Sep 14 2013

RARE TWIN BLUEBIRD EGGS and HATCHLINGS – WHY AND HOW THIS HAPPENS – The Story from State College, PA – Photo Documention Starting June 21, 2013.


I meant to share this with you much sooner, but time would not let me do so.   I hope you’ll enjoy this story of the twin bluebirds hatched from one egg.  Read on below.   From State College, PA – 2013.   Nestbox and information is from monitor Gerald E. Clark:

Mr. Harry Schmeider notifed me along with a list of other bluebird people of this rare event–a double-yoked bluebird egg and twin hatchlings!  Mr. Schmeider is President of the Bluebird Society of Pennsylvania and has a website called Ambassador for the Bluebirds.  Some photos shared with me in the Email (with permission to post here) is below. The text with the photos were shared by the monitor who discovered the very large egg and watched the twin bluebirds hatch. Sadly, they only lived to 11 days old while the rest of the brood fledged.  Here is the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s latest NestWatch e-Newsletter referencing rare bluebird twins in a bluebird clutch reported from State College, PA. Here is the Cornell article–I highly recommend you read it first and then view the photos below.  All pictures have captions explaining their development:  http://us2.campaign-archive1.com/?u=b35ddb671faf4a16c0ce32406&id=7430f577ad&e=9005cae40e

Letter to me from Mr. Schmeider with the announcement:

Dear Christine,

– Twin Baby Bluebirds are born  7-1-2013 

Sharing a rare event with you. Twin Baby Blues were born on July 1 , 2013.  Gerald Clark listed in this email shared photos of 4 eggs in a nest, one egg much larger than the others. He ended up with 5 baby Blues.  Gerald Clark lives in State College , Pa. He has granted me permission to share this wonder.  If you post to your website please give him the credits to his photos. 
Sincerely,
Harry Schmeider
President of The Bluebird Society of Pennsylvania
 Butler County BSP Coordinator
4 Bluebird Eggs - June 21, 2013. Photo by Gerald Clark, State College, PA

4 Bluebird Eggs – June 21, 2013. Photo by Gerald Clark, State College, PA

Upper Right: there are the twins born on July 1, 2013 -- note their size to the other single hatchling with one more egg to hatch. Photo by Gerald Clark, State College, PA

Upper Right: there are the twins born on July 1, 2013 — note their size to the other single hatchling with one more egg to hatch. Photo by Gerald Clark, State College, PA

Baby Bluebird Carousel - Quote by Mr. Clark: "This shows all five babies in a very neat carousel position that I have never seen before--truly amazing!". Photo by Gerald Clark, State College, PA

Baby Bluebird Carousel – Quote by Mr. Clark: “This shows all five babies in a very neat carousel position that I have never seen before–truly amazing!”. Photo by Gerald Clark, State College, PA

Photo of the twins and the other three hatchlings on July 10, 2013. Quote by Mr. Clark: "Nine days old. Note the smallest is still ok but certainly has some catching up to do." Photo by Gerald Clark, State College, PA

Photo of the twins and the other three hatchlings on July 10, 2013. Quote by Mr. Clark: “Nine days old.
Note the smallest is still ok but certainly has some catching up to do.”
Photo by Gerald Clark, State College, PA

BUT SADLY it was not to be–the twins didn’t make it.  Read on correspondence from Mr. Clark and Mr. Schmeider and return message from Mr. Schmeider:
_______________________________________
Harry,
This is a very sad day.  This morning, Friday, 7/12/13 about 8:15 am I went to the nest box to video the five babies per your voice mail request.  Picture 1 is what I found.  Shown are three live babies and two carcasses assumed to be that of the twins.    Needless to say, I am deeply saddened by this event.   Mother Nature can provide some very heartwarming moments but she can also bring us to near tears of sadness at times.   I know this whole event has been a true miracle of nature and I guess we should look on the bright side and consider ourselves very lucky to have witnessed this rare event. We have experienced a wonder happening this past eleven days.   Hopefully, the three remaining will continue to development normally and fledge as beautiful, healthy bluebirds.
 
Previous box opening and observation was approximately 9:30 am:
Thursday, 7/11/13 around the time I was making the YouTube video.  All five babies were alive but as I stated in my last email, I was concerned with the health of two (thought to be the twins).  I noticed that sometimes mama would go into nest box and be in there for as much as 10-15 minutes. This certainly was not her normal routine.  I even commented to my wife that this was not normal. Unfortunately, I did not have the opportunity to view inside the nest box any more on 7/11/13.
 
Events of the morning 7/12/13:
8:15 am opened nest box and observed three live and two dead babies(thought to be the twins). Took pictures to document.   Contemplated what to do with carcasses.
Mama bluebird certainly was not her normal quiet self.  In the background I could hear her making loud chucking sounds that I had not heard her make before. Knowing she was upset, I decided to just close the box and wait before doing anything further.
 
9:00 am I had a discussion with neighbor about the sad event.
 
9:30 am opened box and observed that the smallest of the two carcasses had been removed.  Thinking mama was taking care of situation I closed to box. Mama continued to bring food to remaining babies.
 
10:30 am opened box and found that the second carcass had been removed from box.
 
10:45 am my neighbor return from walking dog and found what I believe to be the larger carcass at the end of her driveway.  This was approximately 100 feet from the next box. I bagged the carcass, took pictures and placed the carcass in freezer to preserve should it have any scientific value.
 
12:00 The second carcass has not be found.
  
Picture 1…Two carcasses and three survivors
Picture 2…Three babies only
 
In separate email I will attach graphic pictures of found carcass as they may have some scientific value.
 
Again, a sad, sad day
Gerald E. Clark
~~~
Dear Gerald, 

I sit at my computer lost for words, sadden by the death of the Twin Bluebirds today. I feel your anguish and sadness in this historical event. Gerald you did everything you could do for the twins, We all are so fortunate just to have  shared in your experience the last 12 days.  Bluebirding is very awarding but also can be harsh when experiencing death among these little wonderful birds. Landlords play a vital role in the success of fledgling birds but Mother Nature can be cruel at times. We do not understand all the mysteries in Life or shall I say; Life is but a Mystery  We do are best and that is all that is expected of us and the rest is up to the Creator.  I want to thank you Gerald for sharing your nest box journey with us and please keep us updated on the twins siblings and God Bless You!     
Sincerely, Harry Schmeider  

President of The Bluebird Society of Pennsylvania Butler County BSP Coordinator
The 3 survivors -- the twin carcasses below them.

The 3 survivors — the twin carcasses below them.  Photo by Gerald Clark, State College, PA

The remaining three -- dead twins removed. Photo by Gerald Clark, State College, PA

The remaining three — dead twins removed. Photo by Gerald Clark, State College, PA

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