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.
.
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. However, when I took the fern down and got a good
look into the nest there was no extra egg. I therefore have to assume
that there were five healthy nestlings and today they found their
freedom.
I also hoped I would be able to keep 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.
the nest might harbor and you'd be left with a cute little nest to keep as a memory; to use in arrangements in the house and so 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' s handy work 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!!!!
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.
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.
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!
