Simple steps can help bird watchers answer ‘What laid those eggs?’
By Kathy Schwartz
Photos by Alan Daughtery
When traveling through the forest and fields of Ouabache, one of the activities you are bound to spot are the birds and the gathering of nest materials. If you are very lucky, on your next visit you may see those nests filled with the treasures that are deposited for safe keeping. Later in the spring, those treasures turn into sources of chirping and movement as hatchlings compete for the food that are brought to their open mouths.
Often the question that pops into your mouth when you first find that nest filled with eggs is “What laid those eggs?” There are some simple ways to determine the answer.
OBSERVE
Step away from the nest a good distance and wait until the mother bird returns to her nest. During the incubation period that time is often relatively short because the need to maintain a certain temperature.
NOTE THE SIZE
The size of the egg will give you a good clue as to what kind it is. Birds lay eggs in direct relation to their size. Small birds lay small eggs. Large birds lay big eggs.
For example, a hummingbird’s egg is the size of a jellybean and a goose egg is larger than a chicken egg.
NOTE THE COLOR
Eggs vary in color, and the color often coordinates with the surroundings it is laid. For example, eggs of birds that build their nests close to the ground are brown and speckled to help camouflage them. Eggs laid in tree trunks or deep houses are light in color due to lack of light and they are easier to see.
NOTE THE TYPE OF NESTS AND THEIR LOCATION
Nests determine the size of the eggs and the number of eggs. The size of the nest also is a clue as to the size of the bird that will cover the eggs as they incubate. Their location will also help you determine what kind of egg it is. Knowing where native birds build their nests helps you narrow down the possibilities.
With this information, you should be able to determine the type of egg it is. There are some excellent field guides for bird eggs. Keep in mind that your native birds are the ones nesting. A good resource is “Bird’s Eggs” by Michael Walters.
If you can’t determine the type of egg in the field, take a photo of it to study later. Please do not disturb or touch the eggs. This may cause irreparable damage.
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