[wisb] Re: Early nesters - early fledgers
- From: Jesse Ellis <calocitta8@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: pready@xxxxxxx
- Date: Wed, 6 May 2009 06:30:03 -0500
Pat and all-
Crossbills and Siskins are actually opportunistic breeders. If they hit a
spot with enough food, they'll breed, occasionally resulting in February
nest records, at least for the crossbills. The Purple Finch I saw was big,
nearly full sized, and just a little fluffy still. That probably means he
was from an egg laid in mid/late March?
I'm also surprised to hear of Blue Jays fledgling this early. While not
complete, Birds of North America Online suggests that egg dates for Blue
Jays should be late april-early May this far north. Jays take a while to
fledge (17-21 days) so those jays were pushing it. I only yesterday saw nest
building activity. Could these have been courtship feedings? Jays do a lot
of that, too.
I've got a Bay-breast (I think!) singing from my yard this wet morning...
Jesse Ellis
Madison, Dane Co.
On Tue, May 5, 2009 at 10:32 PM, pready tds.net <pready@xxxxxxx> wrote:
> Mary had early bluebirds in Onalaska and Jesse reported house finches
> fledged too.
> In my yard during this past week I've seen pine siskins feeding young near
> my thistle feeder and tonight after work I stopped at Pheasant Branch and
> saw blue jays feeding new fledglings. Didn't know so many species nested
> this early in Wis. One would assume they will double nest and raise another
> brood yet. I've never seen pine siskins with young around here before.
> Should I tell Al Gore? ;^)
>
> Pat Ready
> Stoughton
> Dane Co
>
--
Jesse Ellis
Madison, Dane Co, WI
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