Bird Nesting 2016

Oooh...beautiful shots!
If the WBNHs are there all the time maybe they have eggs already.

I've never seen the Sandhill Cranes on the ground. Each Spring and Autumn they come over in waves...flock after flock after flock. For years I would hear their distinct loud "Purring" sound, but they were too high up to see well. One year I took some pictures and blew them up really large. They were very grainy, terrible pics, but I was able to see their long legs and long wings which told me they were some kind of crane or egret.

I looked them up on "All About Birds" and listened to sounds from every bird in that category. That's how I figured it out.

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Sandhill_Crane/id

Thank NAN for the webpage. I think you may be right that the WBNHs maybe sitting on eggs at present. Oh joy!

Just a little while ago, our BBs couple arrived for their first meal of the day. Blue - Eyes arrived first, then his mate Bright - Eyes, guess what I saw next? He stood guard allowing her to get to the feeder first, and then what happened next, he came to the feeder and joined her, but instead of feeding himself, this is what I found! How sweet is that?

Oh wow what a great catch! Your timing was amazing. I have been trying to catch male Cardinals feeding their mates for years, but it always happens so fast.

It was lucky, later in the day I saw Chickadees and WBNHs feeding each other. Also an Eastern Tigerswallowtail. :)

My poor Chickadees had a time today with the BBs. Both the male and female BBs appeared to have agreed on the house, so after they have their dinner this evening. They both team up; looked at other nest box in the garden, then decided to chase the Dees away.

Our BBs pair, Bright Eyes & her beau Blue Eyes were just as active as they were yesterday evening on choosing their nesting site. The momma BBs was noticed to flex to 'muscles' and chase off the Chickadees, even the Cardinals. They checked out other nest boxes, and even took a peak into the WBNH's nest box. Hummmm!

Look at who is back on the pier. I think this may be the very Mallard drake that once raised his chicks two years in a row, then he lost his mate one season. Then he brought home another Mrs. But their nesting failed. Last couple of years we missed out on observing Mallards nesting. Maybe this year, it will be different?

A day before yesterday, when the BBs couple was in a frenzy picked and chose -- but decided on no permanent nest. A flock of House finches was gathering around them as if they were SHAMING them for being bullies toward the poor Chickadees.

Yesterday turned out they were quiet. The BBs came to eat at the meallies feeder as usual, but chased no ones.

Today the BBs came and went, and again they didn't bother other birds. And I was so excited for the Dees. This one returned to claim its sweet home. :)

Amazing you already have BF!
Poor little Dees. I sure hope they find a safe place to have their babies. Those are some aggressive BBs.

That's great that the Mallards came back.

Oooh...I just spotted your last pic of the Dee. How sweet. Hopefully the BBs will leave them alone this time.

Lovin' all your pics!

NAN, I saw another Eastern Swallowtail just a little while ago, thus far I saw at least 5 or six of them. Sulphurs too they hang around quite a lot. You see everything is budding out and out right in full blooms down here.

1) My sweet WBNHs family still very cozy at their nest.
2) Wisteria budding out among other flowers.
3) Flowering Quince in container. Dwarf Crepe Myrtle budding out. (white pot).
4) Most of my "Northern friends" American Coots has left, except this one.
5) Hah, remember the nest box we put up to attract Woodpeckers? Here it has a taker but the tenant doesn't resemble any of the Woodpeckers LOL.

This message was edited Apr 9, 2016 3:26 PM

Lovely flowers! Our Crocuses are increasing in numbers and the buds on some of the Daffodils are getting fatter, but that's about it.

I won't see any BFs for quite a while.
Maybe your Coot thinks he's a Mallard?

So a Starling has set up house in your WP nest box? That's a shame. Oh well, the WPs will find a hole in a tree somewhere or make their own.

Some of our Goldfinches are just starting to change into their spring colors, but it will be a slow process.

Thanks NAN for your reply. I'm temporarily without Internet access. Will post more when I get reconnect.

texomapest90, welcome to the thread. Do you mean building nest boxes for the birds?

News on the nesting activity; my Chickadees' nest has eggs! Yes, the parent birds patience paid off. The Bluebirds gave up and went else where, the Dees made their homestead.

For a few days I didn't see the Starlings, but this morning I once again saw one as it exits the nest box. No news on the Tree Swallows.

Oh wow...YAY! Congrats little Chickadees! They may be tiny, but they're tough. :o)

Ive been monitoring my birds nests, not much news, until today. I just noticed one of the Tufted Titmice checking out this Blue Bird's old nesting site. The BBs have abandoned the site for the last couple of years. Though, 2 of them, a pair 'Blue Eyes' and his mate 'Bright Eyes' come to their fav. feeder daily, but they haven't approved any nest box yet....

Pictures are those of the Titmouse, butterfly on viburnum, and oh yes. My first sighting of Hummingbird on our honeysuckle flowers. First sighting was back on April 1st.

1. Beautiful Spring flower; Kwansan cherry blossoms
2. Tufted Titmouse at the feeder
3. Clematis in bloom
4. Blue Eyes and his mate Bright eyes, the Eastern Blue Birds at their favorite feeder
5. 'Empress' clematis flowers

Beautiful pics, Kim! I can't believe all the blooms you have...and the colors are fantastic!

Looks like your nesting is really going, too. It's hard to believe you have hummers already...I'm so jealous.

I checked the migration map again this morning at hummingbirds.net and they're already in southern Illinois. Even so, we rarely see any before early May. I'll put out at least one feeder in about a week, though, just in case an early one shows up.

Had to get started some time. I was in the yard picking up branches and twigs that have blown out of the trees over the past few days and I stopped by the BB house to see if there was any activity. I had noticed a pair flying around the neighborhood but they never settled into my house. To my surprise there was a BB female on the nest. I checked on Thursday and saw 4 eggs. Today there are 5 eggs. Soooo.. we should have a hatch around April 21. After our disaster last year I am hoping for a success on this brood. It is actually the earliest that any of our BB's have started their broods. Will try to get a photo or two when the weather warms up - expecting 29 this evening.

Wow, congrats bluebirdsnbells! How exciting for you. Yes, please post some pics if you get a chance.

Welcome back David, I am looking forward to seeing your BBS pics. NAN, everything is greening up down here. Very little hint of winter left.

Haha...we had snow last night, Kim. :o)
It is trying to green up, though and I have some bulbs blooming, but we've had snow several times in the last week. Fortunately the daytime temps get warm enough that the snow melts again during the day.

Our spring migrants keep showing up. Yesterday the Chipping Sparrows got here and today the Purple Finches arrived.

Also some of the birds are starting to pair up.

Great pics. We rarely see purple Finches down here. The second pic is that of a female pf? I think I saw a Chipping Sparrow with nesting material in its beak the other day, wasn't quick enough for photo opp.

I woke up this morning with some exciting sights in the garden. Barn Swallows and Tree Swallows meeting on the trellis, White-breasted Nuthatches busy at its 'home' site.

Just missed the female that was on the hook with the male. This morning is cool and dreary. I hope to get to the box today to get a quick photo of the nest.

He's so bright and beautiful if I may say. Hope temp. Warm up soon Dave.

What a cool shot of the Barn Swallows and Tree Swallows together. Mr. White-breasted Nuthatch appears to be gathering more materials for his Lady's nest.

What beautiful Tulips, Daffodils and other blooms!

Yes, that is a female Purple Finch. They look completely different than the males, but I still think they're beautiful.

Dave, that really is a handsome male Bluebird. Mrs. Bluebird is a lucky girl!

Had a nice opportunity to look at the nest today. Here are the 5 eggs.

Woohooo! Congrats Dave.

Oh wow, they all look so perfect...Congrats to you and the "family-to-be"!

1. My Goldfinches left me the last several weeks, then one single visit the other day.
2. Moma blue bird.
3. WBNH busy at the nest.
4. Red-bellied woodpecker visit. The Red-headed visits as well but I haven't spotted where they're nesting.

Sweet pics Kim!
Goldfinches tend to wander about. It's kind of their nature. We always have them and, often, in very large numbers, but occasionally it will thin way down for awhile. Also when there are more natural seeds available you might see them less since that's always their first choice.

You're lucky to see Red-heads. We see them on occasion, but they don't stay long. Our regulars are the Downy, Red-bellied and Hairy and they live here all year.

Awww, my Chickadee's eggs hatched. But I found only 2 chicks in the nest. I sent out more mealworms to various feeder, hopefully to help the parent Chicks supporting their young.

Wooowooo, I discovered 2nd Chickadees nest box. They elected the nest box that the Blue Birds abandoned year before last. The inside of the nest looks to be completed. No eggs yet.

Good find. Waiting on the eggs.

I will be watching, but those Chickadees are very stealth. They come and go very discreetly. :) I also saw a couple of Canadian Geese families this morning.

The Geese and their goslings.

Happy Chick day. We have a hatch. 4 of the 5 eggs have hatched but the photo is not that great. I was in a hurry as the mama bird was dive bombing me. More later.