Welcome to the World Baby Juncos

6/4/2011

It was a nice, cool 66 degrees on the mountain yesterday. If you a need a reprieve from the heat, come on up. I checked on my chicks the other day and they were mid-hatch. I gave them a day to get comfy in their new home and went back to document for the nest for you. I have found 5 nests on the mountain this week. The Juncos are laying eggs like crazy up here. I will keep watching this nest and show you their progression. I hope everyone has a great weekend. Remember, come see us if the heat gets to unbearable.

Shane Schultz

6/4/2011 12:47:09 am

We have a baby boy here in Ohio that looks just like that (mouth wide open) every couple of hours....

Pat N.

6/4/2011 12:58:16 am

So adorable! New life on the mountain must be so exciting. Great timing on that picture, Allyson.

Junco Jeff

6/4/2011 06:14:42 am

bNew life on the mountain is exciting... but perilous. Just more than half the Junco chicks will survive their first year. Predators such as raptors, squirrels, weasels, raccoons, snakes and martens prey on the young in their nests. Starvation is the other big risk factor. Fortunately for these youngsters, they are a part of a 4-egg clutch (as opposed to a 3-egg clutch), and all 4 eggs hatched. Both factors bode well statistically for enhancing their individual survival chances.

BMA

6/4/2011 06:42:04 am

It's survival of the fittest not only among all species, but even within a species. J. hyemalis, the dark-eyed Junco, exhibits a social order that has been researched and proven that subordinate juncos have a lower survival rate than do dominate juncos. That is why a lot of juncos starve- it's competition within their own species for food.

Nancy Maners

6/4/2011 07:50:26 am

I will be up there to see for meself TOMORROW!!!!!!!

Tim @ Appalachia & Beyond link

6/4/2011 05:03:15 pm

They are so cute. I just love seeing new life in the world, especially on the trail. We hiked Kephart Prong today and stumbled across a nest with eggs. Can't wait to see these babies progress.

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Welcome to the World Baby Juncos

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