Wilmington

Facebook.
I hate to report more bad news, but .... Another egg has been broken open and the unhatched baby killed. This time it was Bridget who did it. She was pecking at and looking at the egg earlier. At about 6:45 she made the hole in the egg larger so she could get a grip on the shell and carried the egg a little way from the clutch. She then proceeded to dispatch and consume the contents.
She was a fine mother to Solo last year. But also last year there was intense peeping from one egg. That baby made a hole in the shell but failed to complete the hatch. She disposed of that the same way, but that time the baby had already died.
I am prone to think there was something wrong with this chick which Bridget could see but about which we would be unaware. Both eggs this year had the same intense peeping as the one last year. In previous years peeping could be heard but it was not as intense or continuous.
I'm so sorry to have to report this. I am intensely attached to these birds and these events are probably as hard on me as they are on you. I intentionally try to report what I see with minimal emotion. I watch these events when I very much want to turn it off to make it go away. But I feel it important to watch. By doing so I learn more. And by reporting I can save you the agony of watching if you choose so to do.
I'm going to take a break tonight. I'll be back in the morning to try to respond to your comments.
Group hug. We all need it.