Anyway, you get the picture.
But of those 20-30 species you've seen on your walk most are smaller songbirds that go to great lengths to conceal their nests from predators. Building and incubating are probably the easiest time. Once chicks are hatched and hungry the parents are actively feeding and much more activity goes on around the nest. You are more likely to find a nest during the nestling phase if you keep your ears open for the frantic begging calls of the nestlings.
So here's what happened to us at the Sandy River Delta on Saturday. We'd had great looks at all kinds of songbirds and had been serenaded by Thrushes and Chats. Walked by this tree......



Why are they so noisy when the parent has been so careful to conceal the nest? We take it for granted that baby birds make noise or that any baby makes noise, for that matter. Does the struggle to get the most food and leave the nest simply outweigh the possibility of being found and eaten? Anyone out there have information on that subject?

10 comments:
They sure made a lot of noise given the importance of remaining concealed!
Raven, you are quite right. I have rewritten the end of the post to ask that question. What do you think?
Laura
How fun! I love the video and Mark's excitement in the background. I have never seen cedar waxwing babies. So cute!
You are so right! the nest are hidden and it is such a treat when you find one.
Here are links to a couple of articles that seem to support the notion that noisier nestlings of some species simply get fed more!
http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1564071
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6W9W-45KKV82-5&_user=10&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&_docanchor=&view=c&_searchStrId=951016255&_rerunOrigin=google&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=9fb6647bbd2ace6267e0f40de05893f5
Those little one's are so adorable, and yes, noisy too! Thanks for stopping by my blog. Have a great day!
hi-d
LOL..those chicks look like they might fall out of the nest if they keep reaching out to be fed as they do..
great to see the video.
Thanks.
Great pictures! You got so close! We have the chance to get really close with out here in Newfoundland too...lots of birds to be seen and photo ops to be had!
http://www.newfoundlandlabrador.com/BirdWatching/Default.aspx
Great video!
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