In late May/2008, some house finches
nested in my rain gutter so I installed a webcam
and got some nifty pictures/video of it.
The House Finches returned in 2010 ... but this time, they built their
nest in a wreath on my front door and I saw five of 'em hatch, grow, and then fledge ... and they have come back in 2011!
As before, we have have "blocked" access to the front door and Momma bird laid 4 eggs this time - last on May 29th, 2011.
I'll be adding
pictures and video here ... plus
you can watch 'em hatch, grow, and fledge on the LIVE WEBCAM!
After being on the nest almost continuously since laying the eggs, Momma Finch was last seen at 8:00PM on June 3rd ... this is really sad news. Poppa Finch came back briefly mid-morning on June 4th and 5th. Something bad must have happened for the parents to abandon the nest ... so no baby birds this year ... :-)
Both Momma and Poppa Finch are in this frame grab from the Hi-Def video
Momma and Poppa Finch defend nest against another Finch - watch HD video - long version
Never seen this behavior before - literature says unlike other birds, the Male House Finch will defend the mate before the nest
Pics from 2010 showing what we should see in mid-June - Five big, hungry, and demanding mouths!
May 26th, 2011: We realize there is a nest (w/dental floss ;-) shortly after the First Egg was laid
May 27th: Second Egg pops out at 5:57AM - watch video of Momma laying the egg
Momma Finch brings some (more) dental floss to patch up the nest
May 28th: Third Egg pops out at 6:30AM - watch video of Momma squeezing it out
Poppa Finch stops by to check in on Mom
May 29th: Fourth egg is laid at 7:35AM - watch video of Momma laying the final egg!
Directly overhead view - the nest is tucked in between the wreath and the door - note microphone
Wide-angle image from the webcam as Momma Finch prepares to take off
May 31st: Momma Finch looks quite content on her nest
Momma Finch eyeballs the camera in this narrow DOF shot - mouseover image to see her head move
House Finch eggs visible as Momma lifts up
Momma Finch about to leave her nest - mouseover image to see eggs after she flys away
Both Momma and Poppa Finch are in this frame grab from the Hi-Def video
Momma Finch just hanging out in her nest and checking her eggs as she does most of the day - watch video
June 3@10:15AM - Momma and Poppa Finch defend nest against another Finch - watch HD video - long version
Never seen this behavior before - literature says unlike other birds, the Male House Finch will defend the mate before the nest
Last image from the webcam of Momma Finch in the nest - watch video
Poppa Finch comes back the next (and following) morning briefly to check on the eggs - no sign of Momma - watch video
Front entrance to my house was blocked to minimize disturbing the house finches - mouseover image to see closeup
If you get past that "blockage", here's the front door of my house
"Lights, Camera, Action!" (X-10 remote controlled light is rarely used)
From 2010: The House Finches became quite comportable with all the camera gear
Videos from the Canon 7D - LARGE files, but much higher quality with sound
Videos from the webcam - low resolution and no sound:
Some misc. observations from spending a lot of time watching these House Finches:
- May 31: Mom and Dad check out their 4 eggs and rock out to car music! ;-)
- June 3: Mom and Dad Finch defend their nest against an interloper - long version
Videos from the webcam - low resolution and no sound:
- May 27: Momma House Finch lays egg #2 at 5:57AM ... plus misc. initial setup
- May 28: Momma House Finch lays egg #3 at 6:30AM and misc. other behavior
- May 29: Momma House Finch lays egg #4 at 7:35AM
All three eye lay'ings in one video - watch Mom squeeze 'em out! ;-) - May 30: Setting up the Canon 7D DSLR
- May 31: Closeup of the House Finch tending the nest
- June 2: Closeup of Momma Finch just hanging on the nest and checking her four eggs
- June 3: Last day Momma Finch was on the nest ... :-(
- June 4: Poppa Finch come back briefly to check the eggs ... :-(
Some misc. observations from spending a lot of time watching these House Finches:
- While I didn't capture egg #1 on video, all of the other eggs were laid early in the morning.
- Momma Finch spends a great deal of time (and sleeps) on the nest. She fidgets around and occasionally "turns" the eggs.
- Poppa Finch comes by occasionally, but typically very brief visits.
- Both seem quite comfortable with the camera equipment and on the rare occasions I need to adjust something at the door, they return shortly after I leave.
- The June 3rd HD video captures a third Finch coming by the nest while both Mom and Dad were there. Needless to say, this causes a bit of a flurry/racket - I've never seen this behavior happen before. Along those lines, the literature says unlike other birds, the Male House Finch will defend the mate before the nest.
- The above happened mid-morning ... but otherwise seemed like a normal day with Momma on the nest most of the time ... except she flew off at 8:00PM ... and that was the last I saw of her ... :-(
- The following day, Poppa Finch returned mid-morning for a very brief visit.
Something bad must have happened for the parents to abandon the nest.
Sad that there will be no baby birds this year ... :-(
Also check out a nearby
Great Horned Owl Nest and
Baby Hummingbirds.
Sad that there will be no baby birds this year ... :-(