Birds Nesting & Activities in The Garden 2011 vol. #4

The turtle comes right on up ....

However, the little thing didn't stay long a visit. Grackles came to check it out.

Nice ones Lily!

Remember the Northern Cardinals nesting in early season? Here, a male N. Cardinal is initiating a new nest once again in the bamboos grove in the side yard. This must be their 3rd clutch, for there was a period of absent from the area, now they're returning to build a new nest.

Ooops, I walked by the site rather quickly (I didn't want to disturb the nest builder). But that could be the female? Do males build nests? Pelle?

Here are a couple Canadian Geese with two of their youngs passing through the garden. The goslings are big, almost as big as their parents already. I assume this could be the first brood of the season.

For some reason, the mallards were absence all day yesterday. That got me worried -- just like a brand new grandma. lol This morning I found her sitting on her nest. I've not yet seen the 4th egg. But today is the fifth day. I can't wait to peek into the nest to see how many egg there are. But I kind off refrained myself when the mama is nearby. A beautiful view of having my ducky back.

More Canadian Geese patrolling the yard in early morning.

Well, happy day. Not only my Mallards family is doing okay. Some how, the mama has delivered the last two eggs without me coaching her. lol We now have FIVE. She would sit in her nest while I worked out in the garden. Her beau will park down the point looking out for her. Even ducks need a vacation every now and then. I need to loosen up. lol Wary grandmother, or duckmother MrkII. lol.

Hi Lily, Nice pics!

The female Northern Cardinal builds the nest while the male keeps a close eye out.

http://www.wild-bird-watching.com/Cardinal.html

I don't know what is going on in this box. I see both of them out of the box at the same time, so it does not appear that they are sitting on eggs. But clearly, this is the box for them.

Pelle, many, many thanks. That's a wonderful site for someone to learn more about N. Cardinals and their behaviors. I appreciate you shared with me and others who maybe interested. I just returned from some distance from the bamboos groove, where the nest is being built. Wouldn't you know it. The male is right behind his mate for "moral support" if not actually building the house himself. lol. He flew behind her while she's hard at work. Pardon my anthropologizing our beloved birds. But I'm soooo enjoyed these birds in the garden.

Marna, is that a wren? Do you think they roost there at night or when the weather is wet out there? My Carolina Wren didn't rebuild their nest at the gourd I hung out for them. I also had another wooden house in front of the garden, but they were not interested this year. Many of them have came to the suet feeder still. They seem to prefer the suet over seeds.

Oh, the White Breasted Nuthatches--after the HOSP's experience. None has shown the same house any more interest. I checked on it infrequently. Make sure the HOSP didn't take resident there.

We must have a cardinal nest nearby. the female flits around our yard while the male calls from several trees in the garden. I think the nest is in a conifer next door.

Yes, that's a house wren. This is the first year I've had a mated pair. The past two years it's just been the one male de-throning the chickadees. I haven't actually seen them taking nesting materials into this box, but I DID see something inside it a couple of weeks ago. This box was mounted to the side of the garage when we moved here and it is not something that I can monitor. But they are always in and out and on top of it.So I think I'll have babies this year… I hope.

And then, there are FIVE!

Marna, I hope the pair will make some babies, soon. With mine, duckmother from Arkansas told me to be ready with my camera on. I may have enough time to order a birdcam? I don't want to miss when the babies jump into the water one by one. That's going to be an awesome movies!

Just wanted to let everyone know we have BB babies HOSP is not around mom and pop BB doing great.

LEW

Such good news, LEW, thanks. I'll catch up later after supper.

Great, espcially no house sparrows. They seem to be on the decline in England. All moved here?

Well, HOSP has a way of finding us. For years I didn't know we've them in the garden but this spring they announced their presence. LEW, best of luck with your BBs. Due to thunderstorm yesterday I couldn't return.

Well folks, today is the 7th day since the 1st Mallard's egg was laid. Yesterday, the nest was covered with leaves when the mother duck vacated the site. I didn't want disturb their nest. This morning, while I was watching the Eastern Kingbird hunting for insects. I saw the Mallard pair arrival from the corner of the Lake where they roosted last night?

Though the two arrived together. I was lucky enough to catch one in flight. (I was shooting pix of the kingbird).

One tranquil view of the beautiful morning.

I can't HEAR them, but I do believe I must have some babies!

Oh joy! I'm looking forward to see the chicks.

Wonderful, Mrs Ed.

Mrs. Ed. I'm looking forward to see more of your Wrens family. I've been rather busy thus couldn't post much. Yesterday marked the 8th day (? 8 eggs) since the 1st egg was laid. It was also the 1st day the Mallard mama sat on the nest continously for extended time. The same for today. I think the incubation is initiated? It has been a chores to keep my pets out of the backyard to safe guard the duck's nest.

Indeed there are 8 eggs. Will share more update at a later time. :))

oooo I love baby ducks!

Marna, the day was really hot. I was out there early in the morning. Then again late in the evening to care for my garden. It was long after sunset, and the Mama duck was still sitting on the nest. I think the active incubation is going on. I'm so thrilled, I'm going to be duckgrandma soon. lol.

I don't think she'll be moving for anything! Of course, there are others who know more, but once there was a duck that made a nest in one of the plantings in the parking lot where I worked. It was under spreading cotoneaster. Every morning and every night, she was there. I got worried that she was not eating or drinking, so I put a little cup of water out and some food. She didn't even touch it. One Monday I came to work and she and the ducklings were gone! I was so happy they hatched on the weekend.

Yes, it was my concern. I know other birds such as blue birds and cardinals do bring goodies back to feed the females sitting on the nests. I don't think male ducks do that do they? I hope Kim would chime in if she's watching our thread. I asked the local co-op what to feed the ducks, and they said to give them cracked corns. I'll see about getting some ducks feed tomorrow. Oooh but you did say that the duck just sat and sat? hmmm, 28 days is a loooong time for fasting.

Mallard mama sitting on the nest;

Don't have a lot of experience with wild ducks, but with our domestic ones, the mamas do leave the nest briefly to eat and such. Our ducks have always been terrible mamas, and end up losing about 1/2 of the babies it seems. Apparently there are all kinds of critters here that like duckling :-( And they always seem to lose some downstream too, going thru the culverts and such :-( They are just the cutest little things! Can't wait to see the pictures of the new babies!

Boy she just has the perfect little spot, doesn't she. Maybe when you get the bird cam, you can investigate whether she ever leaves.

I don't know what to feed adult ducks. I fed the duckling chick food. But he would also eat fish food and some small stuff in the pond that I couldn't see. And then, he would help me weed and eat some earthworms. it was very cute, and I felt like a duck mother too!

skellogg, welcome and thanks for sharing some info. What type of domesticated ducks have you got? Pekins? There are two pairs in our area lake, and they're very territorial and agressive toward the Mallards during the nesting season. For the reason of the Pekins' problem, Marna I don't want to invite the Pekins back (with giving out food) to pose thread for the 'sitting duck'.

It was a joy this early morning. Yesterday I didn't see the drake around our area, but the lonely mama mallard sitting on the eggs. Barely at sunrise today, the couple were seen in front of the nest this morning. Marna, I'm going to order the birdcam, hope it will be delivered in time for the ducklings arrival.

awesome Kim!

I just saw a house wren attacking a squirrel. It was very much like MargaretK's willie wagtails. So I definitely have babies. I'll have to set up the bird camera on them

Meanwhile, the Dees are still in their house, but no eggs.

Ha, the Wrens are some fierce tinsy littly birds. I saw Carolina Wrens too attacking chipmonks before. They're so brave. lol. Caught this gals with nesting material in her beak this morning.

I just set up the camera and heard little peeps in the house. Yay!


I was sooo hoping that the carolina wrens that were here in February would have stayed to nest!

Yippieeeeee! Little ones. I saw many Dees and Wrens in the garden but have no idea where their nesting are. They're smart to nest somewhere safe. It's a treat to see them around. Currently I've this big bird to care for. DH said she's a 'blank page'. She's as wild as a deer. Not even house trained and I've to watch her like a hawk so she won't get into mischieves.

awww. cute!

I wonder now, if the Dees will have eggs since they have not been evicted yet by the house wrens

Thanks for the welcome! We've had several different kinds of ducks over the years. Muscovy, Pekin, Rouen, Ancona, and probably several others that have escaped me. The muscovies are very good parents, but not the Rouens, lol! As a matter of fact, I think the Rouens even forget where they lay their eggs and where their nests are! Definately would not want them for babysitters, lol! We usually have a pair or 2 of Canadian honkers nesting here as well, but this year they were at the neighbor's instead. They pretty much eat any kind of grain, like cracked corn, and such, and they love to eat bugs! Great way of eliminating slugs, lol!

How neat to have all those different ducks, skellogg. I am familiar with 'seeing' the Pekin and muscovy, but others which are new to me. That's too funny about the Rouen forget where they laid their eggs, I learnt that Pekins too aren't too keen of taking care of their own either. But those Canadian 'honkers' are great parents from what I've observed them. They even form a 'community' to raise their youngs for I often saw them travel in group of many pairs of parents and goslings all together.

My Mallard hen has had a rough day. She's had a scare from my new puppy, she's gotten to the nesting site before I could restrain her. Bad bad dog! Then to add on the stress this pair of Pekins chased her down the corner of the point! But to my relief, she was able to escape the Pekins and returned to her nesting without the prepertrators finding out of her nest.

This message was edited Jun 15, 2011 1:32 PM