Wild Bird Wednesday - Nest Cameras

For the second year I'm filming a Violet-Green Swallow family in their nest box. The box has a camera inside that we've strung to a spare TV in the house so I can watch them all the time!

Mama VG laid 5 eggs over Memorial Day Weekend, while I was out of town, and 4 of them hatched.

Today is day 10.

Here is one of the first videos of the year, Mama beginning preparations. I started her out with a little bit of nesting material to which she adds a ton of feathers.

5 eggs!

4 little birds growing like crazy.

Their eyes are just starting to open and they are doing lots of preening on all those new feathers popping out!

Dark-eyed Junco

Over the weekend I discovered a Junco nest in a hanging Strawberry basket so we hooked up a camera and I can switch between watching the Violet-Green Swallow, to the Juncos.

I'm hoping the VG's fledge about the time the Junco's hatch so I don't have to worry about missing anything!

Here's the basket with the camera clamped directly above!

Daddy Junco on the nest!

UPDATE!!

As of today (6/21/16) we have 3 eggs!!

Video of Dad on the nest.

I post most of the photos and videos I get everyday to my Instagram so if you'd like to keep up in between blog posts that's where you'll see the most!

Link below.

Instagram

If you'd like to take a look at some of last years pics and videos on my blog CLICK HERE!

Kristi

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Violet-Green Swallows - Day 19-20 WBW

These little ones are not so little any more and in just a few days they will begin to fledge the nest!

There's almost always a baby looking out of the nest waiting for a meal from Mom or Dad!

Since the babies are spending lots of time with their heads poking out of the nest box I though I'd catch some shots of them being fed. Above is mom about to take off after leaving behind a bug breakfast for one of the babies.

Here's dad dropping off some goodies and showing off his beautiful Violet behind!

Dad, shortly after take off!

Feeding in progress!

One more! 

Here's mom perching on the light fixture right by the nest, with one of the babies watching.

This light fixture was used 2 years in a row by Juncos but unfortunately the nests were raided. That's when I decided to put up a nest box right next door and the VG's have used it 2 years in a row.

I'm guessing I'll only have 1 or 2 more blog posts to share before they are gone.
Maybe the little ones will hang around and I'll be able to get some pics of the babies after they fledge.

I hope so!

Kristi

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Violet-Green Swallow - Day 7

Day 7 - Hatched 061715

I quickly got in to the nest to take a picture while the parents were out,

I was in and out in about 30 seconds.

It looks like their eyes are just in the process of starting to open.

What little cuties!!

As usual the parents returned as soon as we moved away.

Video taken with a Camera inside the nest.

Kristi

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Violet-Green Swallow Babies!!

These little babies didn't mess around, last night there was no *Pipping going on that I could see. All the eggs looked fully intact. This morning, we have babies!

 

 

  Than moments later I was lucky enough to catch mom feeding.
  What a wonderful adventure and I'm so excited to share it with you! Check back often, I'm going to attempt to have something to share everyday so we can all watch the progress as these babies grow every day!                                          *pip⁴ pip/ verb gerund or present participle: pipping

1. (of a young bird) crack (the shell of the egg) when hatching.

   

Kristi

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Pip Watch Starts Today

Tomorrow will be day 15 since the eggs were laid which is the average incubation time for Violet-Green Swallows so it's possible some of them could start hatching today.

I got in to the nest yesterday when mom was gone and took some pictures, it's very difficult to get a decent picture in that small space.

Watch this space, I hope to have lots of new video of tiny little babies soon!

Kristi

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Global Big Day - Wild Bird Wednesday

Wood Duck Mama and Duckling

Northern Shoveler

Great Blue Heron

Adorable Female Downy Woodpecker

Virginia Rail

This is not a great pic and was not taken on the Global Big Day but the day after but I'm tickled to have it. A life bird for me! I didn't have time to sit and try to get a better picture this was the only one I was able to get. I guess I need to go back and try again!

The Violet-Green Swallow couple is still very active building their nest but still no eggs so far.
This morning I was surprised to see her in the nest when I first got up and turned on the tv, the earliest activity I've seen was at least an hour later than this. It's quite interesting to watch this process, even before the eggs!

I hope to have some really good video of them sitting on eggs next week.

She does like her feathers, she just about disappears sometimes when she's in the nest and she brings a new one in almost every time she returns.

Here's my YouTube Channel, I'll be uploading there as soon as there is anything to share!

Kristi

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Violet-Green Swallow Nesting - Wild Bird Wednesday

 

Mama has been collecting for the nest!

Handsome couple!

Still watching and waiting.
One day she'll be in the nest dozens of times the next day only a few. She is a tease! :) It has to happen soon, I've been watching her for 3-4 weeks!

Kristi

KristiBowmanDesign.com

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Wild Bird Wednesday- Pied-Billed Grebe family

It's Wild Bird Wednesday and I have some wonderful Birds to share!
I was in Reno this past weekend and birded every day! 

Check out this lovely mama Pied-Billed Grebe and her babies at Rancho San Rafael Park!

Above is an older Juvenile, just about ready to go off on it's own!

Kristi

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Wild Bird Wednesday

I get to add another sighting of these beautiful Cedar Waxwing to my short list of sighting. The 4th time and by far the best photo op and I saw a pair!!!!

These birds seem to be fairly shy much of the time but this pair was very cooperative.

They stayed on this branch for some time while I care fully moved around it maybe 15 feet away.

They flew off and came back a couple of times as well.

They take my breath away!

Stunning!

Kristi

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