I lied.
When I found the second curve-billed thrasher nest of the season,
I proclaimed I wouldn't pester the parents, given the mysterious disappearance
of the first set of fledglings. But then you all convinced me that
I probably wasn't responsible for that, so I started checking the new nest
every once in a while...then every other day...
...and now every time I go outside.
This set of parents is much more involved with their children than the first.
Mama Bird: I could use some backup here! She's getting awfully close!
Papa Bird answered the call and flew right over.
I thought he was going to land on my head.
He issued a stern warning to keep my distance.
Who am I to argue with a bird tough enough to live in a cactus?
Aha, good point about the cactus! Ouch. Do they sing beautiful songs? We have brown thrashers here in N.Carolina & they do the most gorgeous varied songs I've ever heard -- pretty enough to make you stop what you're doing & listen to the concert.
ReplyDeleteThey are very vocal, and it's easy to know where the parents are because they talk to each other alot.
DeleteNot to be a spoil sport, but while on an Audubon bird watch we were instructed not to hang around any active nests since it would draw predators :-(
ReplyDeleteThat's what I thought, too, but I'm not sure if that applies to snakes, which apparently are the only predators brave enough to crawl into the cholla.
DeleteHe never takes his eyes off of you. Do you think its the same set of parents?
ReplyDeleteNo, these two behave much differently than the first set, who seemed pretty lackadaisical about the whole parenting thing.
DeleteI do love my wild birds and so enjoy yours!!!
ReplyDeleteHe even looks angry, unless that's his "resting bitch face"
ReplyDeleteI had two litters? Of three baby robins each next to my kitchen window that we could keep an eye on.
Same robin...we said she was slutty because she got knocked up again so soon.
The nest is still there and I find myself always checking on it.
He certainly does look imposing, and not at all happy with your intrusion!
ReplyDeleteThat is one scowling bird!
ReplyDeleteI love a parent who protects the young 'ens.
ReplyDeleteThat is one angry bird :-D.
ReplyDeleteWow, those parents sure come right up to you! I guess they are probably veterans and that this is not their first set of chicks?!
ReplyDeleteYay, I hope you get to see them all grow up this time! =) Whee!
PS - Could you please bring your head cam(?) with you next time you visit the birds? I would love to hear what they sound like, especially the chicks!
ReplyDeleteI was planning to do this, then when I went outside about an hour ago, they'd already left the nest! If they come back to it to sleep, I'll try to catch them with the head cam.
DeleteOh no, I hope they ARE coming back! Maybe visiting them is not a good idea after all.
DeleteMaybe you need to set up a cam in the cactus so that you can see them without having to visit them?