Nest Updates

In case you've been wondering, I want to update you on how our bird parents are doing.

The Robin with the nest in the roll of fencing is doing quite well.
(except when I occasionally visit and she has a conniption.  So I never stay long!

The babies don't seem to mind me though.  They were pretty sleepy this morning when I took these photos!

The Phoebe family, as I feared, did not make out so well with their nest on a nail.

If they try the same spot again, they will find this shelf I put up for them.  Hopefully, that will be safer!

We have a House Wren's nest in our little box under our Hemlock tree.  I hope they are nesting there, because I can see it from my kitchen window.  I hear the male wren singing, which is so lovely, but I have not actually seen a bird going in and out of the box.  I've been watching... but haven't had too much time to do that, and so far they have eluded me.  I'm hoping they are using this nest.  Did you know the male House Wren typically makes several nests and the female gets to pick the one she likes best?  Then she may even rebuild it to suit herself, as she is going to be the one to incubate the eggs!

Wrens really fill up the space with twigs.  I just read that there are sometimes over 700 twigs in one wren's nest!  Now, that's a busy bird!

Another bird's nest I can see from my kitchen window is one of our Baltimore Orioles.  

They are still coming to eat from our grape jelly feeder.  But they also are incubating eggs (as far as I can tell from their activity, since I can't see into their nest which is high in a cherry tree!)

Look closely and you can see the Mama Oriole's head sticking out at the top right side of the nest.

Next, we have a nesting story that I haven't quite figured out.  We have three bluebird boxes near our vegetable garden.  Three... to try to quell the competition for them a bit.  In early spring we were trying to fight off the House Sparrows (removing their nests) so the Bluebirds or Tree Swallows could use the boxes.  Bluebirds came, but left.  Sad!  But this week, they've been back!  However, so have the House Sparrows.  I'm not sure what is going to happen.  The Bluebirds have been checking out all three boxes (the Tree Swallows gave up the box they were trying to use and instead are nesting in one box by our driveway and one in the hayfield).

The Robin is sitting on top, just because it's a nice spot to use to look for worms, and the House Sparrow is looking out of the box.  Poor male Bluebird is not very happy with either!

The House Sparrow (a male) comes out to see what's going on.

There are three boxes... all available, why can't you each just pick a different one?

I shouldn't have favorites, I guess, but I hope the Bluebirds win out. 

After the House Sparrow flew away, this is what the male Bluebird did.  So I think he is still hoping to use this box.

Then he posed on the fence post.  Do you think he knows he's beautiful? 

"Which is my better side?  Or are both equally beautiful?"

Then he flew down and sat and sang on my clothesline.  Good thing I had not hung out my sheets yet.  Though, I would forgive him if I had to re-wash them!

Also, another nest update -- all three places where Painted Turtles laid their eggs are still intact as of this morning.  Even the one I helped by putting them into the ground!

Home, Sweet Home!

Or maybe I should say, “Nest, Sweet Nest”.  It’s the time of year to keep an eye out for birds nests.  

One day recently I decided to hunt for our Phoebe’s nest.  Phoebes like to nest on something like a small shelf... a windowsill, rafter, or similar projections.  So I searched the various open sheds, garages, and pole barns near our house.  One year they nested on one of our garage door ledges.  

But not this year.  After a bit of searching, though, I found their new location!  Under the remains of the old dairy barn.  On a nail!  

See it back there in the corner?!

Phoebe's use lots of mud and moss in their nest, and line them with fine grass and hair.

Doesn’t seem very secure!  In fact, it looks like there used to be a nest on the nail “next door”, by the signs of mud on the beam.

But, hopefully, this nest will last long enough for them to raise their family.

Now, another mother chose what appears to be a more secure location to raise her family.  Can you see the bird on the nest in this photo?

My husband went to get some fencing today and discovered this:

Yes, the mother Robin built her nest inside this fortress of wire!

Mother Robin's nest is in the roll on the upper right.

I find it fascinating how each species of bird builds just the right nest for their babies.

A Ruffed Grouse builds right on the forest floor.

The Baltimore Orioles make a secure but swinging nest.  This one is from last year.... still strong near the top of the tree this spring.

Last years heron’s nest is still secure-looking-- although maybe the dead tree is not really very strong, it's hard to tell.  A few days ago, all three herons were hanging out there, even though it's not actually being used as a nest this year.  Maybe they were thinking of the good old days when they were nestlings?

 Nesting season is a fascinating time.  Most kids and adults love to see nests,  eggs, and baby birds.  I have two very interesting books that I’ve used for many years to learn more about them.  

 One was written for kids... but I still love it!  It’s called “Birds at Home” by Marguerite Henry.  It’s a very readable book (whether you're a grown-up reading it yourself or you are reading it to a child!) It's full of interesting tidbits about birds.  The second book is “A Field Guide to Bird’s Nests” in the Peterson’s Field Guide Series.  It’s also filled with interesting information about birds and their nests.  Used copies of the first book are still available online and there are more recent field guides to nests available --- though I don’t think the birds have changed their nesting habits too much since my book was published back in 1975!  You never know though... it seems I see something new every year.  I certainly never saw a Robin’s nest in the middle of a roll of fence wire before!