Oh I do like Ella but every year I worry she's not going to feed all the kids. As I've said before, usually not a problem for Ella and I recognize my concern is a hold-over from a bad decision Ella made in her first year as a mom and years of her sister Spencer's "problem" with feeding chicks immediately after hatching.
This is Ella's first year with 4 chicks AND the first year all of her eggs have hatched. That extra mouth is an exponential increase in the need for food. Pip tends to bring in smaller prey items, she needs to nibble less while she's feeding and feed more often - but that is just what would make me happier, she'll do what she is going to do ...
