Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Red Eyed Vireo nest through the last day in nest

This series of Red Eyed Vireo was taken in July 2007, with my point and shot camera. This may be what got me hooked on birding. At the time Jimmy and I were both on evening shift. Jimmy set a block under the limb so I could step up on it to get the camera above the nest. Every morning first thing I told Jimmy I was going to check on my babies. And went to photograph the nest. I would just hold the camera up above the nest and snap. Yes, there were more trashed photos than good using that method. No, it did not seem to disturb the mama bird, although she did not use that dogwood tree the following year.
If you ever see a Red Eyed Vireo nest it catches your eye the next time.
Mama on nest July 5th.
Eggs July 9th.
The birds hatched one each day for 3 straight days. This is the first good photograph I got after all three hatched. Notice the difference in baby 1 and the other 2. They were not ready to eat. Taken July 15.
Also taken July 15th.
July 16th, notice now 2 of them think I am going to feed them.
July 17th
July 19th
Also July 19th.
At this point I got scared that I had disturbed her and she had abandoned them.
They looked pretty bad to me. Taken July 20th.
July 22nd, and all is well. Whew!!!
July 23rd. Notice there is still a major difference in the last one that hatched.
Also July 23rd.
July 24th. What a difference.
I sold part of this series in a framed collage.
It was going to be used in a elementary school to teach the children about birds.
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20 comments:

Unknown said...

Great day! Those are amazing photos and those birdies did look a little yucky for a minute. I can see why the elementary school would love these!

Shelley said...

what a great lesson for the kiddies! Loved this series - especially seeing those baby birdies w/ their little beaks open begging for food! Awww!!

Mary said...

What an interesting nest and the photos are great! I would not have guessed that you are blindly shooting them! How neat to see the babies!

I Am Woody said...

I am always amazed at how such ugly hatchlings can turn into such beautiful birds!

Unknown said...

These are great!! How fun to get to watch them grow!

Diane AZ said...

How wonderful to watch them grow! My favorite shot is when their eyes were first open.

Tina said...

Wow and wow!! Awesome series of shots..I can definitely see how these pics would set an elementary class on fire to get in tune with Nature!! Wonderful!

Craig Glenn said...

What a great post and series! Great job Leedra...

Craig Glenn

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Oh Leedral---what marvelous pictures. It's amazing how their feathers come in quickly and their eyes open... SO preciuos!!! I had to look at those pictures SEVERAL times..

So that's what got you hooked. The Bluebirds are the ones that got me hooked last summer...

I think we got by with no freeze damage--at least so far, from what we can see now. It did get down into the 20's last night.. BUT--it's almost 60 now! Yeah!!!

Hugs,
Betsy

Susie said...

Aren't baby birds the funniest looking little things?!?!? Bless their little hearts, I bet they are cold before they get their flowers.

ivars krafts said...

What a beautiful sequence, Leedra! Thank you.

George said...

What an interesting and fascinating sequence of photos. Very well done!

Ruth's Photo Blog said...

That is truely a fantastic series of photos.
Blessings,Ruth

Unknown said...

These are great photos. I got 4 or 5 of these pictures from you. They are hanging in my kitchen along with other bird pictures of yours.

DeniseinVA said...

Absolutely fantastic Leedra, amazing photographs. Thanks for sharing such an awesome part of nature at work.

troutbirder said...

Wow!!! The housing looks a little crowded though at the end.

Jenni said...

I love this series. I have been hearing baby birds chirping up near my gutter. It makes me want to climb up and get a picture. I might need to go on a hunt for nests to peep on.

Pat Dolan said...

What an amazing photo journal following this little family. Years ago we did something similar with a Chipping Sparrow family. Our daughter, about 10 years old at the time, would feed the parent birds lacewings as they sat on the nest. Well, that didn't happen immediately, but after she watched the Daddy bring Mommy lacewings, she figured she could help out. And help out she did. They had 5 healthy babies, and yes, like your little ones, they matured seemingly all at once and suddenly left behind an empty nest.
Thanks for sharing & reminding me of happy times.

Rose said...

What a wonderful series!

AMIT said...

Wonderful n good pictures taken.

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