Every Spring I buy a Boston Fern to hang on the front porch. Every year, without fail I have a pair of House Finches build a sweet little nest inside. It makes for scary watering of the fern but I love my birdies!
But, I have a confession to make.
I am a murderer.
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Yes. You heard that right. Yesterday, when I checked the nest there were four eggs. I went into the house and got a teaspoon and carefully dipped out the largest egg. Then, with little remorse I threw the egg away. I deliberately murdered a baby bird before it had even hatched!
O.o
It was a Cowbird egg!
Cowbirds lay their eggs in other birds nests. The Cowbird chicks are precocious and hatch well before the host bird's eggs. The host bird's babies die because the parasite chick gets all the food. I couldn't let that happen to my sweet House Finches!
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I checked the nest again this morning and again there were four eggs. All the right flavor this time!
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When I told Jessie what I had done, she quoted the ever-logical Mr. Spock, "The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few." She's a pretty quick kid. Maybe I don't feel so bad, now.
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Thank you for visiting my blog today!
xox
36 comments:
Naw....I guess I wouldn't let the bird police know about this incident anytime soon. I would have probably done the same thing. Tell Jessie that it was 'logical thinking'. :D
Gosh I wouldn't of even known something like that!!
Your forgiven
I'd never heard of a cowbird before, we have cuckoos which do the same thing though. I think I'd have done a bit of selective egg removal too
Never heard of a cowbird! That's interesting. I think you did what had to be done so the baby finches would live. Interesting!
How cool that you even knew what to do. I'd always heard that if you mess with a nest, the mother bird abandons it. I guess that's just one those myths I grew up with.
I don't think this act qualifies you as a murderer. More like a good samaritan.
What a fantastic event to look forward to every spring. We have a dove that has made her nest in an eave on our house the last two springs. It's a special treat.
Good onya for taking care of your sweet chicks. :o)
Aw, we are familiar with those sneaky Cow birds :o( Don't worry, I'm sure your Finches will be very happy in the end ;o)
You have to protect your babies!!!
Your informed decision makes your deed a good thing. I love the photo of the lush green with the earthy nest - a true photo of Nature at is Best.
Now you'll be on the PETA list (worse than being on the Homeland Security list) ;) You did the right thing girl.
Awwww you buy a fern for them to nest in, that is so sweet.
And don't feel bad about the eggicide. I would've done the same, if I even knew what to look for.
The Cuckoo does that here in the UK. Nature can be mighty cruel sometimes.
Smart girl, Jessie. :0)
I agree with your daughter. At least it was planned and not an accident. I've accidently knocked the eggs out of the nest and feel awful.
It was the right thing to do, Finches are so darling.
Well it's said that confession is good for the soul - depends to whom you confess to, in my book! We're pretty safe, I believe LOL However, I love what Lisa said about PETA - there is some validity there..... We'll try not to turn you in, my dear! But your defense in court can always be self-defense for the birds, of course! Enjoy them - the nest is beautiful - love the picture!
Wow, I wouldn't have known that at all! About the cowbirds parasiting the nests. I say that sometimes, you have to look out for the best of those smaller than you. You were looking out for the finches and that's quite honorable. :)
Im on your side - it would have gone against the grain to deliberately destroy any form of life but in a sense you have stopped four other lives from being murdered.
I didn't get to see my birdie eggs hatch. Mom didn't do a very good job defending her nest and a black snake had a very good breakfast.
I'll have to live vicariously through you!
Good luck with your new babies.
I never heard of a cowbird...don't be so hard on yourself!
Micki
How lovely for you, good job you are observant and policing the nest, we have blackbirds nesting on the side of our garage but i cant see inside the nest all i see is Mr Blackbird flying in and out all day with food for those inside.
If you manage to get a photo of mummy bird, I'll forgive you! (actually I'll forgive you anyway - I just want to see what house finches look like! They sound similar to our house sparrows!)
I've never heard of a cowbird.
A good deed done... 1 verses 4 good job mrs. policelady
I have two Robin chicks in the backyard, so I would have done the same thing to protect them.
Good job. You watch those babies.
I've never heard of a cowbird before! Very interesting. The bird's nest and the eggs--so sweet! That is really neat. I covet Boston Ferns... I've asked my favorite nursery here a few times to get BFs in, but no luck. Loved the pic!
I've never heard of a cowbird!
Very interesting. I hope the babies will be ok:)
That Jessie is very smart!
here the cucu bird do that,with the blackbird nest. I am agree with Jessie.(you know,,i am Mr. Spock fan)
Who would have thoght, you a murderer! LOL Sometimes we just gotta do what we gotta do!
I think what a wonderful thing you did and agree it was very logical :)
How interesting about the cowbird...I've never heard of that before! Glad you kicked it out. Better to lose one than three, especially since the one wasn't supposed to be there to start with. :)
Sounds to me like you did just the right thing!
Don't forget to share the checks with us. Glad you protected the finches. CJ ok;-)
Hi Sharon,
So very "Logical"!
We'll want to see pictures of the babies when they hatch. That is if you can take them without upsetting the parents. :-)
Cynthia
Windy Meadow
I never heard of a cow bird either.
Very interesting. Jessie is a very bright girl.
I had no idea cowbirds did this. Ok, I've never even heard of a cowbird before and now I really dislike them. I don't blame you for removing that egg. Oh and congrats on winning that $200!
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