Bird Nestings & Activities in The Gardens 2011 Vol. #3

Oh how could I forget about my sweet Carolina Dees? They too are guarding their nest. They chirp loudly whenever I work around their 'home'.

Hubby and I removed the netting on the watergarden this weekend. Hopefully this will attract the birds to come a visit the area? Marna, you're the source of inspiration. Although we've built the pond quite a few years back. I had no idea to look for birds at the stream.

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The upper stream coming down to the pond.

A bridge over the water.

A different view of the bridge;

A male Housefinch ... luckily he was just stopping by for a brief pause. And showed no intention to bother the Nuthatch'es family.

I love your arched bridge, Lily..

Thank you, one thing with the bridge I wished we've made it differently is that its arch is so steep. It's kind of hazardous and sleepery later in the season. Especially in the winter.

Occassionally I'll see the nesting pair White-breasted Nuthatches arriving at the feeder--at the same time. Usually the male will make repeated run from the feeder back to nest box bringing food to his mate.

Oh wow LL, that stream is awesome. The birds will LOVE it I'm sure. You'll have to camp out there to see who shows up. Alas, I believe my bird cam is a gonner after falling in the stream. So I can't monitor activity there.

But anyway, this is about nesting.

I bought a new box for the nuthatches. Now I just need to find the nuthatch hole reducer I purchased so that I can put up the box. and LL you're the inspiration for that! ha.

Here's a starling who thinks that its nest should be aromatic. That's Lavender in the beak!

Awww, best of lucks with the Nuthatches nesting Marna. I'm so sorry about the mishap on the bird Cam.

Ah well, learned a lesson. Don't set up so close to the stream. lol.

Guys, I was busy with my gardening projects. I've to take a break and remark on my finding. For several years now, I proudly claimed that I don't have HOSP in the garden. Well the bad karma has creeped up into the garden. I saw a male HOSP landed in my shrub matter of few feet away from me. I shooooed the intruder off, but this is my FIRST time seeing a HOSP in the garden. Sniff sniff*

This message was edited Apr 18, 2011 11:38 AM

Wouldn't you know it. I saw my first brood of Mallard babies of the season today in the lake with their mother. Two Pekin Ducks has to spoil the serenity of the scenery for the moment. But, thankfully they turned out okay in the end.


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I have babies!!! I meant fuzzy balls. lol. This morning I saw Mama Cardinal came back to the nest with food on her beak. Guess what? I saw two fuzzy balls within the nest. No clear pix though;

Also, I believe I've White-breasted Nuthatches fledglings. I captured some image on the video. I'll try to upload some on utube to confirm my observation. The little ones were on tree tops. The calls were distinct that of WBNHs. Though, I still see the WBNHs parents coming in and out of the nest box as usual.

Uh oh! Someone else is taking an interest to nest box!

My Carolina Wren was really interested in this one. lol

I'm sure the Nuthatch will give him the "No Vacancy" sign.

I hate to even utter these words but I believe we lost one of our Chickadee pair during a strong storm that came through here the other night. The surviving mate keeps checking the nest box and now seems to be trying to get another chickadee interested.

An American Robin pair has built a nest over top of our deck. The male is bringing food to the female who stays on the nest but she is very skittish when we walk out the door that is just a few feet away. We'll see if this works out or not. I'll keep you posted and see if I can't get a pic but it's at a weird angle.

Here are a few pics. Please excuse me but I had to shoot through a double glass sliding door.

This is one of them bringing more nesting material in.

At the nest.

awww, well that's a nice safe place for her! Not like the pair that built so close to the ground in my lilac last year.

LL, I read that carolina wrens sometimes prefer just a hanging basket to nest in. Maybe you can put one nearby!

Awww, how sweet is that Robin! I love to see them in action -- busy as bees building their homes. Marna, I've hanging basket all around. Some are hung along with the feeders, maybe I need to space them out more...

I've babies! Cardinal babies, if I haven't said so. lol. Look how ugly--it's cute. lol.

Like Pelle has said, that the Nuthatch will give him (the Wren) the "No vacancy sign". Didn't the Nuthatch do though! The next moment all I saw was an orangy, rusty flashes and grayish/white clouds clashes. Then the Wren was gone. It must have been the papa Nuthatch, for the moma was still inside peaks through the doorway;

Back to the Cardinals; Papa Cardinal who was on the cherry tree near by, chirping all the while when I was standing close to the nest for the photo opt. He wasn't all too happy I was there.

Pelle, I over looked...sorry you've lost the Chickadee during stormy weather. It was that big system that we felt down here last week I remember. Now there is another one (smaller) down here. sigh!

Even more sad news, I believe my Bluebirds abandoned their nest. I was worried yesterday when Poppa showed marginal interest in mealworms, and then took nothing to the nesting box. This morning I opened the nest box and found 3 dead babies. No obvious indications of attack. Construction has been going on on the lot next door, which culminated in building a fence about 5 feet from the nest box. Very bad timing.

gazergirl, how sad a news! Natural and environmental manaces upon these vulnerable babies in the season of growth. I'm so sorry of the loss. I'm doing my part such as keeping my pet dogs indoor when I'm not around so they won't be a source of menace for the little birds outdoor.

Surveying the garden when the rain tappered down this morning. The Cardinal baby is seen in the nest. Papa and mama stake out nearby as usual. One indication. I do believe the Nuthatches brood, 1st brood has fledged. My video I took yesterday confirmed that those indeeded were Nuthatches on the tree-top. Also, once again they were there this morning too singing singing with their nasally monotone nodes (that the only way I can describe their song.) At the grains feeder, there are Housefinches galore! More juvenile arrived, some are still being fed by papas.

I think this is an adult WB Nuthatch hunting for insects at the base of the tree--yesterday evening. This morning, I don't see any activity at the nest box as I customarily had seen everyday since they built their nest.

I have 2 sets of House Finches that have fledged. I suspect my Chickadee has a brood that has fledged. And I finally found the nest of one of my Cardinal pairs. I spotted her flying up into the top of a tree with nesting material. Here she is with her tail showing above the nest.

I was also fortunate enough to go to a rookery near Madisonville, LA. Lots and lots of nesting Great Egrets with their cute white fuzzy babies.

Another bird who is looking for a lovely lavender smelling nest…

Gg, very nice! The rookery is amazing! Good lucks with the Cardinals. Marna, tehehehehe, they sure are into 'aromatherapy'. lol

Marna, do you think the Chickadees maybe interested in the basket too?

Here is a corner of my Rose arbor in front where the Brown Thrashers has a brood that fledged recently. The shrub that they used last year apparently was given up for some type of sparrows, either white throat S. or chipping S. I'm not certain. I afraid to investigate fearing that I may scare them off.
The Rose is climbing 'New Dawn'.

Mama Cardinal protesting my dogs presents too close to the nest. Oh, she doesn't like me there either. lol

Pretty funny LL. I have not read anything about the Chickadees preferring a basket.

Here is what Cornell reports:
"Singing one of the loudest songs per volume of bird, the Carolina Wren's "tea-kettle, tea-kettle, tea-kettle" is familiar across the Southeast. It is a common bird in urban areas, and is more likely to nest in a hanging plant than in a birdhouse."

But they go on to say:

"Nest a domed cup with a side entrance. Nest bulky and made of bark strips, dried grasses, dead leaves, hair, feathers, paper, plastic, or string. Placed in tree cavity, vine tangle, dense branches, or artificial site such as a mailbox, up to 10 feet above ground, rarely higher."

I also read they will nest anywhere and in odd places like a tennis shoe. LOL.

Ah they like to build nest in my garage too during the hot months of summer. lol. I made a point to remember to run them out of the garage for they could be trapped in there unintentionally.

oh yah, Rose said one was in her garage too!