Babies!!!

When I checked the birdhouse this morning I saw that some of the eggs had hatched. I could still see one or two eggs in the nest. I didn't have much time because I had to get to work so I waited til I got home to get some pictures. I was hoping all of them had hatched by that time. Unfortunately, there are only 3 (possibly 4) baby birds. You can see one unhatched egg in the pictures.

(Click on any image to enlarge it.)

It can take 24-48 hours for all eggs to hatch so they still have a chance. Experts say it's a good idea to remove any unhatched eggs BUT you're supposed to wait at least 72 hours before taking them out. Sometimes the parents will remove them. Also, the babies are very fragile and if they have to be moved to get to the eggs you should leave them alone until they have feathers. Most eggs don't break but if they do, they can contain deadly bacteria that's harmful to the babies.

I'm hoping I'll be able to get a better view in the morning to be sure how many babies there are. The nest is so far down in the house and it was a bit overcast when I took the pictures. Maybe the morning sun will help reveal the 4th.

I also got a few shots of a male oriole. He and his mate are still around but I've yet to see them eating the grape jelly. The ants love it, though!