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I hope I didn't screw things up!

14 years ago

I haven't seen the parents for two days (mind you I work all day) so this morning I thought I should check to see what was happening in the box. I found four babies which I thought were dead so I slipped the nest almost out of the box when I saw them breathing and the parents started swooping. I quickly slid the nest back and got out of there. One of them went into the box and then left. I didn't see them return before I had to leave. Do you think I have screwed this up?

The babies are new, new. It has been raining like crazy around here too.

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Comments (6)

mulchmamma
14 years ago
No, you haven't screwed up. Mom & Dad will take care of those babies. The reason you didn't see them was because they had a hungry brood to feed but not quite as often because the nestlings were young. When those babies become older, you will see the parents more often and hear the chirps from the hungry youngsters but not a peep out of them when you monitor the box.

Linda
donnalovesblue
14 years ago
I did the same thing when the dees were nesting! I thought the babies had fledged since I hadn't seen the parents in awhile and no chirping coming from the box. With a spatula, I carefully attempted to remove the nest only to have 3 precious ones staring me in the face! Of course I panicked! Just a few minutes after placing the nest back in the box, Mom appeared and everything was OK. They fledged 2 days later and boy, was I relieved!

Donna
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nhsuzanne
Original Author
14 years ago
Well that's a relief! I maybe I will see them more this afternoon now that it's not pouring rain!
organicgardener
14 years ago
nhsuzanne, send us some of that rain. It is 97 degrees and no rain in sight here in SE Texas.

Linda C
nhsuzanne
Original Author
14 years ago
I really wish I could! It's been raining tons for two weeks and it's cold. Not good for little babies in nests.

The swallow family was very busy when I got home yesterday! Also a BB checking out an empty box. Unfortunately a house wren started a nest so I took the box down for two days and haven't seen him since. I am keeping my fingers crossed.
tmann05
14 years ago
provide mealworms if you can...i dont feed mealworms, but when there are young chicks and no bugs around, they could die. mealworms would be good in bad weather situations for a food source. good luck i hope they make it through the rain. keep us posted!

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