Will there be an E2... Dale wonders....

 At least five treats overnight, kissy, bonding and magic continues at The Hideout.. Chula Vistaaaaa, CA..

Roy with a treat for Lady Dale June 18 early morning.. Outstanding cap by Beccaboome



I wonder...

Like everyone, I'm still hopeful for Egg 2.  But, realistically, I think chances are now diminishing, and chances really diminish as we go towards noon today, which is a full 72 hrs (3 days).  I know, all the literature says "1-3 days" but looking back at everything I've seen (and we have all seen), around 48 hours (2 days) is the norm.

I also look at the "big picture"... there has to be a reason we have not seen more (any) 2nd clutches start up from all the boxes we have watched the first part of the year.  "They say" this is tied to general food availability.  So, what we are seeing here (with this late-starting clutch) may be tied to this-- i.e., it could also be a  limiting factor for the size of Roy & Dale's clutch.

So hopefully we might still see an egg today. If there is one "in the works", maybe it could be the last one, and that is the reason for the "delay", and maybe we'll have a 2 egg clutch.  And, we could even have the discussed 1-egg clutch.  And maybe something else will happen and surprise us, as this box is certainly famous for "crazy things happening".

Maybe Dale is SO young it is just taking an extra long time to produce an egg??  There is hardly anything in the literature about these details.  As Carlos taught us, "We just observe, and we learn".  I have said this before-- something a friend told me a long time ago-- "Don't ever think you have nature figured out because you will get a surprise!".  That is what makes observing fun.

    Thank you LS! ! <3 

LvOwls found us documentation on a possible 27 egg clutch after "digging and digging" Thank you, Lv!!

The clutch size varies, and commonly may have as many as eight eggs. As many as 15 eggs have been seen in several nests and one case in Texas records an extraordinary clutch containing 27 eggs in a single nest box. Even more amazing is that they all survived beyond the juvenile period. The hen lays one egg every two to three days and begins incubating immediately after the first eggis laid. The eggs are incubated for 30 to 33 days. The chicks hatch in the order they were laid, which results in siblings with as much as two weeks age difference between them.

During the incubation period, the female remains on the eggs almost continually. She is fed by the
male, but nevertheless, loses much of her stored fat. While nesting, the hen becomes skittish and
restless from the lack of activity. During this time she is reluctant to leave the nest unguarded. If she
is forced to flee in a state of panic and fear, she may not return and the nest will be abandoned. For this reason, it is wise not to disturb a nesting hen during the early part of the breeding season.

This is not true while the chicks are growing. A parent frightened away from the nest during this
stage will instinctively return to continue caring for his or her young. However, inspection of the box
during the day in April or May will likely as not find the young home alone. The parents will be resting
in a quiet location nearby. Having worked all night hunting to feed the hungry chicks, they no doubt
want some quiet.

While an adult may eat one rodent a night, each chick may eat from two to five, depending on the
size of the chick and the size of the rodent. During the course of the breeding season, as many as
3,000 rodents and small birds may be consumed by the parents and their family of five young.