Thank you Debbie W for responding to our call for more photographs, though these are perhaps a little outside our area. However in August we allow some latitude (some 72 degrees in this case):
Although I’m no John F-S or David G, thought people might enjoy the attached. I write this while on holiday here at my dad’s house in upstate New York (Canandaigua, Finger Lakes region).
I found a nest on his property while picking wild blackberries. Field research means I now know it is a bird called an American Goldfinch? I decided to take one photo a day, at the same time each day (10:00 am) and gave myself approximately 1 to 2 minutes to get the shot to ensure as little disturbance as possible to the nest and contents. I’m being watched closely by ‘mom’ who flies to a near by tree and watch – and scold me rather loudly – during each photo ‘session’.
The story so far…
Three more photographs added 22nd August 2014, and a further three photos added 23rd Aug:
Yesterday all was quiet on the nest front, everyone was asleep. Today they were awake and hungry! It is really interesting to note that some birds are now opening their eyes, and also the feathers are beginning to come in for their wings. I counted five little beaks – so far all eggs are still accounted for.
Another photo added 25th Aug:
They are getting so much stronger and really stretching out of the nest for food. Not making a lot of noise yet.
Another photo added 26th Aug:
This angle gives you a bit better idea of how far the little guys are stretching out of the nest. They still aren’t making any peeping noises, which seems rather strange to me. I’m wondering if they only do that for mum and not Parwikians with a camera rather than worms?
Another three photos added 27th Aug:
The wing feathers are beginning to form on the bigger babies and their eyes seem to be fully open now. There is one bird that is a lot smaller, I’m calling him Horace. Hoping he manages to fight past the others and get enough to eat to grow…
Another three photos added 28th Aug:
Wow, a lot can happen in 24 hours. Went out about a half hour later than usual today and everyone was fast asleep. In these photos you can see that in the past 24 hours their coloured wing feathers are starting to come in!
Only three more Parwickian posts before I head home. Just realised I’m not going to get to see Horace grow up and fly the nest. Wish I could bring him home with me!
Another three photos added 30th Aug:
They don’t lift their heads up to be fed by the crazy camera lady anymore – I think they are officially keeping a ‘low profile’ when I rock up in the morning. We definitely have one little boy in the mix – he has some lovely yellow feathers coming in. VERY VERY VERY worried about Horace. I can only count four little heads. Hope he down there keeping warm underneath his brothers and sisters…
One last photo tomorrow before I fly the nest.
PARWICH.ORG 
Do keep checking out this post, as Debbie is sending new photographs each day, adding to the story.
Debbie
What a marvellous series of photos. I am loving the developing stages of these quite ugly, but cute little critters – it really is a case of an ugly duckling into a swan. I have to admit to cheating as I had a peak on the Internet to see what the adult bird looks like – quite beautiful.
Well done for your patience in only checking the nest once a day.
A great story. Will you still be there to see them fly ? Lovely pictures. John F-S.
For those of us (including me) who are not familiar with the American Goldfinch here is a YouTube clip of an adult male showing off in Spring:
See also its Wikipedia entry for more information:
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_goldfinch