We came from here; http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1161956/
Day #1 of nest-building for a pair of Northern Cardinals. Please add birds' activities relating to their nesting in your gardens here to share with other birding enthusiacs on DG.
I've been watching the male Northern Flicker for days excavating a new nest in the back of the garden. I was anticipating the arrival of the female. Here is wishes come true: She's beautiful!
From an angle which is hard to determine. I saw the work-in progress motion of the Flicker, I'm wondering if the female too will 'help' build the nest?
Rose and Marna, up on the guest-room upstair (where you're cordially invited to stay if you come down South). There I can see the view of the nest in plan sight. Hint hint.
From this vantage point, it helps explain. Yes, indeed like most females, we "fine tune" the rough design of the males' handy works. lol. Indeed the Missus Flicker was hammering away at the site. (Pardon the expression).
"Bringing home the Bacon" here papa WBNH is seen bringing his mate food. The BBs have yet seen actively building their nest. However, they consistently stake out on the higher tree branches. Luckily there is no HOSP in the area for the BB to be concerned about. My only concern is; most mealworms I've set out for the BBs are eaten by others. :((
I am just so jealous that you are going to have FOUR different species nesting in your yard. You should report everything on nest watch.
http://watch.birds.cornell.edu/nest/home/index
Four? I am hoping for half a dozen species nesting this year. :) I feel very blessed. It's a delightful feeling to be greeted by my Cardinals in the front with their chirpping while they were building their nest in the early morning. Thanks Marna for the link, I'll see about registering with the org.
Spring is a wonderful time of year! Flowers in blooms awaiting for hummingbirds' arrival. (Native Azaleas)
OH man, I forgot about the Cardinal and Thrasher.6 indeed.jealous!!!
I'm glad you mentioned the Thrashers, I believe their first brood has fledged. I didn't get to see the juvies, but I heard the babies chirps chirps a while back.
Fledged? Already? wow.
Well, someone jump right in and help me figure this out. It was 3rd week of Feb. when I noticed they were busy building their nest. (Brown Thrasher), it's 3rd week of March. Have they had enough time to lay eggs, hatched and fledged?
The day was a nice, but uneventful day. The WBNGs continue to sit at the nest and venture out for more insects rather than the suet or peanuts at the feeder. The Blue birds appear to be 'more' tame. I noticed the male BB walks on the pathway 30 ft. away from me and didn't scurry off. I saw the female Cardinal with several strands of straws in her beak coming back to the nest to the front yard. The female N. Flicker arrived at the nest-in progress in the backyard, and I think the male was there first, but he took off as she arrived. The Dees and the Tufted Timice hung around and chirping happily. I also recognized the Phoebes' song in the area, but didn't catch a glimpse of them. Oh, I also saw a pair of Carolina Wrens that came to the suet feeder once. Not knowing if they will return to the Gourd nest box in the front of the garden this year.
Here is the female N. Flicker;
In the crack of dawn, Papa Blue arrived at the nest box as shown here. An hour later, the Missus came along with him at that time he entered the nest box, then he came back out and allowed his mate to go inside while he stands guard. It's said that male BB doesn't actively build the nest? He seems to be guarding his mate pretty carefully IMO. Interesting bird's behavior.
Also, it's currious enough. Papa Blue trespasses the WBNH's house this morning. One of the Nuthatches (likely the male) strolling down toward the BB so he gave up his attempt. Whew!
The lighting wasn't in my favor. But, I think these maybe, just maybe the 3 juvie Brown Thrashers that still hanging near the nest.
Today could be the day the couple finally settling down? I'm hoping that it would. They have spent alot of time around the nest box this morning.
Very cute! Fingers crossed :-)
Have you asked Dave how long the birds actually check it out and claim it before they start building?
No I haven't Marna, but I should shoot a dmail to Dave, as well as Reddirtretiree.
Likes clock works, Papa BB will arrive early every morning to check out the nest box. Soon later the Missus came to join him. Too early in the morning! Here is one grumpy looking Pa.
Look who else are searching for a nesting spot in the garden? One of our fellow birders from DG told me that these two were searching for a nesting spot in years past. Now I know ... the rest of the story. lol.
Likes clock works, Papa BB will arrive early every morning to check out the nest box. Soon later the Missus came to join him. Too early in the morning! Here is one grumpy looking Pa.
LEW, I've been watching the Eastern Blue Birds behaviors just these past weeks. They're indeed strong willed and will defend for their place in the garden -- so to speak. I've noticed too, they just sit up high on the branches and watch Doves strutting by the area without any care. Thanks goodness I don't have any problem with HS. They seem to congergate around shopping center likes nursery and the box stores in town and not out here in the country. I'm keeping my finger crossed. Best of luck with your nest boxes. I've 3 other nest box hung this year, but no one seem to have taken an interest in those.
I also took noticed, when the Mallards were exploring the back yard. They were just below the Carolina Chickadees' nest box. Needless to say, they were none-so happy about that. I couldn't get a pix (because the lighting was reflecting from the glass window) of the cute Dees that was in a teasy. lol
Lily, we live 10 miles from town but for some reason we have lots of HS. We've had 2 to 3 pair of EBB here for a long time. Enjoy watching them but none have able to win a box yet. I have made 2 more boxs, I'm going to try and locate them where they have a better chance getting one.
Its great you can watch yours with no problems. Keep pixs coming very nice to be able see someone else having good luck with theirs.
LEW
I have a question. I'm not a bird watcher but I do have a couple of pair of Cardinals that come back every year & nest in our back yard. However this year, a female Cardinal has been pecking & flying into my glass sliding door. We have mirrored tint & she's never come this close to the house. She does this everyday for 2 weeks now, from morning to evening. Now she has started pecking at a side window of our house & on the windshield of my SUV. We put a birdhouse for her in a tree in our backyard but I think she must already have a nest somewhere. Should I put her a bird feeder & bird bath in my yard? It was cute at first but it's annoying now. I occasionally put out bread crumbs for her & put a big bowl of water out for her. The male only comes around when there is food otherwise he stays away from the house. Any suggestions? I have Video of her doing this but don't know if I can post it here.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MVwXEo22HM
Oooh, poor baby! She may see her shadow and thinks there is competition? Pelle, have you any suggestion. Hang a drape over the window to hide the reflection maybe? My Cardinals built nest with straws and for several years now have had no problem.
Thanks Lily_love, I do keep the window shade closed & the glass sliding door has a dark curtain but she starts pecking at 6:30 in the morning til 7:30 in the evening. Even with the shades & curtains closed. I do have that reflective film but never had problems til now. Pelle did give me some good tips that I'm going to try out before she hurts herself.
Well she's clearly not accidentally flying in, so not sure that the reflective decals would work. If it were me, I'd cover the windows for a few days from the outside. Put up some cloth, paper, board, etc. Maybe she'll move on. Lots of birds seem to do this in mirrors and windows.
M&T, I hope you soon find a solution for your Cardinal. I've a pair that chosen my bamboo grove to the front for a nesting. Today I saw the female sitting in the nest.
Other update, the blue birds and N. Flickers apparently lost interest in the prospective nesting places. I haven't seen them around for the last 3 days. The WBNHs are faithfully attending their nest. Occassionally I see the couple will come to the feeder and feed one another -- such cute behavior.
Incubating time! :)
Awww, look at her. So cozy.
Well it's year three for my Chickadees. They've built nest two years in a row, but no babies. Looks like they are interested again.
and…
Awww, your chickadee is the cutest!!! I love that nest box. Soooo chickadeeeedeeeedeeee. lol Thanks Mrs. Ed. for sharing those pics.
My pleasure. I feel so sad for this couple, they work so hard to build the nest and then no eggs. I guess that's better than losing them to a house wren, but still…
Yes, I remember you've shared with us their experience with the HW once. Hopefully they'll have success this year. By the way, I'd love to see your thread again.
Here you go…
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1006514/
Thank you Marna, I'm sipping coffee and enjoy your Dee's journey once again. :))
This message was edited Apr 1, 2011 7:04 AM
I was amazed at those littles ones, you've told the story so nicely. May the Dees have more success this year. In my garden. My Carolina Wrens apparently didn't chose to return to the gourd nest box. But it has me trained well! The chatter box keep coming to the feeder where I put out mealworms. So I caved in. lol. It must have been the papa since after his light meal. He took a beakful of mealworms and flew off into the garden. So there are hungry mouths to feed? I'm excited for my C. Wrens!
Glad you enjoyed it. The second year went much the same as the first. I really thought that the house wren was going to get a mate last year, but did not. The nest was so complete and seemed like there were two around.
The carolina wrens that I had a few times through the winter don't seem to be around. Pity, I was hoping they'd nest here too.
Currently besides the Cardinal, the WBNHs are also sitting on their eggs. I'm so glad that WBNHs are quite tame, they don't seem to be concerned when I'm out and work in the garden near them.
