Finch nest, 2012 edition

If you've been reading my blog for a while, you're probably familiar with the finch nest. It's been a regular feature of my front porch for three years now, two broods a year. I posted about this the first year, then last year too, and then earlier this spring in the infamous bird rescue board post.

I've been enjoying them again this year, but haven't been taking too many photos. Until the other day that is, when I got a bit of a scare.

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You see, my normal view of the nest is through the front window which is covered by storm windows. Because of this, the glass isn't as clean as it could be -- you need tools to remove the storm windows and have to clean 4 glass surfaces. Normally this light layer of window grime isn't noticeable, but in mid-to-late afternoon when the sunlight hits the porch giving me enough light to take photos of the nest, it's more apparent.

This is what I normally see when I take a photo of the nest through the window:

It's horrible! Washed out, blurry, tinted the wrong color -- it's just not possible to get a clear photo. Even after some manipulation, it's not ideal:

So I decided to step out onto the porch to snap a few shots.

Much better, right? (The poop layer is so much more attractive when in focus, isn't it?)

Okay, little bird is getting a bit nervous with me pointing the camera at it for 10 seconds...

And next thing I knew it was out in the lawn!  Did I cause this chick to fledge too early? Will it be able to cope on the ground? Will its parents find it? Ack!

I was stressing out about this.

Then it flew into the nearby yew:

Safely hidden!

That made me feel better, but I still worried.


I shouldn't have, because that young bird was back in the nest later that evening.

Whew!

I'll see if I can get better photos while the second brood is being raised. It happens so quickly though!

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