Expert: Miguel Rodriguez - 5/28/2009

Question
A few weeks ago, I noticed a nest in a fern, then eggs, then baby birds (small). The birds have been there a couple of weeks. They're gone today, except one. Do birds leave the nest at different times? I did some research and found that they leave the nest a few days before they can fly, and may just hop around on the ground or in a bush, but I don't see a trace of them. I also wondered if a squirrel or chipmunk got them, but I haven't seen any around the porch, although they're in the yard. Do they eat birds? One last thing, the one that's left isn't actually in the nest. He's sitting in the fern chirping. Is his mother coming back or has he been abandoned. Yesterday evening, I noticed alot of bouncing around in the fern and wondered if they were getting ready to leave. Thanks for your help.

Answer
Birds normally can't lay several eggs at the same time, so there is usually also a difference in hatching times, depending on which egg was laid first. When chicks leave the nest but are still unable to fly, the parents will come and go bringing food to them.

Regarding bird-eating squirrels, I've never heard of this directly, but I seem to remember reading an article about cannibalistic squirrels.