Remember the flicker eggs that we found in an aspen tree cavity on Pole Mountain?
We went back to see if the eggs hatched. And they did! They're so young their eyes are still closed and they still have egg teeth (hard projections on the beak used to break through the shell.) We didn't see the parents this time, but our reading says that the chicks are fed regurgitated ants for the first several weeks.
In reading about flickers, we learned that, when disturbed, the babies buzz loudly, sounding much like an angry hive of bees.
Check out Steve's video to hear what we heard. How about that for a survival mechanism? If we hadn't seen a nest there 2 weeks ago, we would have stayed away to avoid getting stung.
My goodness! I never expected it to be THAT loud. It looks very crowded in there. My first thought was a bunch of chicken in a stew pot. Well, that's what it looked like to me. Thanks for going back for a look. I hope you'll check in on them again.
Louder than I expected, impressive! That's really interesting. And what a cute picture of the babies... sort of. Tim says they look like snakes and now I can kind of see that. Poor little babies having to make all that fuss.
It's so cool that you guys followed up on this. and yeah...I'm with Tim. Those babies are a little on the creepy side. I'm sure they'll get much cuter once they get a chance to plump up and get some feathers though.
My goodness! I never expected it to be THAT loud. It looks very crowded in there. My first thought was a bunch of chicken in a stew pot. Well, that's what it looked like to me. Thanks for going back for a look. I hope you'll check in on them again.
ReplyDeleteOH MY GOODNESS! That's just incredible!!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat amazing things you find! I'm amazed at this!!!
oh wow it does sound like a nest of bees...that is awesome...
ReplyDeleteThanks for this post, really fascinating study on baby flickers. Another reason why nature is so fantastic.
ReplyDeleteSo many babies! Thanks for following up.
ReplyDeleteLouder than I expected, impressive! That's really interesting. And what a cute picture of the babies... sort of. Tim says they look like snakes and now I can kind of see that. Poor little babies having to make all that fuss.
ReplyDeleteWow, that's amazing!
ReplyDeleteIt's so cool that you guys followed up on this. and yeah...I'm with Tim. Those babies are a little on the creepy side. I'm sure they'll get much cuter once they get a chance to plump up and get some feathers though.
ReplyDeleteWow, that buzzing sound is amazing. Should keep almost anything away. Sure glad you went back to look into that nest. I'm blown away!
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh...the buzzing is amazing. HOW smart are they???????
ReplyDeleteI do hope they get a little cuter. ;)
I have never seen newly hatched in real life before! It is a incredible photo! What a great find. Keep us posted if you can.
ReplyDeleteWoW! It really does sound like a hive of bees!
ReplyDeleteWow, they really get loud. I'd of been running and tripping all over myself to get away.
ReplyDeleteJanie! Our horses could be twins! She's a beauty. :)) And, I loved this update on the birdies.
ReplyDeletewow, that was so cool.
ReplyDeleteSteve has a great radio voice, a nice western twang. That was a frightful sound by the birds. They sounded hungry.
ReplyDeleteSo many babies and their buzzing sounds frightening! Thanks for the update
ReplyDeleteThat was awesome.. thanks, Steve!
ReplyDeleteHappy trails,
Pam
Wow! Thanks for going back and taking photos. I don't think I've ever seen anything that compares to that nest.
ReplyDeleteOne always learns something interesting over here! =)
ReplyDelete