Sunday, June 10, 2007

Nesting Update, June 10

A quick update post while I work on a longer one. (Uploading pictures with dial-up is S-O-O-O SL-O-O-O-W)

The Purple Martins are up to 49 eggs. I have 2 nests with 6 eggs, 4 nests with 5 eggs, and 4 nests with 4 eggs each. For those of you good at math, that makes 48 eggs in 10 nests. The 49th egg is in Gourd #11, belonging to [Da-DAH!] Lonely Guy! It seems that the former Lonely Guy bachelor has gotten a girl, unbeknownst to me. Either that, or someone has dumped an egg in his nest. I will watch closely for the next few evenings to see if I can see two birds entering that gourd to spend the night together, but the real test will be next Thursday, when I do my next scheduled nest check. If there are more eggs, I will be certain.

There is still at least one, probably more, Tree Swallow babies in that gourd. I can hear them as I walk or mow nearby, but I'm not getting too close. Don't want to cause premature fledging.

There are now eggs in the House Wren nest in a small box by the pond. When Susan and her girls visited, May 26, there was just a stick nest, but now it is lined with softer material and has two tiny brown eggs.

The Eastern Bluebird gang of 6 is one week old today. See how fast they grow! I can only open the box to check on them for five more days, then it's hands-off.
Count the wings and divide by 2.

5 comments:

Mary said...

Congratulations, Katdoc. Your contribution and enthusiasm for the "bewds" is wonderful. I love checking in to see what's growing around you.

KGMom said...

Love those little baby birds--they look so helpless. And so cute.
Count the wings indeed!

Susan Gets Native said...

Jeez...you are a baby-bird-factory.

We have had the 5 wrens, and a few odds and ends, but...you are rivaling Julie. Good grief.
But I am happy for you. A lot of work, to be a bird landlord. And it is totally paying off.

Jayne said...

WOW... so many beeebies!! Look at those sweet, sweet fuzzy heads!

Lynne at Hasty Brook said...

Six babies in the picture? I haven't seen purple martins since I was a kid. Glad they're doing well there.