Bird Nest on the Ground

[MountainDon]

While hiking across the south slope last week I was startled by a bird flying out from virtually underfoot. It has a nest in a hole in the ground from a fallen over dead pine. I've not been able to get a shot of the bird, just the nest and eggs.





We'll be watching for the eggs to hatch.

We haven't yet reached this area in our cleaning up the fire hazard.

[glenn kangiser]

Seems a risky place to invest in your future.

I wonder if the bird would have been nesting in the fallen pine in the previous years? hmm

[desdawg]

Those look like Quail eggs to me. The Gambrell Quail is a ground nester.

[MountainDon]

Pretty sure it's not the Quail desdawg. I've only caught a glimpse as it rockets out of the nest and it's dark colored, maybe black, with white on the trailing wing edges.

I need a game camera set on sensitive. Or I have to creep up on the nest from downhill; if I can be super stealthy.

[desdawg]

Good luck Don. If you get sneaky enough you can take up archery hunting, stalking the wild elk.

[MountainDon]

desdawg. I have friends who bow hunt successfully. You do have to be stealthy.

Here's yesterday's picture from the bird's nest. There have been 4 little ones in there for about a week now. I haven't seen Momma recently but she must be feeding them; getting bigger every day. The little ones don't move at all when I look into the nest; I guess that is about their only protection. That and looking like a piece of wood on the ground.

[desdawg]

That nest looks pretty full. What kind of birds are they Don.

[MountainDon]

What kind of birds are they Don.

I've yet to determine that. 

[Redoverfarm]

Meadow lark has about the same markings.

[glenn kangiser]

A couple of ground nesters in your area - eggs seem similar but not a sure match.

http://vireo.acnatsci.org/search.html?mode=stored&offset=0

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Painted_Redstart

http://www.avianweb.com/redfacedwarblers.html

http://vireo.acnatsci.org/search.html?Form=Search&SEARCHBY=Common&KEYWORDS=red-faced+warbler&showwhat=images&AGE=All&SEX=All&ACT=All&Search=Search&VIEW=All&ORIENTATION=All&RESULTS=24

[MountainDon]

Out of Glenn's leads I'd say the painted redstart is a possibility... going by the colors as described on the adults.

[NM_Shooter]

Let me know how they taste.



-f-

[MountainDon]

Let me know how they taste.

We'll never know.   Monday AM when I checked the nest it was empty. Flown the coop, er nest. No signs of predators, simply empty. I suppose being on the ground with its greater exposure to dangers they must have one of the shorter times spent as fledglings.

[desdawg]

Interesting. We have taken to putting bird seed out and when the weather is cool enough sit outside and watch the critters come and partake. We have Quail, doves, rabbits, ground squirrels, and the dreaded woodpecker who all participate. It makes for quite an evening performance. They have come to rely on that food source and are disappointed when it doesn't happen. We also have water available in the same location and since we are in the desert all the critters appreciate a drink.

[MountainDon]

We too have bird seed out; I'm not a bird person as far as identifying them, but there are Bluejays among others. We also have a couple of salt blocks and they attract deer and elk. Overhead we see hawks and turkey vultures at times. A bear tore up another rotten tree stump last week as well.

[desdawg]

I am not a birdwatcher either. Only when I can do it from the comfort of my porch. We do enjoy seeing what wildlife is available in our own yard. I have some books where I can look up and try to identify what I am not familiar with. So I just try to know my neighbors.