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The last egg was laid July 26th….4 total. Previous 2 had 5. I thought I saw the mom and dad on Friday morning but we have had a tough time making out whether it was them or the kids from the previous nests because they have been around too. The box is a bit of a distance from our kitchen window and lots of times it is back lit from the sun so hard to see the coloring. Today is day 15. We still are putting out worms twice a day. The juvies tend to poop in the worm dish and that is what we have been finding so I think it is only them around. I guess if these eggs are abandoned at least it was before they hatched. I just don’t have a good feeling about it. We have had so much success the past few years…so this makes me sad..
Hudson Falls, NY
Donna, maybe tomorrow will be the day – sure hope so. Has mama still been incubating them? 3 of my 4 eggs this 3rd nesting were one day behind the first to hatch – never know what is going on sometimes.
Carol, I haven’t…there are tiny nicks in the eggs like from when she turns them and we usually get dive bombed when we go to open the box..and that hasn’t been happening.This is the first year for us that a lot of the kids have come back to the feeder…so even though they poop in the dish, it has been nice to see them 😅…like I said earlier, at least the eggs haven’t hatched and my gut tells me the female is gone or abandoned them for some reason…I had a great season otherwise
Hudson Falls, NY
Donna, you can put a little dot on each egg, using a sharpie. IF the dots move, you will know she’s been in because nobody else is going to turn the eggs. If there is no change in 24 hours, chances are good she is not alive. No way does a bird abandon viable eggs. Another thing you can do is wedge a piece of grass or straw in the hole. It’s pretty easy to do and will let you know if a bird has entered the box. Hoping for the best here.
Gin
Atlanta, GA***UPDATE
So I checked today after marking the eggs and laying a piece of straw across the box opening and there was no activity. I removed the nest and eggs and I broke open all 4 and there was absolutely no development…just yolks. Meanwhile the kids are still visiting the meal worm feeder. Will be looking forward to a successful 2021.
Hudson Falls, NY
Sorry, Donna, I know, too, from experience, that sometimes nature is cruel, but that is life. Hope your next season will be better.
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