I'm playing with AI Servo this week, but I'm pretty distraught that 2 of the 6 chickadee eggs were on the ground today with chipmunks feasting away (I tried to get the chipmunk with the new setting feature (for me anyway)). I'll post an AI Servo photo in one of my other albums today--birds in flight, chipmunks, a bee--all have been tried today with not much success, so I'll see what else I can do.
For now, I'm looking at the fragility of this tiny egg, the beautiful yolk, and the feathers attached. My hope is that perhaps the eggs are ejected after a bird hatches? I have a shot of mom or dad with an inchworm in mouth (AI Servo too), so life is arriving I suspect (the house is too deep to look in).
I chased off the chipmunks, one with the full shell in his mouth--he wasn't leaving without his booty.
UPDATE afternoon. I went to check the house to see how many eggs remain--NONE. I'm guessing they were attacked. Very heavy heart.
@jo13 Thanks Jo. I really am so sad--I had such high hopes and I keep seeing the parents returning to the house and just "looking in." I have the Robin's nest on the side of the house still (saw the father standing guard), and I don't dare go near because there are only 2 left there. :(
@mothervic@jodimuli@writingdays@wind_of_the_sothern_sea Thanks everyone. I do have some good news, hopefully. One baby robin has hatched and so far, I think the parents are keeping intruders out. Will have to check later today. :)
@judis I just don't know enough to know if they have it in them to try over- or if it is possible? I didn't check much on Robins today (I'm swamped with work)--I did see mama on nest, so I'm assuming something is a go!
Daryl, your Chickadees, we call them Tits this side of the water, should try again, but not always in the same nest. Some of them would normally try and raise 2 or even 3 broods a season.
@markp Oh thanks Mark! I'm wondering of I should move thebirdhouse then? It's hanging on a shepherd"s crook right on my patio. I don't have any birdfeeders anywhere.
@timerskine You're right of course, but I still call those National Geographic tv shows snuff films. Just can't watch...