Nestlings, hatchlings and fledglings

the crime scene

I was hoping to photograph wren hatchlings in the little nest built in the wreath on our front door, but soon after the eggs appeared, they disappeared, replaced with larger eggs. Now there are none. Was it the work of a cowbird? They're notorious for laying their eggs in nests built by other birds and then abandoning them. But then what happened to the cowbird's eggs? Karma!
This is the time of year when we're apt to see hatchlings and/or fledglings and assume that they need to be rescued. Not so, according to the Cornell Lab site. Their advice is that chicks often leave the nest before they are able to fly but they continue to be fed by their parents, who are probably nearby and waiting for us to leave before returning to care for them. Lots of questions about finding baby birds are answered on their FAQ page at www.allaboutbirds.org/faq