new bird babies

Not sure what they are. Were born 8 days ago in my hanging ferns. Very protective mom and dad feed them, but was wondering how many days until the new ones leave the nest? loads of bird poo to clean up (never knew they didn't go in their nests)...

 

no, they hang it over the side like a sailor!

 

I didn't put my grill cover on after grilling one night and came out to see a HUGE nest in the grill with 4 eggs:

http://s90699275.onlinehome.us/birdnest.jpeg

good times. 8)

 

Good grief ... how did they get in there ??

Neil Z.
Resident since 1999

 

but it's such a tiny little thing....[8D]

 

We used to have a few mice that would occasionally set up house in our grill when we lived in Boston. The grill provides a nice shelter from the rain and wind.

 

Well, the grill has two little divots on each side of the hood that I guess might facilitate a kebab/rotisserie-type device or something. Anyways, if you look at it from the side, it makes a perfect entrance!

 

When nesting parent birds can have one of two jobs. Search for food and bring it back to the nest OR be the incubator and house keeper.
Many species share these tasks. The housekeeping job entails removing the waste products the little ones produce. And with the amount they eat there is a lot of waste. Mom and Dad pick up the terds and through them overboard whenever possible. As the birds get older and bigger and eat more the parents are often unable to keep up. But then if life were too comfortable who would ever leave home??