Two days after St. Valentine day. I discover Lord Byron (or is that his mate?) settles down for a new home site in the backyard. Industrious little fella to have selected the site that's roughly 50 yds. approx. from the feeder where he's nominated boss.
Let's share your experience with your friendly feathered companions and their families that called your garden their home this year with the Byrons. The Redheaded Woodpeckers that called our garden their sweet home the past few years.
This was the Byrons' previous home (old pine tree) that was knocked down by this winter's storm. For awhile I was concerned that these lovelies have left our garden. But recently ...
...Mitch--the male Redbellied Wp returned to the grain feeder after the winter absence...
Our Redheaded wps have also come home to defend its territory. :)
Wonderful!
Is Mitch making a new cavity?
This pix isn't great, but year before last, Eastern Phoebes have chosen to nest nearby. Here one can barely make out the little one sitting on top of the arbor and singing its sweet song. It's getting close to nesting season, I hope they will decide to come back and build their home here.
Yes, indeed it did Marna, last time I checked; the new cavity is deep enough to for Byron's head to disappear in there.
Oooops, correction please. I have never seen Mitch and family making cavity/home....it was Byron that carved out a new cavity for his family.
Oh, well i just saw in that picture it looked like he was possibly starting a new cavity.
Marna, it's the Redheaded wp that is carving out a new cavity, look;
yah, i see that.
But what is Mitch Doing?
Mitch? He was just stuffing his face. lol. This seems to be a favorite spot for many woodpeckers to bring their meals here and 'peck' away. lol I've seen the Redheaded, Downy, and redbellied all use this one spot to chow down. And besides, the tree is very alive, so no cavity dweller.
Awwww, I'm so thrilled to see three different species checked out the brand new bird house we put up this past weekend. 1st I saw Papa Blue then his mate. Then a Whitebreased Nuthatch also stopped by later, or was that 1st? But lastly Carolina Chikadees also stopping by. Hahhh, my original idea was to attract Carolina Wrens. I put some straws into the box, apparently some of these prospective resident didn't like the straws there -- the straws were removed from the box twice for the last 24 hours. Woohoooo!!!
I so missed my Panasonic Lumix camera, here my Kodak Easy share isn't capable of zooming in. A pix of Miss Dee exploring the nest box;
Please bear with me, the pix isn't the best of quality. Found this Brown Thrasher was busy bringing grass/straw to a shrub to the side yard to rebuild its nest for the season! The nest has been in the same shrub for the last 2 years that I've noticed, this will be the 3rd season.
Gotta make extra nutrients available for all the futures nesting families--I begun set out mealworms for the establishing community; (so far not many takers).
OK Lily, here is my nesting Picture.
As you may be aware, this beautiful Bird builds a ‘Bower’.
He uses it to seduce a suitable female.
He does that by impressing the pants off her with all these blue trinkets.
I have also seen shiny rock opals and polished Snail Shells amongst his treasures.
They don’t lay eggs in the Bower.
Once she has decided they are a match.
They will build a real nest to hold the eggs.
This nest is generally about 25 feet off the ground.
Lily,
A great thread you started!
I see you set out some mealworms...Roh Ro...I'm really praying I won't need to set any out for the Mama Robins til late March. I mentioned in another thread that I don't want to start putting the worms out for a week or so then not be able to put them out for about 8-10 days while we're in Florida visiting my elderly dad in a nursing home.
Has anyone kept records of the times their birds start nesting?...curious...especially since there are no leaves on the trees here and I would think they would wait til they had some protection when building their nests.
The only records I have is our porch female Robin started to build her nest in our Petunia planter the 3rd week of April.
I also have pics of Mourning Doves in their mating ritual on 4/10/10.
Additionally, I kept searching for info about Robins and time frames. The info stated male Robins return to nesting grounds in mid-late February (right on time here) and the females arrive about a week later.
Well, what do they do between now and mid April? I think they only have 2 broods, and our porch Robin had her 1st the end of April...then again in June (example of a timeline). So, between now and then is about 7-8 weeks.
Call me kooky, but if I was a bird, I'd stay where it was warmer for another month or so before I had to be bogged down with the hard labor of nesting and raising young...just saying...LOL
Can ya'll chime in with your thoughts? Do any of you have Robins building nests and having their 1st brood earlier?...possible 3 broods?
Here's one of many links I found on Robins...
http://www.norcrossws.org/html/robins2.htm
This message was edited Feb 21, 2011 1:18 AM
Not here. :-) We're expecting 2 rounds of snow soon. :-(
Thanks Susan for your compliment on the thread as well as the interesting link on Robins. I've yet lucky enough to find a Robin's nesting site. But, I'm on the look out for them. My only experience with Brown thrashers, I saw them with more than two broods in the summer--last year. A pair has already started their nest here. This morning I already saw both were out there on the side yard foraging for food as well as finding twigs for the nest. Northern Cardinal also give several broods a year. Last year, the poor mama Cardinal was panting during the summer heat waves among the bamboos where she nested.
This morning at the nesting site; Unsure of the species due to the distance. Was it C. Chickadee or Whitebreased Nuthatch.
My appology to Ginger, I meant to say your birds' bahavior is fascinating. It proved that this species is far more intelligent than others I think. Thank you Ginger for sharing your interesting birds with us bird-enthusiasts on DG.
Just as I thought the Chickadees won out on the nest box. Papa Blue and his Misus returned. Both (BB and the other) took turn to disappear inside the nest box. I'm in suspense! Not knowing which ones will call this their own.
Whoa! That was a nuthatch I think. Man, you have lots of competition for that box!
This was meant to be in http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1147930/
Oops sorry. Can Pictures be moved ?
This message was edited Feb 21, 2011 10:44 PM
It might be easier just to repost it in that thread Ginger.
Thanks Pell,
Three newborn and one more to go.
Nest is right on the ground.
Awww sweet!
Are those current pics. (of the chicks) Ginger? What kind of bird are they? Here in the US there are Kildeer that laid eggs on the ground. Boys, looks like there will be reptiles and all kind of pradators all around. Please keep us posted how they fair out.
Yesterday, I saw an Eastern Phoebe checking out the old site (under the garage eave) where they once built their nest. I hope they will return this year. Having witnessed these Phoebes' nest year before last. An experience that I will cheerish for a long time.
Lovely pics ladies!!! It will be awhile before there will be any flowers poking up through the ground here. We'll be getting snow for the next 3 days...AGH!!!!!!!!!!!!! :(
This message was edited Feb 22, 2011 10:47 AM
Hah, Susan. Pleast stop, it's catching !!! lol. Now you got me scratching mine (head). lol,lol.
Are those current pics. (of the chicks) Ginger? What kind of bird are they? Here in the US there are Kildeer that laid eggs on the ground. Boys, looks like there will be reptiles and all kind of pradators all around. Please keep us posted how they fair out.
I can see how these adorable Blue Birds will win our heart over in a matter of New-York's minutes. Unlike other birds whose solo trip to the house search trip seems too casual. Little time I've watched these birds; the past few days. They arrived in pair, one will go inside to look while his/her mate will stand guard outside. What sweet sentiment!
They appear to scout out the area perimeter for suitable habitat? This BB came by to scout the feeders below. Although, they did not use the suet feeder this winter, but last year due to prolonged cold period, they did use it.
I was saving this for later.
But this is after all a ' Bird Nesting & Their Activities in Your Garden' Thread. ;-)
Ginger, that's such a neat bird and its youngin'? Do tell. lol
It's a 'Masked Lapwing' (Vanellus miles), previously known as the Masked Plover and often called the Spur-winged Plover.
The Spurs on their wings will tear a 3 inch long gash on your scalp requiring 20 stitches.
These Birds have been in my front paddock for 3 years.
When I mow on my Ride-on, they never attack me.
I think they consider me a Friend. ;0)
They NEVER accept food from us low life humans.
I think they only eat insects ?
Really different looking birds.
When I see these Guys attacking children on push bikes.
They remind me of Bikies with Chains and Knuckle Dusters ready to kill. [no tats]
But then they are so gentle with me.
It’s like they are grateful I let them nest in my front yard.
I park my Ride-on [still running] less than 6 feet from their nest and take these Pictures.
If I were to approach them on foot, God help me. :0(
This message was edited Feb 23, 2011 6:50 AM
Ike yahyah! Those are yellow spikes on the elbows? LOL what neat also strange looking bird!!! So what I thought was a beak hidden under mama's wing was a an armor? Oooooh!
From my backyard, the Easter Blue Birds are still interested in this new Nest box. The Nuthatch has not been seen returning to the box. That left just two families competing over this house-- the BBs and the Chickadees.
