Photo: Handratty BabiesAddress: #3 Hanging Pansies, Ali's Front Porch, NC
Hallelujah!! The babies survived the overnight freezing temperatures we've been having the last three days. The Handratty's are good parents. The babies have already grown quite a bit since Saturday. It doesn't look like their eyes are open yet, but their heads look a little more stable.
Rest assure, I did not disturb the nest anymore than absolutely necessary to take these photos. I waited the normal three days to water and watered in the same order so that the parents would know what I was doing. I also turned my flash off to keep the parents and babies from getting upset. Papa Handratty spent a little time helping Mama Handratty calm down in the tops of the trees by giving her little kissy pecks on the beak and preening her feathers while she cussed me out and flapped her wings. Both parents were back in the nest within five minutes of my watering to check on the babies. Bill says that the nest can handle a little disturbance. I was worried about the parents abandoning the babies.
So, the babies need names!!! I would love to hear what the little kids think the names should be. There are four birds and there is no way for me to know if they are boys or girls, so anything is up for grabs. I am partial to Lulu and Henry, but that's all I have so far. I am open to suggestions. Can't wait to hear what you all have to offer these nameless babies. Hmmm, maybe Dabnis.
Rest assure, I did not disturb the nest anymore than absolutely necessary to take these photos. I waited the normal three days to water and watered in the same order so that the parents would know what I was doing. I also turned my flash off to keep the parents and babies from getting upset. Papa Handratty spent a little time helping Mama Handratty calm down in the tops of the trees by giving her little kissy pecks on the beak and preening her feathers while she cussed me out and flapped her wings. Both parents were back in the nest within five minutes of my watering to check on the babies. Bill says that the nest can handle a little disturbance. I was worried about the parents abandoning the babies.
So, the babies need names!!! I would love to hear what the little kids think the names should be. There are four birds and there is no way for me to know if they are boys or girls, so anything is up for grabs. I am partial to Lulu and Henry, but that's all I have so far. I am open to suggestions. Can't wait to hear what you all have to offer these nameless babies. Hmmm, maybe Dabnis.
Photo: Handratty Eggs (two more were laid later)Address: #3 Hanging Pansies, Ali's Front Porch, NC
