A somewhat different situation some years ago: My husband and I were walking near dense woods in NY state. We were attracted by the chirping of a lone chick. It was coming from the ground. We located two junco parents feeding this odd (likely cowbird chick) that had apparently fallen from a too small nest. It was interesting to watch the spectacle of these two relatively small birds feeding the large, very loud chick. .... but alas for the chick, it was simply too noisy! An adult jay hearing the commotion and seeing the chick unguarded while the faithful parents flew back and forth with bits for the chick... well, you get the picture. The jay made short work of the large chick and carried it off. The juncos, returning with their bills full to feed their awkward offspring, seemed distressed for a few moments, looking and listening. Then they seemed to make their peace with their situation and flew off together. The whole story unfolded in less than 10 minutes. How fortunate to have been there. Mardi Crane On May 25, 2012, at 10:36 PM, Lila Ollmann wrote: I have never heard of that happening before, where one species of bird helps another species raise nestlings?! It seems like it would be a horribly maladaptive thing to do, wasting all that energy instead of either trying to re-nest or just relax for the rest of the summer to try again next year. It seems so odd that it tried to build a nest out in the open in the sun when I thought Chickadees were only cavity nesters, too. I wonder if there is something seriously wrong with the poor little bird's brain. Maybe it's not that unusual and I've just never heard of it before. (?) Does anyone have any other examples of it happening that they know of? If not, you should definitely get pictures, even if they're not fit to share! On Fri, May 25, 2012 at 10:12 PM, Jeffrey M Harris <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>> wrote: Apparently, I was mistaken. It does take a village to……………..we witnessed the adult robin and the chickadee taking turns back and forth to the nest with food. I attempted some pictures and may have some worth sharing. JMH On May 25, 2012, at 7:58 PM, Lila Ollmann wrote: I'd like to see a picture of that! On Fri, May 25, 2012 at 7:16 PM, Jeffrey M Harris <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>> wrote: I have a black capped chickadee diligently feeding a nest of robins on my property. The chickadee's brood failed, having built the nest directly in the afternoon sun, while the adult robin is no longer present. The poor chickadee is attending to baby robins that are three times its size, one worm at a time. Amazing to watch. Jeffrey M. Harris, CFA®,AIF®,CPWA® President & CEO JMH Wealth Management, LLC 45 Lyme Road, Suite 307 Hanover, NH 03755 Phone: 603.643.8899/877.643.8899 Fax: 603.643.8895<tel:603.643.8895> Cell: 603.667.6603<tel:603.667.6603> Jeffrey holds the Chartered Financial Analyst®, Accredited Investment Fiduciary®, and Certified Private Wealth Advisorsm professional designations. www.jmhwealth.com<http://www.jmhwealth.com/> This message is intended only for the designated recipient(s). It may contain confidential, privileged or proprietary information. If you are not a designated recipient, you may not review, copy or distribute this message. If you receive this message in error, please notify the sender by reply email and delete this message. Thank you. Jeffrey M. Harris, CFA®,AIF®,CPWA® President & CEO JMH Wealth Management, LLC 45 Lyme Road, Suite 307 Hanover, NH 03755 Phone: 603.643.8899/877.643.8899 Fax: 603.643.8895<tel:603.643.8895> Cell: 603.667.6603<tel:603.667.6603> Jeffrey holds the Chartered Financial Analyst®, Accredited Investment Fiduciary®, and Certified Private Wealth Advisorsm professional designations. www.jmhwealth.com<http://www.jmhwealth.com/> This message is intended only for the designated recipient(s). It may contain confidential, privileged or proprietary information. If you are not a designated recipient, you may not review, copy or distribute this message. If you receive this message in error, please notify the sender by reply email and delete this message. Thank you.