The Skies Open Up and the Oriole Nest Comes Down.

Last night, sustained rains, wind, thunder, and lightning jolted us out of a dry spell. Seems like it rained in windy sheets for hours. Dawn brought surprises. A huge fishtail palm (Caryota urens) fell, crushing part of our fence. And the Altamira Oriole (Icterus gularis) nest crashed down from its tenuous position hanging in overhead vines. At least one live chick remains inside. Using a zip-tie, we lashed the top of the nest to a tall dead snag of tiguilote (clammy cherry or Cordia dentata) we had installed as a bird perch near our feeders. Though much lower than the original nest site, the adults visited the nest. Hopefully, they'll be able to strengthen their chick so it survives. Other birds, including Streak-backed Oriole (their nest still intact in nearby trees), Red-billed Pigeons, and Rose-throated Becards are not in usual spots, favoring places where they can dry out in the stingy bursts of sunlight.