Black and White Warbler Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L - ISO-800, 400mm, f/6.3, 1/250s (EC+0.3, FEC -2-2/3) |
We also passed by the Golden-cheeked Warbler nest that I reported on two weeks ago. During the quarter hour we look, we heard no nearby song and no birds were apparent in the nest. This leaves me wondering what I was seeing last time. A Texas Parks and Wildlife article on the species indicates that nesting occurs in April, eggs are incubated for 12 days and fledging occurs in about 8-12 days. Thereafter, the chick separate and follow one of the parent for up to 30 days. I can see three possibilities:
- The female was preparing her nest but abandoned it or the nest was pillaged. This would be pretty depressing and was my first thought.
- The bird I saw being fed was not the adult female but a fledgling from a nesting early in April. This seems unlikely as the both birds I saw looked like adults.
- The eggs were being incubated or had just hatched on my last visit and the chicks have since fledged. The nest is no longer being used and parents and fledglings would be foraging elsewhere. There would have been just enough time for this.
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