SparrowCam - live action! ;-)

[hulkster]

So a bird (I think a sparrow) recently built a nest on a rain gutter on my house. Since I have power close by and am under an overhanging roof eve, I tossed a webcam out there to provide live coverage. (http://www.watching-grass-grow.com/)

Here's a snapshot of Momma Bird cleaning out an egg remnant and the second picture shows the setup with the webcam ... plus some scary looking dude. You can't really tell in the still picture, but those chicks are squirming around quite a bit.

http://www.watching-grass-grow.com/sparrowcam/pictures/2008_05_27_08_16_41-egg.jpg

http://www.watching-grass-grow.com/sparrowcam/2008_05_27_bird_nest.jpg

[LauraR]

wow! that's awesome. :)

haha...looks like you are on a stealth mission with a camera attached to your head in the second pic. :-D

[hulkster]

Here's some misc. pictures of what I think it a Sparrow (http://www.watching-grass-grow.com/sparrowcam/) - one of those is below. If Kes, or another bird expert can confirm that it's a sparrow, that would be great.

http://www.watching-grass-grow.com/sparrowcam/pictures/2008_05_27_09_54_04_both.jpg

[Cat_w_9_lives]

Think it's a finch also, We had a lot of finches but west nile got them a few years ago, haven't recovered fully yet.

Really nice web cam, thank you. Should be fun when the chicks start showing their heads.

[hulkster]

Really nice web cam, thank you. Should be fun when the chicks start showing their heads.
As noted, the webcam can't look down into the nest ... but here's the first image of a hungry baby finch that popped up high enough to be seen on webcam - I'm sure there will be many more coming.

http://www.watching-grass-grow.com/house-finch/pictures/2008_05_28_20_21_33_finch_chick.jpg

[hulkster]

Maybe have Jim and Tim put it on the Off Base News section and have MG'ers chime in with their recommended names?

[Cat_w_9_lives]

:) Do we have a head count yet? Hmm geeky bird names...should be interesting.

[Kestrelj]

Hook bills and predatory are more my specialty, but I'd say look at finches or canaries even.

[Kestrelj]

I used to do a lot of work at the local Native Animal rescue. I almost had a heart attack when I watched how the fed flighted swallows. The hold a bug up on a tlong roach clip or forcep, and the bird IMPAILS itself as it flys past!

I remembe rthe first time feeding black birds. The silly things impailed themselves on the syringe, and shoved the thing into their crop! I about died!

Usualy I hand feed parrots, parrotlettes, love birds... But I'll work with anything I can get my hands on!

[hulkster]

Close-up picture of the babies. I started with 5 eggs, but am pretty sure one didn't hatch.

http://www.watching-grass-grow.com/house-finch/2008_05_30_four_baby_finches.jpg

[ynot]

That is so cool nice work.

[Cat_w_9_lives]

Great picture, think they're House Finches http://www.mnh.si.edu/exhibits/natures_best_2006/gallery/babyhousefinches.html.

They're so ugly it makes them cute. Some great still shots on the site, makes it easier to identify the parents.

I vote for Titanis as a name for the strongest one. They grow really fast it seems.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Titanis

[hulkster]

Some people say this picture of the sleeping baby birds is cute ... but it may be a bit too much closeup ... ;-)

http://www.watching-grass-grow.com/house-finch/2008_06_02_4658_finches_sleep.jpg

[abri]

I like the haircuts.

[hulkster]

Sad, Bad news ... a mean 'ol bird came by and took three of the babies. I think the fourth one got out with lots of encouragement from Mom & Dad. The culprit has been identified as a mean 'old Blue Jay from Colorado (http://www.watching-grass-grow.com/house-finch/colorado-blue-jay/) - more info/pics/video there. Yea, this is how nature works, but darn sad to see it happen.

http://www.watching-grass-grow.com/house-finch/2008_06_07_08_09_01_baby_killer.jpg

[Cat_w_9_lives]

Did not know Jays robbed nests...learn something new everyday. Hope Titanis survived, did the parents come back or do they just leave the nest once the chicks are gone?

[Lev]

This is so sad :( But it's nature as you say...just last year we witnessed jays taking off with a young bird in it's mouth..we could hear it screaming...terrible...

It wasn't screaming Kes. It was saying "Look at me mommy....I can flyyyyyy........I'm Peter Pan!!"

[Doc13%]

All jays n crow family eat everything they can get their beak into:Bunch o wild animals aren;t they especially Jay.....LOL

[hulkster]

Another set of birds are nesting ... but buried in the roof tiles, so it's very difficult to take pictures. Any of the birding guru's (Kes) want to identify what type of birds these are?

http://www.watching-grass-grow.com/2008-bird2/pictures/2008_06_16_6537_bird_dad.jpg

http://www.watching-grass-grow.com/2008-bird2/pictures/2008_06_16_6542_bird_mom.jpg

http://www.watching-grass-grow.com/2008-bird2/pictures/2008_06_16_6658_bird_nest.jpg

[Major Attitude]

Your such a dork. I mean that in the nicest way possible ;)

[hulkster]

Your such a dork. I mean that in the nicest way possible ;)

Taken as a compliment ... especially since here was the camera setup.

First one is my Canon 40D SLR (http://www.komar.org/faq/camera/canon-40d-versus-rebel-xti-400d/) with a 55-250 telephoto lens (http://www.komar.org/faq/camera/canon-55-250/) plus flash (over $2,000 of gear) sitting on top of a tripod on top of the patio table - lets just say I really emphasized to my kids to be careful. Second one is a D-Link DCS-6620G wireless webcam. I think/hope I have the tripod wedged in there pretty good ... but there's no protection from the weather, plus the images are only good with afternoon/evening light.

http://www.watching-grass-grow.com/2008-bird2/pictures/canon-40d-birds.jpg

http://www.watching-grass-grow.com/2008-bird2/pictures/birdcam.jpg

[Cat_w_9_lives]

Best guess is English House Sparrow
http://www.abirdshome.com/pm/sparrow1.jpg

That set-up looks precarious at best, be careful Hulkster. Don't want 2000.00 worth of equip. or you to go Kaboom from the roof, plus your insurance agent might not have a sense of humor. Nice pictures, you will do anything for a good photo I see.

I watched a male sparrow building a nest while the Mrs. directed, was so funny to watch. He would place the twigs and she would then inspect, chirp at him...he would go get more and place them, more inspection by Mrs. more chirping at him. Actually began to feel sorry for him, can't see them anymore the bushes grew in so nest covered now but bet she's still chirping at him.

[Doc13%]

Any of the birding guru's (Kes) want to identify what type of birds these are? Yep British House Sparrow

[scorcer]

Yep British House Sparrow

"How'd you get the coconuts?? rolleyes--obscure reference, monty python fans will understand


I've been following this thread since I came beck to MG, Hulkster, I have to admire your dedication, you must watch National Geographic like a tutorial ;) I scatter seed for some sparrows in our yard, this year I was treated to three different families with three babies each, I thought it was only one family, till they all showed up at once. It is an enjoyable pastime.

Thank you for all the enjoyable pics :major

[hulkster]

Thanks for the Sparrow ID and glad MG'ers enjoy the pics.

I think the babies have flown the coop as I no longer hear 'em. Plus I'm puzzled why I haven't seen Mom on the webcam in several days - just Dad shows up about every other hour and seems to be looking for Mom (watch time-lapse) (http://www.watching-grass-grow.com/house-sparrow/videos/2008_06_24_sparrow_male.mpg) ... so something may have happened. More info on the grass blog - post #3653 (http://www.watching-grass-grow.com/cgi-bin/grass-blog)

http://www.watching-grass-grow.com/house-sparrow/pictures/2008_06_24_17_09_25_sparrow_where_mom.jpg

[scorcer]

Yeah, he seems to be looking for her, I would think if she were just changing nesting locations, he would be there too, unless he's protecting that nest till the new one is secured, hopefully.

Beauty of the 'net', I can watch someones back yard birds, at the same time as watching mine ;)

[evilfantasy]

Wow Mr. G. Quite a step up from the old PVC cam :major

Good stuff as always :cool