Finch Baby #2

Within days after the the first group of baby finches flew from the patio nest on June 12, another finch couple moved into the nest and laid 3 eggs.  The second couple was far more relaxed and less nervous than the first and smaller couple.  Dad was more active, and both finches were loud and vocal throughout the nesting period, but despite their seeming maturity, only one of their 3 eggs hatched.  Nearly six weeks from the day the first babies left, the one lone baby from the second batch perched on the edge of the nest, trying to get up its nerve to fly.  It sat there all morning, getting more and more antsy and fidgety, and finally it dove from the nest to the patio floor on wings not yet ready to fly.  As I stepped outside to see if it was okay, it hopped away from me, cheeping in fear.  I tried to capture it to put it back into its nest, chasing it into the wildflower garden, but it was too fast. 

Its high-pitched squeals caused Papa Finch to screech down from the tall ash tree into the smaller aspens just above where the baby was hiding, and just a few feet from my head.  Daddy was frantic at my presence, and with the baby finch sheltered in the yarrow, I quickly captured the 3 cats who had, thank goodness, been unaware of this new development in their own private yard savannah, and kept them inside for the rest of the day.  I went out to check on the baby several times, as Daddy continued to call alarmingly throughout the day, and each time Dad came sweeping down just above my head.

This continued throughout the day and into the evening.  Each time Dave looked out the window, the baby was sitting on a daisy leaf, and once in this low branch.  The next morning I went out searching, and both the baby and Dad were gone.  We've chosen to believe that Dad coaxed Junior happily on his flight to whatever constitutes a long finch life.  I do know that, fortunately, the 3 cats have yet to get ahold of a bird, and I like to think that one of the finches that come to eat at the feeder might just be this little guy all grown up. 

Comments

[kelsi]

The other day 3 baby finches fell out of my tree. so i picked them up. one had already passed and another passed later.
I still have one but then my chicken got ahold of it and injured its wing.
is there a way to put a sling on it or something so it will heal right and it'll be aable to fly?

[marsha]

I love birds...my parents do everything they can to attract birds to their farm.

[robyn bedsaul]

Hi Paula! I came by your blog by way of someone elses blog but anyway...

I hope this will make you feel a bit better about the finches...I have an indoor aviary (not that I really know what I'm doing or anything) but we started out with 2 little zebra finches and I thought they needed an nest. They sure looked so cute going in and out of it with their goodies of twine and passe' scrapbook fibers. Well, needless to say a year later we had 13 little finches!!! I found that by the time they mustered the courage to take that first frightful flight from the nest they were ALWAYS able to make it back eventually. I bet your little feathered friend was just fine too! Cute post and great pics!

[Fran aka Redondowriter]

I thought you had stopped posting--so was delighted to see you did revisit Apprentice of Wonder with the finch family story. More, Paula--more!