Newb questions about birds/birding
We put our houseplants on the deck in the spring/summer/fall. Late July, went outside to water and there was a birds nest in the plant! It is a 10 y/o Monstera Plant, so the branches are really thick and strong. What's different this year is that my sister gave us a column type bird feeder. We used to have a lot of birds in our backyard but the last year or two, not so many. West Nile has run rampant in our area and it has been so sad to not see the birds any longer. We have some back with the feeder but nothing like there used to be.
Is it normal for birds to lay eggs so late in the year? I believe (!) it is a song sparrow or white tip sparrow (it has a small white crest).
The female laid 4 eggs - 1 blue-ish speckled and 3 brown/gray/black speckled.
All four hatched but only two fledged but we did not see any bodies of the nestlings. What happens to the bodies? Do the moms take the bodies away or move them after hatching or something?
My husband took the nest out and he was totally impressed with the nest engineering. The bird built the nest along the curve of the pot and wove it in with the monstera plant lower branches. It took awhile to remove it. He was sad to have to take it out but didn't want to bring the plant in for the winter with a nest in it.
---
I did not know that male cardinals were such bullies. We have a weathervane in a big pot on the deck also and only the smallest of birds can use it to perch. Two fledgings were using it to sing their hearts out. It was like when a puppy finds its voice. I was really enjoying watching and listening to them - they were so little bitty. Here comes the male cardinal (there is a m/f pair that live full time in the backyard) who hovers in front of them and uses his wings to chase them off. Of course, they appeared scared and never saw them again. The cardinals have also chased off the goldfinches.
Thank you!
= new reply since forum marked as read
