House of Feathers - Episode 4
Picking up where we left after Episode 3 - As planned, I went back to the swamp in the afternoon that same day. Of course since I left the swamp in the morning I was wondering, like all of you, if I would find a chick and the egg or 2 chicks when I returned. I arrived around 2:30 and hoofed it to my spot as quickly as I could. While walking through the woods my Merlin app was identifying all of the warblers I could hear but not see… black and whites, chestnut-sided, magnolias, yellows… just magnificent bird song everywhere! Just as I figuring out where to set up this gorgeous brown creeper crept up the tree right next to me!
I had just set up in the nick of time to see the parent stand up and uncover the egg - but look! Look at the size of that hole - a lot had happened in the few hours that I had been gone….I was prepared to stay as late as I had the day before…Of course I was hoping to see the second chick make its appearance into the world.
The parent sat down immediately after moving the egg slightly… while the little one decided to stay '“outside”.
I love how you can see the legs and feet of the little one.
The switch happened at the nest -
Such tenderness -
I scored again witnessing this incredible teaching moment…
The little one is soaking wet!
Incredible how the parent on the nest stretches to its fullest while keeping the egg covered -
Another good look at the hole in the egg - still not ready to pop out. The initial tiny break in the outer and inner shell of the egg is known as the “pip”. At this size I honestly don’t know what it is referred to as…
There was a big commotion in the water down towards my left - it had the attention of the cranes and me. I kept wondering - what is making all of that noise? I then happened to get a quick look at the Merganser that had paddled through and away…. we could all relax now. I will tell you, when the cranes go on alert so do I except I have no idea what I should be looking for! I was thankful to see the Merganser so I knew that I didn’t need to worry. As the sun goes down behind me I would be lying if I said I never think of what might be behind me or near me….. :)
All is calm again -
The switch happened again - the time periods between switching was quicker than I had ever seen it. I kept wondering if that was because they anticipated the second little one popping out soon.
Switching yet again…
I would so love to know what is going through the chick’s mind with all of this constant attention to the egg..
As you can see the hole is even bigger now… and you know that it was killing me because I needed to begin to pack up and head out - the sun was setting behind me. I certainly felt like the chick would leave the egg during the overnight hours - but what do I know? I knew I would be back before sunrise. Just to give you some idea - I had spent a total of approximately 16 hours observing the nest for Episodes 1- 4.
Upcoming Episode 5 - The Next Morning