Birds Nesting & Activities in the Garden, vol. 7

Thanks, oh guess who just arrived? I am Looking forward to seeing the Mallards returning to their nesting site; my flower pot as they did last year.

quack!!!

Lucy and Ricky (IL) were nest building this weekend. This will be the fourth nesting, but I'm not hopeful for eggs unless one of them happens to NOT be Lucy or Ricky.

Congrats! Let's hope that indeed is the couple. And fingers crossed to see the future babies.

The sweetest experience one wanna have is seeing Moma Blue comes to feed, while Papa is guarding against the bully Mockers early in the morning hours.

Aw Kim...that last pic of the Blues is just adorable!! You are really seeing action with all your birds..looking forward to little ones soon.

Marna...I sure hope this couple lays some eggs this year. How disappointing this must be for them and you.

The Chickadees have built a nest in the box we put up in the upper tree line and the first Purple Martin showed up today on the gourd rack! Yippee!! The Blues have finished
nest building but no eggs yet. The House Sparrows are being a real pain so I hope that is not keeping them away.

There are action galore that's for sure Rose. I'm so ready to see babies, and more babies. I'm so blessed given all these opportunity to see beauty in nature as I would never have seen before... Marna, how is your detective work turn out thus far on your Titmouse' nesting activity and location? I saw mine, one of them just entered this nest box while I was outdoor gardening today. I'm beside myself, well that is a repeated "beside myself" moment since the first one was yesterday when I saw my first hummingbird on the honeysuckle vines. lol

This message was edited Mar 27, 2012 11:21 AM

Oh my oh my!!! Now I saw the very same Titmouse bringing nesting materials-- what appear to be chunks of tree bark into the "house". Lighting at this hour won't allow for a good clear pix and my skill -- or lack there of -- photography. But one can see its image zooming back into the direction of the house.

The same bird (Titmouse) returning to the proximity where it collected tree bark, also checking out that funny human with the camera in her hands.

Finally, I've got a not so good picture of the little darling peeking through the houses' entrance!!! I gave up being outdoor, for the bird was diving right at me. I think I was stressing it out. Picture was taken inside a dirty window. :((

Aw...adorable!

Wow, look at all the families you are going to have. I have not completed my investigations, Kim. It is a nuthatch, not a titmouse. I think it is very likely that I will have cardinals in the sweet autumn clematis on the fence this year. I know it is the female that builds, but I have had a male very interested!

Yes Marna, things are heating up and sizzling. The concern of the day in the garden is predators. I saw a HOSP briefly in the garden this morning. It stopped by to check out the gourd houses, then flew near our Nuthatches' nest box. Squirrels too are such pests! Here is a photo of the Nuthatches couple on alert. Though, I don't know for sure it was aroused by the HOSP or the squirrel.

Look closely and see if you can differentiate the male from the female? By their antics, I gathered the top one is the male, and his mate's below?

Sweet Nuthatch Lily!

Thanks Pelle, and all those who enjoy my birds as I do here. Good news! I believe the Nuthatches may have little mouths to feed? I saw the Moma brought home an earthworm into the nest this morning, then the Papa follows behind her with some smaller insect-like in his beak. I couldn't identify the two birds (Moma & Papa) by sight. But by sound ; I noticed that the Papa makes a nasally noise when he approaches the entrance then Moma will peek out to receive the meal. Whereas the Moma just quietly comes and goes with her tasks.

At present Moma and Papa are seen taking turn to bring home meals, so I assumed there are little ones awaiting inside? I'm so thrilled!

This message was edited Apr 1, 2012 10:19 AM

Another good news. I am not certain one can see from the photo provided. But there is an indentation roughly 5-6" deep within this flower container -- made by my Mallards getting ready to start their family once again this Spring!!! This will be their second year having chosen this spot to raise their youngs. Who can ask for more? I'll have little babies -- everywhere I turn around the garden! What's joy!!!

Editted to add this link : http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/fp.php?pid=8613044

Wow, if the Mallards begin their nest. It's way too early this Spring. Last year I didn't see the first egg laid until June 5th. Wow!

This message was edited Apr 1, 2012 11:01 AM

At the meantime Alabama Ricky and Lucy are regularly seen at their hot-peppers home.

Few Canadian Geese have chosen to stay down here in the South to raise their young. I think this one has decided to call our area home for the time being.

The Redheaded Woodpecker in years past has nested nearby. Its home was taken down by storm, so I don't know where is their nest this year. However, it's a delight that these woodpeckers remembered to come for the meals here. Hope this spring they will bring their youngsters here to train them hunt for themselves when the little ones fledge, as they did in years past.

Well it's a hot spot at your place, Kim!!

I have not found the nuthatch nest yet, but I'm excited that I'll likely get to see the babies at the feeders. I had cardinals collecting old hydrangea flower twigs and flying to the spruce trees next door. That made be happy because I think it is a nice safe place.

Congrats on seeing your Cardinals gearing up for the nesting season, Marna. Those lovely birds will "steal" my cherry blossoms too. Not sure if they eat them or use them for nesting material? Though, I've seen Cedar Waxwing eating apple blossoms this spring. Speaking of nuthatches. Through the four seasons, I've seen many of them. But come winter when a pair settled down for roosting then proceed to nesting. Surprisingly I only see THAT one pair, and the rest of them have moved else where. In regard to Cardinals, so far because DH has thinned out our bamboos grove, (where the Cardinals chose to nest in years past) there is no nesting built. I think they maybe reluctant to build because of safety issues?

Also, the Wrens have returned to the garage and try to rebuilt there. I've been careful to keep the garage doors closed to deter them from a repeated drama that occurred last year...what's a heartache that was!

yah, the heartache of hosting, I know it all too well.

I should have said that the cardinals were taking the old dead blossoms off the hydrangea. They didn't want the dried flowers as much as the twigs to which they were attached. I should go out and cut a bunch off. This morning I saw her trying to rip off some plastic from a stray bag. She gave up and went for more twigs. I have to say that this is the first time I have seen the males assisting in material gathering. I'd love to be able to see what is going on there.

...

Little bit later, his partner was joining him.

1st thing in the morning, Papa Mallard was seen by our pier.

Moma is still "at home" in this flower pot. As I walked closer to where she's. Her mate was calling out as if to alert her of my present.

I didn't want to frighten the couple, so I zoomed in with my little hand held Cannon's lens. And there she was! What's a joy!!! I've a feeling today is going to be a nice day. ^_^

Have a great day everyone.

Fantastic, Kim. They will bring you a lot of joy.

Wow Kim, your little mama is beautiful in the pot. What an honor to have your pretty blooms chosen for this nest.

Awww. little peepers!!!!!

Margaret, yes they sure bring so much joy. Duc, I'm so pleased they're not fearful of me being close. And Marna, they are little peepers alright. One can't help but notice the Moma just blends in with the surrounding. And ....... wooohoooo! She laid her first egg today! She carefully covered the precious "easter egg" with oak leaves that she must have gathered in the garden, look!

Ah, we've a wandering baby Dove. Found the babe in my flower pot in the front yard. Minutes later the parent Doves must have found it and lead the baby to safety.

awww

Look what I found in my grandson's bird house today! I was wondering where the BB's went this year.

How wonderful, congrats to you and yours Bruce. I've been busy and away from the garden. In the morning I had just enough time to feed my birds, then return home after dark. So no news to share. So everyone, it's your turn to shine. Let's see your birds in the garden.

These Purple Martins are nesting as well, though they're not in the garden, but they're in a nearby dam.

Awww, I just now saw the Mallards couple flew in. So apparently they roosted somewhere nearby, then they came to the nesting area early in the morning! Happy Easter everyone.

Two morning ago, I discovered the baby dove was a full fledgling. It was seen again in the driveway. I shoooed it away from trafic line. It complied and flew up onto the roof. ^_^

The Momma Mallard this morning. Happy Easter/Passover to each and everyone.

Happy Easter to you, too, Kim. Love that sweet mallard.

He's only been here for a few days and already is cleaning out last year's nest box.