Oh, well..I feel like I'm pacing in a maternity ward...

This little bird began her *sit* about July 6 or 7...she's been on the
nest ever since... my *Birder's Handbook* says 14-15 days Incubation..
Today I finally couldn't stand it any longer and noticing she was off
somewhere, I got the short ladder and peeked in the nest...4, count 'em,
4 little eggs..Now, that must mean she sat in the nest for a long time
before she laid..however, some of you remember my sad little post earlier
where I said she had abandoned the nest and there was one egg in it..
well, that must mean at least one of these eggs (assuming it's still in
that clutch) is almost a month old...sighh-hhh...

So, Dennis...is this *normal* behavior for the Pacific Slope Flycatcher?
Would she sit there with no eggs under her for a long time before she
laid? Is she sitting on addled eggs? How long before she figures out the
eggs aren't going to hatch? (assuming they won't)..will she leave them in
the nest?

It certainly is amazing to see her dutiful response...this is probably not
her first brood this season..

It makes we wonder if she's going to have success..

I'll just keep wringing my hands and twisting my hanky, I guess..

Hey, Don...are you willing to be a godfather? (somehow with Don
it seems *a godfather* is better than *The Godfather*..)

Tom

Tom Foote footet at elwha.evergreen.edu
Lab II
The Evergreen State College (360) 866-6000 x6118
Olympia, WA 98505