Subject: Brown-headed Cowbird nest invaded
Date: Apr 1 19:38:40 2004
From: mike denny - m.denny at charter.net


Hello All,
Today while walking down along the western edge of Mill Creek we discovered an active cowbird nest with three eggs and a very territorial male cowbird protecting this next generation of cowbirds. That is when we noticed right in the middle of the nest sat an adult Pacific Tree Frog. Perched atop the eggs its bright yellow eyes glued on the cowbird. We watched as this frog shifted its weight loosing its footing and rolled under the bright aqua-blue eggs of the cowbird.
The cowbird now went nuts as it called in the nearby foraging female cowbird. The frog was on its back in the bottom of the nest with an egg pinning it there. Suddenly this egg was catapulted out of the nest by the frog and its long powerful jumping legs. We stood stunned as the egg arched into the air and down towards the ground and distruction. Thats when MerryLynn reached out and caught the egg in mid air! WOW what a catch! We hope that this first day of April was good to each of you.
Later Mike
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Mike & MerryLynn Denny
323 Scenic View Drive
College Place, WA 99324
509.529.0080 (h)

IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN BIRDING, YOU HAVEN'T LIVED!
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