Crazy momma birds

MikeT · 06-10-2007, 01:11 PM

This week I've had an Oregon Junco and a robin busy starting new families on my back patio. I thought nesting season was pretty much over.

The junco found a nice spot among my fuchsia starts on a shelf outside the kitchen window. She pulled up the small plant, dug a nice hole in the dirt, and proceeded to cover the area with dried grass and misc. debris. The final touch was to collect a bit of shed hair my Golden Retriever leaves everywhere, and make a nice furry lining to the nest. I had to move some pots around so she wouldn't bury the adjacent plants.
According to Peterson's, Oregon Juncos make "a well-lined nest on the ground and lay 4-5 eggs". She left one yesterday morning and one today. Looks like she's got a few more days work left before incubation starts.

The robin is very determined to build on the beam that supports my deck cover. It's only 3.5 inches wide, so she's having trouble. Every time she piles up enough material to have the start of a good nest, it sags over the sides and starts falling apart. She then tries a new spot with the same result. I've got to give her lots of credit for determination, but not much for learning from her mistakes. So far she's got nine nests going, one next to each rafter. Feeling sorry for her, I made a 7"x7" shelf out of an old cedar shingle, and put a lip around three sides to hold her house together, but so far she hasn't shown any favor for that one.

I'll post more pics as the situation develops. Looks like we'll have some baby juncos around soon, anyway.

Mike

Jennie@ifish · 06-10-2007, 02:08 PM

That's very interesting, MikeT! I had to get Bill up out of his chair to see! We've not seen how they do this. We have several junco that we call friends, here.

We will be on the lookout. Did not know they were ground nesters!

Thanks for posting this and have a ball watching the process! COOL!

I'm envious!

Jen

Rauly · 06-11-2007, 06:04 AM

Hope Belle and Rieley get along with the little guys when they hatch.

Rauly

ET · 06-11-2007, 06:14 AM

Nice Pics.

Last year I had tons of Juncos at my feeders, but this year I haven't seen even one. Lots of other birds but no Juncos.

What's up with that?

Rauly · 06-13-2007, 01:24 AM

Any egg updates?

MikeT · 06-13-2007, 06:15 AM

The junco has 4 eggs and began incubating on Tuesday. So far no problems with the dogs showing interest (she's safely out of reach).
Anyone know the incubation period for juncos? I'm guessing 20 days or so.

I took down all but one of the robin nests and nailed a couple small pieces of wood on each side of the beam to give her more room to work. She seems to like it and is busy putting the finishing touches on the nest.

More updates later as things progress.

Mike

GSD · 06-13-2007, 06:28 AM

Incubation - 12 to 14 days.

MikeT · 06-24-2007, 07:35 AM

Junco eggs hatched yesterday. Incubation time turned out to be 11 days.
They're goofy looking little things.....tiny and mostly bald, with patches of fuzz.
I'll be out of town the next few days so I'll update late in the week.

Momma robin is on the nest about 8 ft. from the juncos. I expect she'll have chicks by the time I get back in town.
Mike

Jennie@ifish · 06-24-2007, 07:44 AM

OH!!!!!!!!!!!! I love that! I love that! Thank you! How darling!!!!

SeaSparrow · 06-24-2007, 08:37 AM

We have a pair of juncos nesting in the grass outside the basement door. One of the parents has a mouthful of grubs to feed to the babies, seen nestled deep in a hole in the ground. We weed whacked right over the top of their nest before we realized what was in there!

letsfish · 06-24-2007, 09:54 AM

Excellent Pics! Thanks for sharing.

TroutGirl · 06-25-2007, 04:49 PM

This is really neat, I hope you can keep photographing them. Thanks for the post.

MikeT · 07-01-2007, 06:59 AM

The juncos are 8 days old now. I was traveling Mon.-Fri. last week, and was amazed at how quickly the little guys are developing.
Mom and pop are busy bringing insects to the nest. Pop gets annoyed when I come out the back door and scolds me and the dogs, but otherwise they don't seem to be too bothered by our activities.
Some new pictures from this morning:

Mike

STGRule · 07-01-2007, 07:09 AM

I really like the bottom picture.

P8ntballrman · 07-01-2007, 09:31 AM

I have been fallowing this story since the first post.......great pictures and storys to go along with them. What ever happened to the robbins nest........ did she have any storks drop in and leave her anything......?? Don't stop now it's been a great story so far and we all want to know what happens next....:lurk:

MikeT · 07-01-2007, 11:36 AM

The robin family must have new additions since the parents are bringing food to the nest, but it's in a tight spot and I won't be able to poke my head in there to peek. I'm hesitant to disturb them, but brought around a step ladder anyway and climbed up with the camera. (S)he surprised me by sitting tight while I snapped away, even getting the lens within about 3 ft. The bright colors suggest this is Papa robin, but I'm not entirely sure. Later on, when they aren't tending the babies, I'll try to poke the camera up high enough to see inside.

UPDATE: There are baby robins but I wasn't able to either see into the nest or get my camera positioned to view them. One did pop his head up for a moment so I got a glance. Getting pictures is going to be a challenge.

Mike

MikeT · 07-04-2007, 10:18 AM

The little robins are showing themselves now, but only when momma brings some grub (or I get near; they don't seem to know the difference).

The little juncos are nearly feathered out. I try to not go near them now because I'm afraid they'll jump from the nest if they're disturbed or frightened.
I may be able to get some more photos using the tripod and wireless controller without disturbing them. Need to find a new battery for the wireless first, though.