The babies are out of the nest!

So, yesterday, the baby wrens jumped out of the nest! I saw four out of five of them come out, and the third one left a little--ahem--"gift" on the outside wall (I didn't post any pictures because I figured not everybody wanted to see how nice our little birdies are! Wink wink). So I'll try to get some pics up as soon as possible. :-) 

Love ya!

RTxx

The Wrens are Dandy!

The wrens are fine and perfectly healthy! And one of the parents of the birds just fed the babies right outside the window! And if you happen to have a bird nesting near you with chicks in it, don't hang around it too long, because if the mother smells you on her chicks, she'll abandon them, and then, well, you know, the chicks will be no longer. In other words, they'll die. And if you happen to have abandoned chicks or orphans, call your local wildlife rescue. If anyone can help, they can!

xxRapid Turtlexx

Wren Babies!!!!!! Yay!!!!

<---- (Check them out! :-)

Oh my goodness!! :-D Two days ago Dad found a Carolina Wren nest with little chicks in it. Yay!!! I'll have some pictures of them up soon, hopefully. They gave us quite a scare, too, because the mother wasn't in the nest Saturday night, and we didn't know whether or not the chicks were alive. But Sunday morning we saw the mother flitting back and forth, getting food for the chicks. I think there are four that are still alive, and one that's dead. :-( But from what I can tell, the four that are alive are well and dandy! Their little peeps were so energetic, I just had to smile at them. I'll try to give updates at least every other day or so.

xxRapid Turtlexx <3

The Eastern Grey Squirrel--

Sciurus carolinensis

The Eastern Grey Squirrel is native to the eastern half of the United States, as well as some of Canada. It has been introduced to non-native lands, such as England, some other parts of Canada, Italy, and South America, as well as Australia. In Australia, however, the squirrel population is being maintained. In Great Britain, the grey squirrel has been invading the native lands of the red squirrel, which lives in Great Britain as well.

As their name implies, this species is grey, although it sometimes has patches of brown, white, or it can be albino. Some sources say that there are colonies of albino squirrels in Ontario, Illinois, and North Carolina, although it may or may not be true.

Mating season is twice a year, in December-February and in May-June (which would be about now, at least where I live). Litters have about 2-6 young, but sometimes can have eight. The gestation period is about forty-four days, and young leave the nest after about ten weeks.

They eat a variety of things, like berries, tree bark, seeds, and, what they are most famous for, nuts. They are also infamously known for stealing seeds from bird feeders.

They have a conservation status of least concern.

Sources:

http://www.introsquirrel.ca/invasion.html

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

http://blogshevik.com/squirreltale/natural-history/eastern-grey-squirrel/

http://www.thejump.net/small-game/eastern-grey-squirrel.htm

Canada Goose--

Branta canadensis

The Canada Goose - sometimes mistakenly called the Canadian Goose (I know some people might call it a Canadian Goose because when I was younger I myself called it one! ;-) - is a large bird that is known for migrating in the winter. You can distinguish it for its recognizable honk! and V-shaped flight patterns in a flock. Its head and neck is black, except for a white patch much like a beard. It kind of looks like a bald guy with a beard. The females are often smaller than the males. The base of its neck is white. Most of the body is light brown.

In the summer, they can be found in most of Canada, as well as the northern United States. Year-round, you can find them in the midwest and in areas east and west of it. In winter, the Canada Goose is found in all of the southern United States and a teensy bit in north Mexico.

They are mostly herbivores, but will sometimes eat insects and small fish. When on land, they will eat grass, and also lots of grains, such as wheat, corn, barley, and others. In urban areas, they have been known to get food out of trash cans. When in the water, they feed on seaweed and silt, and sometimes small fish.

They have a "Least Concern" conservation status.

Sources:

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

http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birds/canada-goose/

http://www.ducks.org/hunting/waterfowl-id/canada-goose

Ruby-throated Hummingbird--

Female

Archilochus colubris

The ruby-throated hummingbird is a small bird, with a wingspan of 8-11 cm (3.1-4.3 in) and a length of 7-9 cm (2.8-3.5). Only the males have the little red patch on their throat. The females usually have no throat patch, though some will have a white-ish throat patch. The females are also generally larger than the males. They are solitary creatures, and all ages of both genders are aggressive and protective of their territory. The only time two birds will be seen together is if they are fighting, but more often it is mating. The females are the sole caretakers of her young, until they are 22-25 days old. Then the young leave the nest.

Male

They are found in the eastern half of the United States, mostly everywhere east of the Mississippi River. When migrating, they can be found a little bit more western areas, as well as most of Mexico. They will migrate to southern Mexico, also to the southern-most tip of Florida.

They love to feed from hummingbird feeders.

The ruby-throated hummingbird has a conservation status of least concern.

Sources:

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Ruby-throated_Hummingbird/id?wspapp=12227116744&gclid=CPzHq7PNua8CFc6a7QodWFzghA

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruby-throated_Hummingbird

http://www.hummingbirds.net/rubythroated.html

Carolina Wren--

Thryothorus ludovicianus

The Carolina Wren is a small, stocky bird that is mostly brown, with a white belly, white "eyebrows," and white specks on her back. Their range (---->) is most of the eastern United States as well as some of Mexico, including the Yucatan Peninsula. This Wren is a small (being about 4.5-5.5 inches long [12-14 cm] and weighing less than 20 grams [0.75 oz]), but vocal bird, though only the male makes a song. The females don't sing, though they do make other noises, in case of danger or something similar.

When a male and female mate, the relationship lasts for life. They will be in the same flock forever, and in mating season they will be the only ones to mate with each other.

They like to live in highly vegetated areas, scavenging for insects and fruit. They will live up to about six years in the wild, but in captivity one reportedly lived to be 23 years, though that has not been proven true.

Sources:
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Carolina_wren/id

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/carolina_wren/lifehistory

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

http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birds/carolina-wren/