Empty Nest

I had seen the speckle chested babies standing on the edge of the nest for the last few days.  Yesterday, it looked like there were only 2 chicks left.  Today there were none.  I started back to the house to get the camera when I found one baby floating in the pond.  How sad.  I pulled it out with my pool net and tossed it over the fence.  Maybe I should have buried it.  I wonder how it died.  It didn't have any wounds that I could see.  Oh well, 3 out of 4 lived, I hope.

I can't tell what's in the bottom of the nest.  Maybe seeds?  Will she use the nest again?  I might take it down and save it.

Feeding Time

If we're careful we can sneak a peek at the babies.  They are sitting up now and usually have their beaks open.  All day we see Mama on the fence or coop roof waiting for us to leave.  We sat for 10 minutes thinking we could watch her feed them.  She kept getting closer and then moving away.  She knew we were there and even though we were quiet she wouldn't give the nest away.

See the worm in her mouth.  She goes back and forth all day trying to keep her growing babies fed.

The lilies are blooming on the pond and we didn't lose any fish over the winter.