Summer is definitely here, eh! High was 103F here.
Three nestlings. However if you notice the one on the left looked yellowish.
Returning the following day, the yellow one was gone. Still one egg left. So I presume that egg is not fertile. But now I was wondering what had happened to the yellow one.
Since the two healthy ones were still present, I now think the parents removed the yellow one.
A week ago I found a good sized snake skin in our little water hole in our woods. Affectionally we call it frog pond.
Now I have found a second snake that was equally as big as the first skin in frog pond!
Was this a third Yellow=bellied Water Snake at frog pond? I can only speculate. 🙂
The more you know, the more you see and the more you see, the more you know
14 Comments
I was told by a bluebird expert that parents can and do remove sickly chicks up to about 11 days, after which they are too large. Eggs can be removed as well.
I have at least once seen eggs removed. Two bluebirds had laid five eggs each in the same nestbox resulting in a total of ten eggs. The eggs were two different shades of blue, intermixed. A few days later half the eggs were gone and the remaining eggs were all one shade of blue. Clearly, one female had removed the eggs that weren’t her own.
Poor baby bluebird. It’s so hot, I hope the others survive. The article about the airplane glory was interesting. I’ve actually seen that, but I just thought it was an ordinary sun dog.
That’s so exciting about the condor breeding program! When we went to California in April 2023, we almost saw a group of condors in Redwood National Park. We happened on a group of researchers who were tracking the radio transmitters on the birds. Alas, fog rolled in just as their location was pinpointed.
Love the snake skin complete with head. I watched a Checkered Garter Snake tonight hunting along the edge of the water. Our back rain catchment basin is acting like a pond. With the over 6 inches of rain in the short time it is soaking in very slowly. Guess the ground finally was saturated. Lots of dragonflies, butterflies and mud daubers are enjoying the water source. Some Barn Swallows showed up today too. The snake was fun watching in go in and out of the edge of the water while it hunted.
I was told by a bluebird expert that parents can and do remove sickly chicks up to about 11 days, after which they are too large. Eggs can be removed as well.
I haven’t ever seen an infertile egg removed. You?
I have at least once seen eggs removed. Two bluebirds had laid five eggs each in the same nestbox resulting in a total of ten eggs. The eggs were two different shades of blue, intermixed. A few days later half the eggs were gone and the remaining eggs were all one shade of blue. Clearly, one female had removed the eggs that weren’t her own.
Very interesting! Did you take pics? And thanks for sharing!
That’s a really cool snakeskin! Watering holes are always a great place to find stuff.
Enjoyed the condor article – living in a condorminium!
Hope for condors. Loved how they found that parents could raise more than one.
That’s the prettiest snake skin I’ve ever seen. Love the head part. Looks perfect.
And the sunlight really made it extra purty!
Poor baby bluebird. It’s so hot, I hope the others survive. The article about the airplane glory was interesting. I’ve actually seen that, but I just thought it was an ordinary sun dog.
Next time maybe you will get a pic?? 😊
That’s so exciting about the condor breeding program! When we went to California in April 2023, we almost saw a group of condors in Redwood National Park. We happened on a group of researchers who were tracking the radio transmitters on the birds. Alas, fog rolled in just as their location was pinpointed.
That does sound exciting. What a memorable moment. We saw the condors at the Grand Canyon about 20 years ago.
Love the snake skin complete with head. I watched a Checkered Garter Snake tonight hunting along the edge of the water. Our back rain catchment basin is acting like a pond. With the over 6 inches of rain in the short time it is soaking in very slowly. Guess the ground finally was saturated. Lots of dragonflies, butterflies and mud daubers are enjoying the water source. Some Barn Swallows showed up today too. The snake was fun watching in go in and out of the edge of the water while it hunted.
You got rain? Lucky you! Love watching nature and what fun for you… the new “pond”. Thanks for sharing!