Easter Week, three clutches of eggs in nestboxes in our yard hatched: Bewick’s Wren, Eastern Bluebird and Black-crested Titmouse. In fact, all three clutches hatched on March 24. About 15 ugly, naked babies should fledge (fly for the first time from nest) in just over two weeks, fully feathered and about the size of the adult birds.
I say “about 15”. Mama Titmouse covered her eggs with mounds of soft downy material each time she left the nest. Now hatched, my whistle brings heads popping up with mouths wide open. “Five” is an estimate.
According the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s instructions for NestWatching, I open nestboxes and record observations about twice a week. No, it does not cause abandonment. It’s minimal disturbance. The nationwide monitoring program tracks status and trends in the reproductive biology of birds, including when nesting occurs, number of eggs laid, how many eggs hatch, and how many hatchlings survive.
NestWatch says, “Our database is intended to be used to study the current condition of breeding bird populations and how they may be changing over time as a result of climate change, habitat degradation and loss, expansion of urban areas, and the introduction of non-native plants and animals.
My observations are added to those of thousands of other NestWatchers used by researchers to understand and study birds.
LaVerne McClendon, a former mayor of Mountain City, observed blue eggs in one of her nestboxes. Unfortunately, those bluebird eggs disappeared.
A very green tree frog summoned our attention last week. On the “Amphibian Watch” section of the Texas Parks and Wildlife website, listen to the green treefrog and 40 others.
Those high winds last week snapped a 30-foot long, 32-inch diameter cedar elm branch in our front yard. Time to check roof shingles!
If you’ve not checked into registering on NextDoor.com, we find it worthwhile. Through NextDoor, we learned of the death of Adele Wilbur, longtime resident of Mountain City. Sympathy goes out to Phil Wilbur, who played a major part in Mountain City’s government for about three decades. Several from Mountain City attended Adele’s memorial service. What a lovely lady.
Karen Herrmann brought word on Facebook, “Her service was beautiful. Her son, Steven, honored her well with his life stories of Mom and her inspiration.”
Karen wants all ladies to know the 2nd Annual Mega Bunco event is almost here! Saturday, April 2, 2016 at the Onion Creek Senior Center, 420 Barton Crossing in Buda, TX 78610. Please RSVP to Karen Herrmann, [email protected] or call 512-468-2891, cell. $20 donation to play Bunco, benefits American Cancer Society and Relay For Life Buda/Kyle/San Marcos. Pot Luck dinner starts at 6 p.m., please bring a dish to share. Dice will roll at 7p.m.. You can bring alcohol, but it will not be provided. Silent auction items welcomed
Watch for runners and be prepared for slight delays on the morning of April 2, during the Rebel Run 5K, starting at 7 a.m.
Watch for any this and that you might submit as a tidbit, please. [email protected] (subject: Tidbit) or 512.268.5678. Thanks! Love, Pauline
