Linda et al.,
Regarding your Bewick's Wren postscript: it does sound very early for
fledgling BEWR. In my nestboxes I usually see the first signs of nest
establishment about now (this has happened as late as 5/25 for BEWR, but
never earlier - in my experience - than late March.)
I believe you observed some courtship behavior between a mated pair prior to
nesting. A number of species feed their mates during courtship, and I've
also noticed that "begging" behavior in several songbird species prior to
copulation. I will leave you to determine who is doing the begging, and what
for.
Happy Spring,
Garth Harwood
----- Original Message -----
From: <[[email protected]]>
To: <[[email protected]]>
Sent: Thursday, March 24, 2005 7:12 PM
Subject: [SBB] Great Blue Herons
> Good evening SBBers....
>
> Went twice to Vasona today...once to walk around and see all the
birds...The
> Bullocks Orioles are just beautiful. Male Western Bluebirds were flying
back
> and forth by the Ranger's Station.
>
> The second trip was to check on the herons around 6:10PM....You can hear
the
> babies calling as soon as you get out of the car. Nest 1 is incubating,
> Nest 2 Brooding, Nest 4 Brooding, Nest 9 incubating and a brand new nest
being
> built that will be Nest 10! Lots of action with the males coming off the
nest
> and the females coming in to change shifts with food for the little ones.
A
> yearling was present and caused all the herons to defend their nests
against
> this youngster trying to fly into one of the nests. Lots of display and
> vocals tonight....
>
> Wishing you all good birding and my best regards,
> Linda Sullivan
> PS..Went to Rinconada Park today and watched a Bewick's Wren feeding a
> fluttering begging Bewick's Wren...could this be a fledgling so soon?