Bell and her mate are now brooding and feeding four vigorous, fuzzy white nestlings. All four hatched in less than 24 hours - between May 9th after 1900 and before 1525 on May 10. We were not as lucky as in prior years, when we have been able to see chicks during or immediately after hatching.
Bell kept the tiny youngsters tightly tucked under her during the damp weather at the beginning of the week. In mid-week, she shielded them from the north wind, with her back to the camera, so we didn't have even a glimpse, except during short feedings. But the last three days have been milder, and the four have been uncovered for longer periods of time and great viewing. They're still quite small, but have grown tremendously since hatching.
The Washington Mutual birds were not the first to hatch young this year, however. Finally, after two years of disappointment, the I-5 Ship Canal Bridge birds have young. One hatch was confirmed at midday on Friday, May 7, and a second by that afternoon. We don't have the luxury of a video camera on that nest, so it wasn't until this weekend that a third eyas was confirmed. The adult male at this site is the hatch year 2001 offspring of Bell and Stewart.
