We were happy this spring to find a Dark-eyed Junco nest on the ground right next to our house. It has been a very cold spring in the Pacific Northwest and seeing the babies emerge from their eggs without feathers and with nearly translucent skin made us wonder if they would ever survive. The mother Junco was so persistent in her care of her children. When it was cold, she would stubbornly sit on the nest keeping her babies warm. When it got warmer, she would go out in search of food and the babies would stay in the nest totally silent, patiently waiting for their mother’s return. Miraculously the babies survived. Since their leaving the nest, we have seen them in our neighborhood jumping and hopping around and doing the things young children like to do.
Dark-eyed Junco nest and eggs spotted on April 21.
Chicks on April 26.
Female Dark-eyed Junco defending her nest.
Chicks on April 27.
Chicks on April 28, roots of feathers beginning to show.
Adult female Dark-eyed Junco on nest. During cold weather the mother would be on the nest most of the time.
Chicks on April 29. Eyes are not protruding as much, feathers continue to grow. With the nest being on the ground the chicks were very vulnerable from the threat of predators, but they remained totally quiet throughout the nesting period which aided their survival.
Chicks on April 30. Wing feathers becoming prominent, ear openings also prominent.
Chicks on May 1. Wings and feathers across nape clearly visible.
Chicks on May 2. Feathers covering most of body,
Chicks on May 6. Chicks just prior to them leaving the nest. We believe all four chicks survived nesting and left the nest.