Red wing black bird - Wildlife Gardeners

havalotta · 08-16-2012, 10:55 AM

Something's in the bush!

I can barely make it out. It's the back side of a bird, resting upon a nest, but what kind?

All of a sudden..... it flushed, and in flew another.

It is a Red Wing Black Bird.
I took a peek inside and there lay three speckled blue eggs!

havalotta · 08-16-2012, 10:58 AM

WARNING This post may be a bit graphic

The very next day........
Two little ones raised their tiny little heads, mouth agap....TWO! What had happened to the third?????
I did a complete search of the area to see if one had toppled from its nest.

No such luck but I DID find the missing egg on the ground.
I took the egg inside and decided to carefully open it with a tweezers to see what's up.

Seems it was given the boot from not developing ....The yolk mass (cropped out) still lay by its side.
It was a LOT smaller than the other two hatch-lings and had already passed on. Notice the little egg tooth attached to the tip of its bill.

dapjwy · 08-16-2012, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by havalotta

Something's in the bush!
Attachment 31606
I can barely make it out. It's the back side of a bird, resting upon a nest, but what kind?
Attachment 31607
All of a sudden..... it flushed, and in flew another.
Attachment 31608
It is a Red Wing Black Bird.
I took a peek inside and there lay three speckled blue eggs!

I'd love to have a nesting pair of one of my favorite birds...perhaps with the pond, I'll have a better chance of attracting them--especially if I add wetland plants.

dapjwy · 08-16-2012, 02:09 PM

Is it possible it fell out and then never finished developing?

Interesting markings on the shell.

havalotta · 08-16-2012, 04:27 PM

I don't think so as one day all three eggs were in the nest fine and dandy, then the very next day there were two hatch-lings looking at me and a tossed egg that held a MUCH smaller underdeveloped chick inside. It was no where near the size of the other two. I'm guessing it had stopped developing quite some time before, maybe by only a few days? being they mature so rapidly.

havalotta · 08-18-2012, 11:05 AM

Two days old

Three

Four

Mom keeps a ever watchful eye on me.

Dad tries to lure me away......

havalotta · 08-19-2012, 08:06 AM

Fifth

Sixth

Mom and dad voicing their opinions.

Eighth

dapjwy · 08-19-2012, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by havalotta

I don't think so as one day all three eggs were in the nest fine and dandy, then the very next day there were two hatch-lings looking at me and a tossed egg that held a MUCH smaller underdeveloped chick inside. It was no where near the size of the other two. I'm guessing it had stopped developing quite some time before, maybe by only a few days? being they mature so rapidly.

I see.

(I just got back today from being away for a few days.) Shortly after posting my comment, I read about your find and realized that you discovered the egg the very next day.)

Great photos, H.!

havalotta · 08-21-2012, 08:54 PM

Their eyes have been open since the seventh day.

Ninth....First time they've noticed the camera.

Tenth...Feathers are emerging from their sheaths.

Eleventh....Fully feathered.

dapjwy · 08-21-2012, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by havalotta

Their eyes have been open since the seventh day.
...Eleventh....Fully feathered.

Great photo series, havalotta. Thank you for sharing something few of us would ever see.

How do the parents react to your presence?

08-16-2012, 10:55 AM	#1
havalotta WG Prize & Gift Coordinator Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Michigan	Red wing black bird Something's in the bush! I can barely make it out. It's the back side of a bird, resting upon a nest, but what kind? All of a sudden..... it flushed, and in flew another. It is a Red Wing Black Bird. I took a peek inside and there lay three speckled blue eggs! __________________ The successful woman is the woman that had the chance and took it! A walk among the elusive Whitetail Deer

08-16-2012, 10:58 AM	#2
havalotta WG Prize & Gift Coordinator Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Michigan	WARNING This post may be a bit graphic The very next day........ Two little ones raised their tiny little heads, mouth agap....TWO! What had happened to the third????? I did a complete search of the area to see if one had toppled from its nest. No such luck but I DID find the missing egg on the ground. I took the egg inside and decided to carefully open it with a tweezers to see what's up. Seems it was given the boot from not developing ....The yolk mass (cropped out) still lay by its side. It was a LOT smaller than the other two hatch-lings and had already passed on. Notice the little egg tooth attached to the tip of its bill. __________________ The successful woman is the woman that had the chance and took it! A walk among the elusive Whitetail Deer

08-16-2012, 02:09 PM	#4
dapjwy WG Hospitality & UAOKA recipient Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Pennsylvania	Is it possible it fell out and then never finished developing? Interesting markings on the shell. __________________ "If suburbia were landscaped with meadows, prairies, thickets or forests, or combinations of these, then the water would sparkle, fish would be good to eat again, birds would sing and human spirits would soar." ~ Lorrie Otto ~ A Native Backyard Blog ~

08-16-2012, 04:27 PM	#5
havalotta WG Prize & Gift Coordinator Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Michigan	I don't think so as one day all three eggs were in the nest fine and dandy, then the very next day there were two hatch-lings looking at me and a tossed egg that held a MUCH smaller underdeveloped chick inside. It was no where near the size of the other two. I'm guessing it had stopped developing quite some time before, maybe by only a few days? being they mature so rapidly. __________________ The successful woman is the woman that had the chance and took it! A walk among the elusive Whitetail Deer

08-18-2012, 11:05 AM	#6
havalotta WG Prize & Gift Coordinator Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Michigan	Two days old Three Four Mom keeps a ever watchful eye on me. Dad tries to lure me away...... __________________ The successful woman is the woman that had the chance and took it! A walk among the elusive Whitetail Deer

08-19-2012, 08:06 AM	#7
havalotta WG Prize & Gift Coordinator Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Michigan	Fifth Sixth Mom and dad voicing their opinions. Eighth __________________ The successful woman is the woman that had the chance and took it! A walk among the elusive Whitetail Deer

08-21-2012, 08:54 PM	#9
havalotta WG Prize & Gift Coordinator Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Michigan	Their eyes have been open since the seventh day. Ninth....First time they've noticed the camera. Tenth...Feathers are emerging from their sheaths. Eleventh....Fully feathered. __________________ The successful woman is the woman that had the chance and took it! A walk among the elusive Whitetail Deer

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