They've Flown the Coop

Saturday morning I was standing in the kitchen watching the finches outside the window when it dawned on me that one of them was actually one of the babies.  She was coaching him/her to fly (for convenience I'll call baby Uno).  They both left the roof edge and flew across the street to the neighbor's yard and back with that fast dipping motion they perform when they fly fast.  They turned right around without stopping and lighted on the roof again. 

Then Uno decided to take a leap off the roof but couldn't quite get the air needed and fluttered down and sat on one of my lilies.   I ran for my camera but it's not a really good photo.  Mama was right beside her on the grass for support and safety.  Uno is really hidden by the leaves, but she's there!

 

The rest of the clutch patiently waiting their turn.



Throughout the day I checked the nest and each time there was one less baby in the nest.

This is another one that likes to flit down onto the lily leaves.  I wish I had had more time to follow all of the goings on with the birds but I had tons of gardening chores to get done.
Late afternoon I no longer saw little heads bobbing up and down and wings flapping in the nest.  One by one Mama had helped each of here little fledglings to fly the coop.  Oh to be inside the mind of those little birds flying for the first time.  I imagine it's exhilarating.


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This is the first sign that all 5 eggs had hatched. One out of the nest and four still crammed in there equal 5. I was anxious to see if there was an egg left unhatched in the nest. That would confirm once and for all just how many babies had hatched. I had trouble telling if there were 3, 4, or 5 nestlings in the nest. They were so on top of each other in that little nest. I read that the Mama usually removed the pieces of shell from hatched eggs. I would think it really hard for her to remove a whole egg that turned out to be a dud; other than maybe pushing it out of the nest. I never saw anything on the ground so I assumed there were 4 hatched birdies and one egg left. Today would be my day to tell.  I figured with all the birdies fledged there would be a whole egg still sitting in the nest....or not.


I secretly hoped that fifth egg would be sitting in the nest, left for me to claim.  How cool it would be to have such a beautiful egg.  I'd carefully blow it out and find some sort of craft to incorporate it into.


Another thing I have secretly thought about was all the different things I would be able to do with the nest.  I have read that you could put a nest in a baggie and toss it in the freezer for several days; guaranteed to kill mites, etc. that next might harbor.  However, when I took the fern down and got a good look into the nest there was no extra eggs.  I therefore have to assume that there were five healthy nestling and today they found their freedom.


Another thing I secretly coveted was to keep the nest.  I've read where you can put them in a freezer bag and freeze them.  That would kill any parasites and you'd be left with this cute little nest to keep as a memory; to use in arrangements in the house and on and on.

Take a good look at this nest.  Would you want to clean this up?  I think not.


It's been fun to watch this process of God' swork in nature, right down to the night we went below freezing.  Would they be able to keep themselves warm?  Would Mama come over and sleep on top of them to keep them warm?  I didn't know but could only pray for their safety.  That was Thursday night and Friday it was such a relief to see those little bobble heads in the  nest!

Now, can I put a new fern on the front porch please?????  (They don't have more than one brood a year do they?!?!?!?!!??!!??)   Arghhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!

Nestling Update

Although I don't know the exact date each egg hatched, they are probably about two weeks old now.  They are growing and they are very loud, in a cute sort of way, whenever Mama or Papa comes bearing a meal.

It's still hard to tell just how many nestlings there are because I try not to linger over the nest for very long.  They have an awfully poopy nest don't they?  Whenever they have to do their business they stick their little hineys up over the edge of the nest and poop.  This is their way of keeping their living quarters clean.

Mama takes good care of her babies.

 I think I see four hungry mouths here but still not sure.  The one on the left is going to leap right out of the nest if he / she isn't careful.



Here is Papa.  He is a good help mate.  He will land on the chain or the basket and peruse the area before he hops down for the feeding.


Isn't the fern lovely?  Looks really nice hanging next to the other two that are, well.....alive. 

The Clutch is Hatching

It's been difficult for me to snap a good photo of the eggs that have hatched.  We ended up with 5 eggs in the nest.  I believe all 5 have hatched, but they are so crowded in the nest it's hard to determine whether or not they are all hatched. 

I try to stay at the next as little as I can because both Momma and Papa are diligent in feeding their little clutch.

Sitting in my chair and depending on which direction the fern is slowly turning I can see the chicks eager little beaks wide open waiting for their meal.

Spring Cleaning

It's been a busy March and April for me and I haven't spent the time I need to in the yard.  I have been( able to get out and do some cleaning, trimming and planting in the front bed. 

 

Lamb's Ear (Stachys byzantine) is not a baaaaad plant to have in the garden.  OK, that's pretty corny, sorry.  I love the thick, velvety leaves.  During a trip to Virginia one year Lovey and I toured the homestead of James Monroe, Ash Lawn-Highland.  It's not far from Thomas Jefferson's Monticello and is a much, much more modest farm.  The  most interesting thing I recall from that visit was their colonial herb garden.  They grew a large variety of herbs that had medicinal purposes.  They used the leaves of Lamb's Ear as a band aid, to stop the flow of blood on cuts.

I cut back the purple fountain grasses (Pennisetum setaceum 'Rubrum').  There is debate whether or not this will come back.  Most of what I read is that it is an annual but in warmer climates it comes back like a perennial.  If I don't see new growth by the time the weather decides to stay in the 80's I'll have to buy more.

The zebra grass (Miscanthus sinensis) is coming back after its little trim.

Behind these whispy volunteers of Mexican Feather grass (Nassella tenuissima) are the plants from whence they came.  I cut the older ones back then dug these two up and planted them at the back of the driveway.  There are actually tons of these new plants throughout the garden and I'll transplant those as well when they grow to a certain size.

The muhly grass (Muhlenbergia capillaris) received a trim as well.

 

 

 

 The Threadleaf Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum var. dissectum ) is returning to its pretty little self.

My two Red Yuccas (Hesperaloe parviflora) are donning their flower spikes for the first time.  I bought these as very young plants at a plant sale so it has taken them a couple of years to flower.

 

Finally, an update on the Finch family.  5 eggs seems to be the final number in the clutch.  Momma is sitting on the nest.  I checked the nest yesterday evening and none have hatched yet.

The Finch Family is Growing

We've had rather nasty weather the first part of this week so I have stayed away from the nest in the fern.  I was watching Howard and Harriet as I was potting up some plants and when they flew away I took a peek.  They now have five!  According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology House Finches have from 3 to 5 eggs.  I am assuming Harriet will begin to sit and stay on her nest now. 

Learn along with me;  we'll see.

Howard and Harriet House Finch Start a Family

This nest-in-progress I told you about last week is all finished now.  Harriet worked hard weaving her new little home out of fine grass, leaves, and rootlets. According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, she uses finer materials such as thread, wool, and feathers for the lining.
And Harriet is making sure it's occupied.

On the evening of Sunday the 31st she had laid one egg.  This isn't a very clear photo.  I guess I was a little excited about there being a tiny egg there and moved the camera a bit too much.

When I got home from work last night I walked past the fern on the front porch and craned my neck to see if Harriet or Howard was sitting in the nest.  Seeing that is was unoccupied I used the step ladder to peek into the nest; careful not to touch anything.

Now we have two.

I can't wait to see if there is a third this evening!

Spring is Here...So I Thought

This weekend proved to be anything but nice, weather-wise.  I spent the first half of Saturday working a bike ride in torrential rains getting chilled to the bone.



While the race was delayed for over an hour we cruised around the State Park and we saw lots of deer.  I was just glad to get home that afternoon, take a nice hot shower and crawl in bed.

Sunday proved to be a gorgeous day with blue skies and quite chilly but was spoiled by 25 - 30 MPH winds that made the temperature feel like it was 30°.  My anticipated day of working in the garden went down the tubes.  I don't do wind.

Sunday night was supposed to freeze so I took the 12 dwarf English boxwoods, that were scheduled to be planted Monday, into the garage for the evening.  I also took down the three Boston ferns that were hanging on the front porch.

I was giving the ferns a drink of water when I discovered this.  Yes, it's a little nest, about 3 inches wide.  I called Lovey to come take a look.  I was in a quandary whether to return the fern to the front porch on the chance it would freeze.

Within minutes Lovey discovered poor, frazzled Mr. and Mrs. House Finch fluttering around wondering where in the world the fern disappeared to!  Her little beak was full of nesting materials and it was in that moment I realized her nest was still a work in progress.  They flew away in a panic and I returned the fern to the porch hoping I hadn't spoiled it all.

An hour or two later Mr. House Finch came to check things out, disappeared and returned with the little lady; beak full, ready to continue the construction of their new Spring home.

Mrs. House Finch stayed busy all day Monday working on her nest.  Mr. HF is proving to be such a caring mate.  He acts as the watchman as Mrs. HF gets in there, bottom up, weaving all of those materials in what will soon be the home for 3 to 5 little light blue speckled eggs.

I've had a hard time getting a good photo of the couple as they fly away anytime I walk outside.  Here is what they look like.  Photo is from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology website; which is a fabulous website for all things birds.

Hopefully I'll be able to share a photo of the eggs in the near future!