www.theshaveden.com/forum/vbpgimage.php?do=full&p=1720&d=1217275991

There are more pics in the Gallery, Morrie, if you need them, here (http://www.theshaveden.com/forum/vbpicgallery.php?do=view&g=797). They are marked "day 1", "day 2", and I'll continue to do this as we watch the nest.

Perhaps, you or Peggy could educate us a bit more on wrens and cowbirds?

[SuperSpeed]

JoAnna,

Those are some excellent pictures! It is easy to see how much larger the Cowbird is compared to his wren-type nestling "step-siblings." With each passing day, this difference is going to become accentuated. :eek:

A couple interesting tidbits on Cowbirds:

They may lay several eggs, but only one per nest. There are most likely other "infiltrated" nests in the area. If more than one Cowbird were in the same nest, the foster parents could not "keep up" the feeding regimen! These little birds grow quickly and are voracious!! :eatdrink020

The mother Cowbird was herself raised by a foster parent, since Cowbirds do not raise their own young. For her own eggs, she chooses the nest of the same species which raised her! This Cowbird's mother undoubtedly was raised by wrens. This baby, if it is a female, will one day lay her eggs in wren nests!!!

PM coming your way--thank you very much for the photography, JoAnna! ;)

:signs154

--Morrie (and Peggy!)

[Queen of Blades]

day 3

The cowbird is getting bigger. Can't hardly see the wrens, and the cowbird seems to have pushed it's way to the front of the nest opening.

http://www.theshaveden.com/forum/vbpgimage.php?do=full&p=1726&d=1217359542

[Queen of Blades]

I don't what these crazy animals around here are thinking!

Birds nest in one chair. Beehive forming on the porch floor right underneath the next chair! And me sitting in the next chair. :eek:

One quick, precise stomp and bye-bye bees. :happy088

[Queen of Blades]

Hello? Will? Anyone?

Fine, I'll do it myself. :rolleyes:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMlAl0eZk-A&feature=related

[JayKay]

I feel like my college degree has finally paid off! I learned about cowbirds in Animal Behavior 550! WOOOOHOOOO!!!