OaklandPam
New member
Help me understand my newest nesters! I discovered a nesting Calif. Towhee pair about 2 weeks ago. The babies were already hatched and parents were busy feeding them. They were right outside my breakfast window so I could hear them, but they were difficult to see, so I do not know how well developed they were. A few nights ago, the parents were making a lot of noise and I suspected something was disturbing the nest, so I went out with a flashlight to try a scare off any cat or other intruder...I saw nothing. The next day, the nest was empty. I figured something had gotten the babies, but there was no sign of feathers or anything to suggest carnage. I checked the internet for nesting habits, thinking that maybe the pair would start a new nest if the last one had failed and discovered that the nesting period is only 6-11 days. Is that accurate? Is it possible that the babies fledged and the distress calls were simply the parents mourning their "empty nest?"!!! AND, just because I want to know so much about these birds, is it likely that they will use the nest again next year? If not, I will take it to school to show my students as I teach science and have several different nests in my classroom.