We had some COLD weather this past week! Temperatures were in the high 30's to low 40's! We got 1/2" of rain, in about an hour and a half! We even got some hail! It looked and felt like it was Winter! I was SO worried about all the nestling birds! Luckily, the parent birds weren't fazed by the weather and kept their nestlings fed and warm! Now it's HOT and sunny, with temperatures in the mid 80's to low 90's! Sheesh!
Nesting News!
The Bullock's Oriole that I thought was all on her own, had a male Oriole helping her feed the nestlings for the past two weeks! How could I have been so oblivious?!!! I had noticed another bird up by the nest, a few weeks ago but didn't think it was a male. It never flew over to our garden, or its surrounding trees. Finally this week, I watched the nest for a couple of hours straight and I saw him go to their nest repeatedly! Yahoo! I watched both of them zoom around in the pouring rain getting food for their nestlings. They even visited the cherry tree outside my window to feast on the cherries! The cold weather lasted for about 48 hours, and 24 hours later I think the nestlings fledged! The parent Orioles are no longer going to their nest, and I have seen the female by herself up in the cherry tree. Hopefully the fledglings are doing good!
I went and checked on the Robin nestlings (above left), but unfortunately the nest was empty. It was way too early for the nestlings to have fledged, so I assume a predator got them. Snakes, weasels, squirrels, and other birds all prey on nestlings. It's pure luck if one survives! However, I did find a brand new nest (above right) just down the road that might be a new Robin nest. They can have up to 3 broods in a season. I saw a bird on it this morning, but it was too dark for a photo! Maybe I'll have better luck later today!
The Starlings are still flying in and out feeding their young. The Cliff Swallows aren't around anymore, so I'm assuming their nestlings fledged.
I also checked on the Black-headed Grosbeak nest, and their eggs have finally hatched! Like the Robins I just mentioned, they had been incubating their eggs for 21 days! I took the picture above, about 2 days ago. It's the mom and 2 nestlings! A tiny pink beak is the only part showing of one of the nestlings. Can you find it? I hope these nestlings survive!
My neighbor has just spotted three active Bullock's Oriole nests on her property, as well as one active Black-headed Grosbeak nest! I was lucky enough to get a photo of these two Oriole nestlings this morning! How exciting!!!
In our neighborhood there are LOTS of young birds that have made it past the nestling stage. Parent birds kick their nestlings out of the nest before they can fly, but continue to care for them on the ground. The nest is too cramped to stretch and practice flying. These young birds, that can't fly and no longer live in a nest, are called fledglings. Once they can fly and feed themselves they are called juveniles.
IF YOU FIND A FLEDGLING ON THE GROUND, PLEASE JUST LEAVE IT ALONE!
If you pick it up, your human scent will make it easier for it to be found by a predator. The parent birds will continue to care for the fledgling until it can fly. The best thing to do is to leave wild things wild!
There is a local group of experts, Wildlife Rehabilitation & Release, that can care for injured or abandoned birds. If necessary, please call them for more information at (530) 432-5522 or check out their website at www.cawildlife911.org
Last week I asked where butterflies go when it rains. It turns out that they hang out or "roost" under leaves, in vegetation under overhanging trees, in caves, in thickets of woody shrubs, or under man-made objects. They exhibit this same "roosting" behavior every night before they go to sleep, usually an hour or two after sunset!
Banana Slug - Ariolomax californicus
What do Banana Slugs eat?
What eats Banana Slugs?
What eats Banana Slugs?
What's blooming?
What insects are out there?
Where are the Rattlesnakes?
Check back next week for the answers to these questions and more!
No comments:
Post a Comment