From Left Field

Empty Nest Syndrome

The Tree Swallows fledged yesterday and today. I miss them terribly. For the past week, not 2 minutes would go by and there not be a little one peering out of the hole. They resembled their mother when she would guard the eggs during those first weeks. If you've never seen a Tree Swallow peering from her nest box, you should--they look like orca whales! It's amazing.

The bluebird fledglings left last week and I've yet to see them. I know that Mama and Papa have them in nearby trees because they come for mealworms a lot and take them into the trees. I hope that all 5 made it this time. We've had nice weather lately, so I'm fairly optimistic that I'll be seeing 5 new bluebirds soon. I'm also optimistically awaiting the first egg to be laid in their freshly completed nest. Yes, it's true. The bluebirds have already finished a new nest in their box and all it needs now are 5 little eggs.

We were privileged enough to witness a female Pileated feeding a fledgling last week. They were both on the suet feeder's pole. The female would eat some suet and then deposit it into her fledglings mouth.

It seems that we've hit a bit of a lull with little ones. The only type of bird I've seen begging is a Grackle. I think that second nests are being built and filled right now. In 3-4 weeks, the activity should pick up again.

Bird Status

Having gone out of town a couple of weeks ago, I haven't gotten back into my posting routine yet. I do want to report that there are 5 Tree Swallow nestlings and 5 Eastern Bluebird nestlings in the boxes. It appears that the bluebirds are about 3-4 days from leaving the box. I am tacking on another 4-5 days to the swallows first flight date.

I've seen begging behavior rewarded by a Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Chickadee, Northern Cardinal (the fledge was a Brown-headed Cowbird), Common Grackle, House Finch, Chipping Sparrow, and Song Sparrow. It seems that the world has erupted with new birds here! Not a day goes by that I don't see a little one.

I've only seen 2 fledges of the first clutch of the bluebirds. I think that 3 didn't make it, so I'm hoping that all 5 of this one are able to successfully make it through their first tough week outside the box. I have plenty of mealworms to help out.

We have had four new species in the yard lately, there was a Blue Grosbeak at the sunflower feeder and a Yellow-throated Warbler has been dining on banquet in the early evening this week. It is a beautifully colored bird and a joy to see on a now fairly regular basis. A pair of Grey Catbirds were sitting on the barbed-wire fence last week. And finally, I spied an Eastern Kingbird sitting on the garden fence last week.

Swallow Nest Contains an Egg

While the swallows were out hunting for insects, I darted out to their nest box with ladder in hand before they could come back and dive-bomb me. I discovered one tiny egg inside. It was about half the size of a bluebird egg and a pearly white color, so I nearly missed it among the white feathers. I'm concerned that they didn't build the nest high enough. I've heard many reports of swallow fledglings dying because they can't get out of the nest box. These cases usually occur with boxes that have smooth wood. Ours does not and I believe that it is rough enough for little feet to grab and hold as they climb out. Time will tell and I just have to trust that the birds' judgement is better than mine :)

I didn't check the bluebird box today because Papa saw me out there with the ladder and squared himself against my prying fingers by stationing himself on the top of the box. Sure, he would have flown off should I have approached, but I didn't want to disturb him. Plus, it was possible that Mama was in there laying another egg and I certainly didn't want to risk interrupting that process. I'll check the box tomorrow when I hope to find 4 or 5 eggs.

There hasn't been any other interesting bird sightings over the last couple of days save for a sole turkey pecking at cracked corn we put out for the blue jays. He or she looked quite small and I hope that they are not starving out there in the hollow. I don't think that they are since they know we have food here, but perhaps their numbers are getting too large for the fields to support this early in the season.

A New Egg on a New Nest and Other News

Well, our beloved bluebirds are at it again. They completed their nest yesterday and Mama laid her first egg of the second clutch this morning. This rapid reproduction is making my head swim! By comparison, the Tree Swallows are only about halfway done with their first nest.

As far as the little ones from the first clutch is concerned, I've still yet to see more than two at a time, so I still don't know how many of the five survived. I saw Papa ignore a feeding request from a fledge today, so he is more interested in providing for the next brood than the fledglings from the first.

We've been experiencing a heat wave with temperatures in the mid to upper 80s, so insects are plentiful. We still put out mealworms, but fewer than before. A male Downy Woodpecker collected 7-8 of them this morning, so I know that he was taking them to his little ones. Nearly all songbirds should be nesting now. Notable exceptions include American Goldfinches who wait until plants go to seed in late summer and Ruby-throated Hummingbirds who are still arriving and finding mates.

We've had several Rose-breasted Grosbeaks at the feeders this past week. Yesterday we spied two males at the seed tray.

I observed two Red-headed Woodpeckers feeding from the same suet feeder last week. Despite the similar markings of the two genders, they were clearly a mating pair. Red-headed Woodpeckers are extremely territorial and so they only way they would share a feeder, let alone a square mile, is if they are of the same family.

Blue Jays have been relatively abundant which is good news. They were hit very hard by the West Nile Virus and their numbers dwindled alarmingly. I put some crushed eggshells out for them today. They seek calcium while feeding their young and it is commonly believed that they destroy and eat other birds' eggs is for this reason. In an effort to provide as much peaceful non-competition for bird reproduction and health as possible, I feel it necessary to provide this needed mineral.

Ivory-billed Woodpecker Found!!

This is seriously the best news I've received so far this year. It has been confirmed that the Ivory-billed Woodpecker, a bird declared extinct some 60 years ago, is clearly not extinct and living in Arkansas.

There are more stories out there than what I can report here. If you go to this Google news link you'll see a list of stories or you can just search on your own for "ivory-billed woodpecker".

Harder to find is the report by the woman, Mary Scott, who actually found the bird last year. This NPR article explains why they didn't release the news to the general public until now.

Fledgling Has Fledged

The fledgling stayed in the nest box all day being coaxed out by his or her parents. At 4:00 it was still peering out. At 4:30 it was on the ground and Lucy was being literally dive-bombed by Papa. She was also being scolded by a set of Goldfinches and a couple House Finches along with Mama from the overhead wire. Poor Lu! She honestly had no idea what was going on and had this "I've been bad?" look on her face. Just as she saw the reason for the alarm and started heading toward the defenseless little bird, I opened the door and screamed "LU!" which immediately diverted her attention and she came happily inside. I noticed that she was not only covered in mud, but a terribly offensive odor. Bath time, I thought. But there was still the issue of the little one out in the yard.

I was able to keep Lucy contained in the laundry room while I headed out to check on the little one. Large dark storm clouds were approaching as were strong winds and I thought to myself that I needed to get the bird tucked in safely before the storm. I picked up the bird and noticed that not only was it a lot drier than before but also feistier. So, I thought, I'd try out the test that rehabbers do with birds (especially raptors) to see if they can fly. While the bird clings to your finger, and keeping that as your only point of contact, you gently move the bird up and down. The bird will do one of three things. It will just sit there meaning it's not anywhere close to flying. It will spread its wings to take hold of the air, but will not release meaning that it's close to being ready to fly. Or it will spread its wings, take hold of the air, release its grip and fly away. Whether or not it gets very far will depend on its condition as well. So, guess which of the three options happened. Number 3! She started off, flying low and I thought she'd touch down, but no, she started to climb and climb and flew as high as tree limbs. I thought s/he was about to alight on a limb, but s/he kept on going, across the road, dodging a fence and landing in the field. I ran to see if I could find the little one, but didn't, so I got back inside just in time before large raindrops started to fall. It was just bliss holding that bird and then seeing her fly free. I can't express how incredibly moving it was, an object of grace flying from ones hand, hope unleashed and all of that.

The rains have eased up a bit, so I am hopeful that the little one is not drenched and has made it into the shelter of limbs with his/her siblings. I saw Papa just now at the feeder grabbing worms, so they must all be together. In a couple of days, we'll know the final tally of fledged birds. I have hope that those wings are strong enough to keep her safe. I'll write more once there is more to write :)

Fledging Crisis

I just looked outside my laundry room and saw a bluebird fledgling sitting on some patio stones in the pouring rain. I almost didn't notice her (or him) before letting Lucy outside, but since I know that the fledges must be leaving the nest box soon, I've been extra cautious before opening the door.

I went outside to verify that it was a bluebird and sure enough it was. Even if I wouldn't have been able to tell by looking at the bird, Mama was tisking me to high heaven. I didn't move the bird, but I did put some mealworms next to it and returned indoors.

Both Mama and Papa became interested in the worms and protecting their little one. At one point, Papa gathered 5 in his mouth at once and, completely ignoring his little one's gapping mouth, took off with them. This indicated to me that the other 4 birds were somewhere in the trees.

Like I said, it's raining here. Has been since yesterday. The bird looked drowned. I looked like a very concerned and conflicted human being. With all the options presented to me, how was I going to choose the best thing to do?

I don't know if I've done the best thing, but here's what I did. I watched the bird a little while longer and determined that he or she doesn't have tail feather development that lends itself to flying. This was borne out by the fact that he or she gave it a few college tries and couldn't get off the ground. It was then that I decided to return it to the nestbox in clear view of Mama and Papa so they would know where it was. This I did, and in doing so discovered an empty box which supports my hypothesis that the other birds are in the trees somewhere. This 5th bird must be the runt of the litter so to speak and needs another day to develop before venturing out. When I lifted the lid of the box, it very eagerly left my finger and hopped into its home. Before I went inside, I left another bunch of mealworms for the birds.

UPDATE: I just ventured outside again and saw my friend peering out of the box. Soon, Mama appeared and started her "clicking" at me. The bird is obviously wanted to leave the nest box, but I hope that it stays put for awhile longer. Will keep monitoring the situation and checking back in.

Another Spring Arrival

I just spotted a male Ruby-throated Hummingbird at the feeder. I quickly replaced the nectar with fresh even though what was out there was only a day old. I just figure it's the least I can do for a bird who has recently travelled up from the Gulf of Mexico!

The bluebirds appear to be just fine. I checked on them yesterday and they are huge now. I can't quite describe the experience of seeing them go from such tiny nestlings into fledglings in less than two weeks. I'm hoping that they fledge on Friday so I'll get to see it. Otherwise, we'll be out of town. While we're gone, their mealworm supply will dry up. I think that it's alright if they fledge and we're not here to give worms since Mama and Papa will be busy teaching them how to catch insects. They won't leave the cover of the trees for a few days anyway.

I'm still wondering what bird the Cooper's Hawk caught two days ago. I am still having a hard time believing that it was a Crow, but I do see them out in that area of the yard. But Grackles are out there, too. And could a Cooper's take down a Crow? They are very large birds.

The pair of Tree Swallows continue to claim the box although they have yet to start building a nest. I'm getting a little frustrated with them; I sure would like to see some efforts being made on their part. I mean, the bluebirds will already have fledged 5 little ones by the time the tree swallows get their act together to nest-build and mate.

Another Vision of....Spring?

A Red-headed Woodpecker was just dining at one of the suet feeders. I haven't seen their kind since early autumn. As I understand it, they left the area because it was devoid of nuts. The cicadas damaged the nut-bearing trees so that they didn't produce them this year. Since they are the main staple in the Red-headed Woodpecker's diet, they found areas that were not affected by the cicadas.

I'm still waiting to see my first Ruby-throated Hummingbird. There have been reports of the birds in Bloomington, so I'm sure I'll be seeing them soon.

Warblers should be coming through the area soon as well. This year I should make more of an effort to see them.

Another Color of Spring Is....Indigo

I just spotted a male Indigo Bunting at the thistle feeder. His blue feathers were all the more brilliant surrounded by the yellow of the American Goldfinches.

I think that the Dark-eyed Juncos have travelled north to find nesting grounds. There were a couple of Purple Finchs still hanging around this weekend, but other than that I've seen all the usual summer companions. We're inundated with Chipping Sparrows who are just adorable (and relatively fearless) little birds. I spotted a Brown Thrasher in some undergrowth yesterday. Red-Winged Blackbirds are abundant and even if you can't see them, you sure can hear them! I've seen masses of Brown-headed Cowbirds, who are undoubtedly on the lookout for vacant nests to deposit their parasitic eggs for an unsuspecting bird to raise. I saw 9 Blue Jays stocking up on cracked corn yesterday, so they must be raising little ones. Oh, and there was the Eastern Phoebe hawking yesterday.

As if on cue, I just witnessed a Cooper's Hawk take down what looked like an American Crow. There was a good deal of flapping, but the Cooper's soon got the bird in its talons and killed it. While standing on the bird, it began to eat it. I managed to get out onto the deck with my binoculars and watched it eat part of the bird, then give a couple of warning "caks!", then fly off with the dead bird in its talons. Again, I'm not sure if it was indeed a crow. It could have been a Common Grackle, but I don't think so because it was too large for one. I suspect that for a Cooper's to go after such a large target, she (or he) has a couple of mouths to feed.

Bird Notes

Everyone seems to be doing just fine in the natural world. I checked the bluebirds and they have really grown lately. They have their pin-feathers now and already look to be needing more real estate. I don't know how those five birds are going to fit in there another week. Mama and Papa are still feeding them copious amounts of worms. For the past few days, they've been feeding them whole worms. When Papa swings by the feeder, he takes up 3-4 worms in his beak, flies to the deck hook, beats the worms senseless and then takes them into the nest box. Mama does the same, but usually only carries one with her.

The Tree Swallows have been the only birds around the old nestbox for the last two days. Hooray! The wicked Weaver Finch is gone. For now. I remain ever watchful. I'll have to check the box today to see if they've begun to build a nest. I should know before I even open the box; they should swoop me if there's a nest in there and leave me alone if there isn't.

Bird Report

I wasn't home yesterday (perhaps I'll explain why in a separate post), so didn't noticed the goings-on around here. Today, I can happily report that the bluebirds are doing just fine. Five birds are still tucked in the nest and are rapidly growing a good deal of fuzz on their bodies. Mama and Papa continue to supplement the little ones' diet with mealworms. As long as they do this, we'll continue to put out extra for them.

The Tree Swallows have returned, so I'm guessing that the rain put a damper on their nest-building plans. Good thing I killed that female Weaver Finch (the correct name for House Sparrow) because now the male is out there looking for a new mate and a new nesting spot. If I see him around, I'll do my best to dispose of him, of course. I know that they kill both swallow nestlings and adults, so I'd like to kill him before he has the chance to do so.

Despite Rain, Nestlings Warm and Dry

I just checked the nest box and counted five safe, dry and warm birds. We have had a good deal of rain for the last two days and it looks like today won't bring anything different. I've been leaving extra mealworms out for Mama and Papa because it's hard for them to find insects in this weather. They have taken advantage of my generosity. I see them stopping by throughout the day, eating a couple, taking one, digesting that on the wire near the box and then feeding the little ones.

On a disappointing note, I haven't see the Tree Swallows around the past two days. Perhaps it is the weather? I don't know enough about the species to understand what's happened. I do know that the damn House Sparrows have "reclaimed" the nest box despite nesting materials left by the swallows. I saw the swallows chase the sparrows away three days ago, so I hope that there wasn't retaliatory action taken by those awful birds. I was able to trap and kill the female yesterday and I'll be attempting to do the same with the male today, but it'll be harder because he doesn't stay in the box long enough for me to get out there and trap him.

If you're curious as to how I did my trapping/killing yesterday, read on. If you don't believe in such active controls on a non-native species which reeks havoc on the environment, stop now.

I fashioned a trap from a 15 oz can by removing the top and bottom and rubber-banding a plastic bag to one end. I snuck up on the nest while I knew the female was in it. I placed the can over the hole and shook the nest a bit. I heard her in there, but she wasn't about to come out into my trap. So, I removed the whole nest box, leaving the can over the hole and brought it inside. I placed the box in a large plastic kitchen trash bag and removed the can trap. Then I reached into the bag with a smaller plastic bag on my hand, opened the trap and grabbed the bird. I slipped her into the bag and secured it with a twist tie. I went outside and smacked it against our walnut tree. There was no blood, no trauma and it wasn't at all inhumane (or inbird, for that matter).

Like I said, I'll be attempting the same on the male. As I type, he's sitting on that nest box looking like a pest. Meanwhile, the bluebirds continue to care for their brood as do all the other species of bird who have nests somewhere nearby.

As a final note, I heard a Whip-poor-will calling last night for the first time this spring. I have a hummingbird feeder outside because they've been spied in the area, but so far no little birds. I did come across this interesting "house" for hummingbirds that looks perfect for them. Unfortunately we don't have an appropriate roof for it.

Hatch!

I checked the nest yesterday expecting to find warm eggs and instead found 4 warm bodies and 1 warm egg. The egg was cracked and while I would have loved to watch the hatch, I didn't want to disrupt things with the birds too much. They were only a day or two old with no feathers and huge, gaping beaks. The sight of four tiny birds with their necks straining upward to get feed is really quite a sight.

I checked the nest again this morning and there was no sign of egg, so I assume that there were 5 bodies in there. They had been recently feed, so I couldn't count the beaks. I'll check them again tomorrow to see if there are indeed 5 of them in there.

We're still putting out generous amounts of mealworms for them and Mama and Papa are most happy with our arrangement. I attribute easy and plentiful food to the successful early hatching this year. Hopefully the eggshells that I added to the bluebird banquet has helped as well.

On a related note, the Tree Swallows continue to guard "their" nest box, but no building has commenced yet.

Tree Swallows

We have observed a new species of bird to our yard the last week: Tree Swallows. They were lured here because of the vacant nest box that the bluebirds used last year. I was unable to trap both of the House Sparrows that were building a nest although I did manage to trap and kill a male who I suspect was the nest builder. So, our yard is now house sparrow free and the Tree Swallows are pressing forward with their plans to build in the box. Papa Blue is not happy with the recent developments since he views that box as his, but he's just going to have to get used to it. Tree Swallows will not attack bluebird nestlings or adults, but they do compete for nest boxes and cavities, so they are natural rivals. I'd love to have the Tree Swallows reproduce using that nest box. They are insect vacuums, are beautiful birds on the wing and have a lovely chirping song. It gives me hope that we can attract Purple Martins to our property next year.

A Proud Visitor

Look who showed up today with "the ladies". It's strutting season and delight to witness. Sorry that the photo quality isn't the best; I took out the window of the front door. Lucy became interested in what I was doing, observed the display and promptly started barking at what she considered a threat. If this guy's display works as well on his own species, he's going to sire plenty of young turkeys this year!

More News from the Nest

Just like last year, Mama has stopped laying eggs with the total at five. I believe that they are incubating them now nearly constantly. In about two weeks, if all goes well, they will hatch. Unless I see invasive activity from other birds or box damage from predators, I'm going to stop peeking into the nest and let the blues do their thing. Hopefully when I check the box on April 11th I'll be greeted by some hatchlings.

Eggs! (not the Easter variety)

I checked the box and the egg total is up to four. I took Lucy out last night around 11:30 and realized that she sometimes sniffs around and does her business very close to the nest box. Plus, there's always me saying imploringly "make your wee, Lu!" and giving ample verbal praise after the deed is done. I assume that Mama is sitting on the nest at night because it's still dipping into the upper 30's at night. Those eggs won't make it unless she does. So now I'm going to start worrying that we'll scare Mama from her nest. Perhaps I can develop a way of communicating telepathically with the dog....

News from the Nest

I checked the Bluebird nest box today and found 3 eggs nestled inside. I really like this new box because it's well-constructed with good wood, ventilation and roof overhand. However, it has a serious design flaw: you can't open the box and view inside the nest cup. Because the box is fairly narrow and deep, the Bluebirds have constructed a tall nest so that they can easily feed the future birds. But because the door that opens swings from the top, it's not possible to look down into the nest. If only I could open the roof! Therefore, I checked the nest contents with my fingers. I don't know what I'll do when there are birds in the nest. But that's a bridge to cross later; right now I'll hold onto my excitement about the eggs.

Eagle Cam

I'm happy to report that I found a webcam (Eagles Online) of an Bald Eagle nest. I know that I'll be checking it out regularly.

Bird Cams

We're at the cusp of a favorite time of year for birders: mating season. I think of it a "Little Ones Season". To help us enjoy this time of year, especially there are plenty of webcams out there peeking into various nests of birds. Here's a short list of good ones focused on Peregrine Falcons. I'll post others as I become aware of them.

Kodak Birdcam
This is a terrific cam site. It hails from Kodah Headquarters in lovely Rochester, NY. The cam takes shots every couple of minutes of a nesting pair of Peregrines. There is a 4-camera view as well as links to last year's highlights and information about the birds.

Buffalo Audubon Society
Moving a bit westward, we arrive in Buffalo, NY where another pair of Peregrines are nesting.

Cleveland Falcon Cam
Continuing on our westward journey, we find more Peregrines roosting, this time in lovely Cleveland, OH. Terminal Tower is the most unidentifiable of the tall buildings of the Cleveland skyline and it seems that the Peregrines appreciate this architectural gem as well. When I see Terminal Tower I think about a trip I took from The College of Wooster with two friends to buy fake IDs to use on Spring Break (we were 20). I later had said ID confiscated at a bar in Columbus (another road trip from Wooster).

The Birdhouse Network
The Cornell Lab of Ornithology is a terrific resource for birder lovers. They sponsor this site that currently has cams for Barn Owls, Osprey, and Eastern Bluebird nests.

Hawk Walk

Ben the Dog has been here since Sunday afternoon. I've been taking him and Lucy on the Clear Creek Trail this week. Every day is a new adventure. Lucy freezes when she sees someone approaching, therefore the whole pack must wait. Ben must sniff everything. Ben must wee on most things, including Lucy's head when she's not fast enough to get out of the way of the stream. On the whole, it's been a lot of fun for all three of us. Lucy has taken a bit of a shine to Ben and I think that he's tolerating her much better now.

Today we were "joined" on the path by two Red-Tailed Hawks. I heard them before I saw them. One flew off, but the other remained in a tree limb watching for small rodents in a nearby field. They are gorgeous birds. They look a lot like Cooper's Hawks, but are larger and have that distinctive red tail. Paul and I happened across one last week while coming down our little road to our house. She was sitting on a fence post eating what looked like a field mouse.

Great Hummingbird Nest Photolog

This website was an offtopic post on Bluebird-L. For all of you who haven't seen a hummingbird nest and nestlings, this provides a wonderful glimpse. Spoiled am I for I have actually seen and feed baby hummers in their nests. If you need inspiration to volunteer at your local rehab center, look no farther!

P.S. If anyone wants to buy me the camera that took those photos, I'm not going to object.

The House of Blues 2005

We put another bluebird house in the yard during a time in the winter when the ground wasn't frozen. Papa Blue found it almost immediately and put a few claim sticks inside. Now we see both Mama and Papa near the nest every morning. It is situated near a row of pines and under the electric wire from which they love to hawk insects in the yard. It is within sight of last year's house, but not close enough to engender a turf battle. We're using last year's box as a decoy box for House Sparrows.

Today I checked the box and to my delight I saw nesting material in there that looked like a enough for a complete nest. The box is higher than the other one, so without a step-stool, I can't see down into the box. I'm sure that there aren't any eggs yet; the nights are still far too cold for egg laying, but in the next few weeks, I'm confident that the couple will be directing their attentions to getting a family started. I'll have to check my entries from last year to determine when the first nest was started and when the first eggs were laid, but off-hand I think that they are about one month early this year. I suppose that the familiarity of the birds, the appropriate house location and the plentiful supply of bluebird banquet and mealworms have all contributed to this early start.

I've placed three order for mealworms from a company called Reptilefood.com. I've been very happy with their product, price and customer service. Plus, if you use this special link, they donate 5% to the purchase cost to the Purple Martin Conservation Society.

Yard Bird Activity

It's been awhile since I've posted anything about the birds around here, so here's an update.

Our new birds of the year are:

Cooper's Hawk
Eastern ("Red") Fox Sparrow

The Fox Sparrow is special because they are already uncommon and their numbers are in decline. They summer up in Canada and we're on their nothernest edge for winter, so either he's been here all winter or is traveling north. I'm not as thrilled about having a Cooper's around since they are song bird predators and I've seen it snatch a Dark-Eyed Junco and a male Cardinal. While walking in the wooded ravine across from our house, I saw a large patch of feathers that I think were once a Blue Jay. I know that it's all a part of a large ecosystem, but I worry about my bluebirds. I can't imagine the sorrow I would feel if I saw Papa Blue in the talons of that Cooper's Hawk! Now, if they developed a particular fondness for House Sparrow and European Starlings I'd do everything in my power to see their numbers increase.

But so far, the bluebirds have been doing really well. All winter we've been feeding Bluebird Banquet and mealworms in a wonderful feeder that I received as a wedding shower gift. Other birds eat it as well, but the bluebirds manage to get the lion's share. Happily, they have claimed the new bluebird box that is in the yard. The House Sparrows have claimed the other one, so for now, I choose to leave that up as a decoy. My plan is to capture the male once he's made a nest in there and has a regular routine of being in the box. I WILL NOT tolerate a House Sparrow nest on my property!!

American Robins have returned although the snow flurries outside must not be the most welcoming sign for them. Seems that they've arrived a couple of weeks too soon. This March we're having weather that we should have had in January. My daffodils are equally baffled by this recent plummet of temps. Ah, global warming, isn't it just swell?

There has been one good aspect of the milder temps this winter, however. The suet cages haven't been completely occupied by those bastard European Starlings. I've had to out-maneuver them on occasion by removing them entirely for a couple of hours, but compared to last year, my efforts have been minimal.

Recently, I've noticed a large flock of Grackles who enjoy poking around in the yard, searching for grubs and eating the corn we put out for the Wild Turkeys. With them is a lone Red-Winged Blackbird. It's the funniest sight; seeing this oddball out there.

Oh, and right now as I type, a (I'm guessing male) Carolina Wren is chirping his heart out on the deck railing near the feeder. Apparently he doesn't want to be left off the list of visitors. So, yes, we still see Carolina Wrens, two at a time even, which is an encouraging sight. I just love those little birds and having taken care of one last summer I know how fragile that species is. I root for the Wrens and the Bluebirds the most.

If you're interested in providing food for the non-seed-eaters during the winter months when insects are gone, I suggest making up some Bluebird Banquet. I highly suggest adding ground eggshells which provide very needed nutrients that will help them maintain healthy bone density and produce healthier eggs. Wrens, Bluebirds, Nuthatches, Song Sparrows, Woodpeckers will really appreciate it, as will seed-eaters such as Cardinals, Juncos, Tufted Titmice, and Chickadees.

The Wild Turkeys show up nearly on a daily basis. There are two large groups of them who will engage in turf battles if they are here at the same time. There seems to also be a splinter group of a few young birds who tend to show up first to the corn. I think that they are the younger turkeys who are at the bottom of the pecking order grabbing what they can before having to share with their elders.

I've noticed that the birds are definitely taking on their mating plumage. Red feathers are really starting to stand out and Papa Blue looks really blue again. I'm definitely looking forward to spring and the new life that it provides.

Good Bird Resource

Yesterday in the mail I recieved a Consumer Information Catalog put out by the government folks in Pueblo, CO. It's an index of guides for consumers, citizens, job hunters and small business owners that are available for purchase. Many of these are available free online. My favorite is For the Birds, a guide to attracting and understanding backyard birds which is located in their "and more..." section.

New Yard Birds and Old Friends

In the past 2 months, we've had a few new yardbirds and some friends who have returned for winter feeding.

New birds
Scarlet Tanager (male and female)
Yellow-rumped (Myrtle) Warbler (migrating)
Hooded Warbler (migrating)
White-throated Sparrow
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Bald Eagle (flying overhead)
Cooper's Hawk (swooped down on a Junco)

Returning friends
Pileated Woodpecker
Red-headed Woodpecker
Dark-eyed Junco
Purple Finch
Eastern Towhee
Wild Turkey

On average, we see 20 species of birds each day which does our hearts good. I've been rendering suet that I buy from the supermarket and making bird-friendly recipes. I've also been putting 15 or so mealworms out per day for the Bluebirds. I've only seen Mama and Papa, so I hope that the fledglings are alright, just elsewhere for winter. We've started putting out corn for the turkeys and they show up a couple of times a day. They are so comfortable now in our property that they lounge around after eating.

The Nature Conservancy's Latest Efforts in Indiana

Indiana has very little protected land. But the Nature Conservancy continues to improve this situation.

New Yard Bird

Yesterday, Paul and I spotted a Yellow-throated Warbler on the suet feeder. It is a gorgeous bird. Warblers are starting their southern migration, so I'm keeping my eyes peeled for other migrants. Happy travels, beautiful one!

Birds, Birds, Birds

I'm home today, caring for the second bird in as many days. My first died after its first night here. It was a finch or sparrow that had fallen from its nest and probably suffered a head injury. My second is a healthy Carolina Wren whose backstory I don't know. I would guess that it is about 3 or 4 days old. Yesterday, I spent every 10 min of my time at Wildcare carefully prying open its mouth to be able to feed it. After 6 hours of this, he gaped for the first time. Within 45 min of that first gaping she was safely tucked in away in our guest bedroom. Carolina Wrens are known as "high-stress" animals in the world of wildlife rehabilitation. They require quite, dark, warm places to grow up and therefore do not fare well in a captive space full of noise and light. A group of 5 Carolina Wrens were cared for at the home of another volunteer recently and now the 3 that survived their early development stage are at the center, oddly enough, fully adjusted and doing well. I'm hoping that soon the little guy that is here will be able to join her brethren.

He is currently on a 20 minute feeding schedule which is a lot easier than the 10 minute one from yesterday. It doesn't allow me to leave the house, but I have no need to go anywhere. It is still unseasonably cool (61°), so there is a lot of activity at the bird feeders. I've counted 12 house finches at the feeders at one time, not to mention the cardinals, chickadees, tufted titmice, chipping sparrows, downy woodpeckers, mourning doves and nuthatches. This morning when it was a whopping 48°, the hummingbirds looked particularly put out by the autumn temps. They were all puffed out, making them look a lot less like the sleek bullets they normally do. They have been going through the nectar like crazy. I find myself making 4 cups every few days in order to keep up with the demand.

I've been subscribing to all sorts of bird listservs lately. I've set up a couple of email accounts on my server to handle the email and have been using the Opera email client. (If you don't already use Opera as your web browser, what are you waiting for? Get rid of that security hole that is IE and learn how a real browser lets you get so much more out of your time online!) Here are the two most recent sightings that has the birding world aflap:

• Rare red-footed falcon is surprise guest on Vineyard
  Here are some nice photos of the bird
• There's a Snowy Owl hanging out near I-65 in Indiana


Posted by Elizabeth at 12:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Back Again

We returned from our time on Lake Erie last night. We filled the feeders, checked the box and went to sleep. Today we planted shrubs and mowed the yard. No sign of any bluebirds until tonight when we saw some activity in the area of the nest box (which is void of nest). Through our binocs we made out Papa and 3 fledglings. We're convinced that they are the new fledges because they were much more mottled in color than the 1st brood. So, all is well....three little ones made it and are thriving.

Bluebirds -- Fledging Accident??

Yesterday when we checked the box after our walk around 10, we found bluebird remains on the ground outside the box. There were two pieces of wing and a tuft of feathers on the post. Inside, we found an empty box, fresh poop, 2 small spots of blood, and 2 feathers. For two full days, we've tested all sorts of hypotheses about what could have happened to the little ones. Here's a smattering of what theories we've floated.

1. A snake got in the box. Refutation: the snake would have plugged up the whole and not allowed them to escape and would have still been in the box when we checked it.

2. A House Sparrow attacked. Refutation: he would have attacked all the birds, leaving all of them injured or dead inside the box.

3. A raccoon attacked the box. Refutation: the box would probably have been on the ground and/or the latch opened.

4. A cat attacked the box by sticking its paw inside the hole. Refutation: there would have been a lot more blood and feathers inside and probably more than one dead fledgling.

5. There was a problem during their fledging. Refutation: its not impossible, but they were still 2 days away from a normal fledgling date. This explains the remains outside, but why the spots of blood inside?

At this point, all we know is that one bluebird fledgling has died. We believe that because we haven't seen any activity around the box by Mama, Papa or the first set of fledglings, there are 3 fledglings in a tree somewhere. When the first group fledged, we didn't see them for over one week and didn't see much of the parents during that time either. This is why we think that the parents (and the first fledglings?) are protecting and feeding the new fledglings. It is still a mystery as to how the one died. Did it fall from the nest during fledging, hit itself on the barbed wire under the box and get carried off (or at least most of it) by a predator? That is the explanation that we're going with for now. We have to believe that all is alright with the other 3 and that the cause of the death was due to immaturity rather than predation.

I cleaned out the box yesterday and reinstalled it today after witnessing Mama and Papa near its old location. Bluebirds begin their annual molt around now, so it is unlikely that we'll have another brood. Males grow infertile and females are unable to conceive during their molting cycle because doing both would cause death from too much physical stress. Molting wears them down and even if they could successfully mate, the stress of feeding and caring for a brood might be too much. But I feel better letting their instincts tell them what they want to do instead of taking down the box and forcing them to make a decision that they otherwise would not make.

We are leaving town tomorrow morning. I am agonizing over the fact that we won't be here for a whole week. I suppose that I wouldn't see the fledglings during that time even if I were here, but because there's a chance that they could appear, I want to be here. The only thing I can do now is hope that when we return, we'll see the little ones hanging out with their family.

Paul and I have been very saddened by the death of the one fledgling and the possible loss of the others as well. We realize that these birds are not domesticated animals and have a high mortality rate just by virtue of being seen as food by so many other creatures. But a loss is a loss. The best we can do is figure that if the 3 do survive, the survival rate of the box this year is still over 50%. Small comfort, but comfort nonetheless.

Bluebirds -- Day 13

Before the latest storm rolls in (there are still people in Bloomington without power from the last one!), we shot this photo of our 13 day old nestlings. There really isn't any news about them today. I haven't seen the fledglings, but Papa has been his usual busy self.

The activity around the other feeders has hit another high. I think that finches have recently fledged because not only are there about 30 of them around at a time, I see distinct fledgling behavior from some. They sit near their parent(s) chirping and doing this spastic wing-flapping that screams "feed me!!" Happily the parents do not oblige them since they know that it's time for the little ones to figure out how to survive on their own.

The hummingbirds have also been eating quite a bit. The feeder near the bluebird box seems to be relatively unguarded so it sees the most activity. I've seen two and three hummers at one time feeding at it. The other feeder is staked out by a male who sits in the Hickory tree. He appears when another hummer dares to approach the feeder and quickly attacks them. I don't like this behavior since it seems mean-spirited, but hey who am I to judge the hummingbird code?

Bluebirds -- Day 12

Paul took the picture of the blues. Aren't they huge now? They barely fit in the nest anymore.

The "old" fledglings have been hanging around the box a lot in the last two days. It is a common sight to see 2 or 3 of them sitting on top of the box. They peek inside the box periodically to see what's going on, but usually Mama or Papa will shoo them away. I can't wait to see the whole family hanging out catching insects together.

Bluebirds -- Day 11

I tried taking pictures of the little ones today but I can't figure out the camera and I seem to be a bit too short to get anything in focus, so no picture. Sorry. The humidity has really dropped off, so although it's still 80° it is not nearly as hot as it has been. They didn't look any more comfortable in the box than before, but I imagine that it is nicer for them.

Bluebirds stay in the nest for 15-20 days. We are leaving town on Tuesday which would be their 16th day in the nest. I missed the big fledge event last time and I'm really hoping that this is a precocious bunch who will be testing out their wings on the 15th day. Otherwise, I will probably have to wait another year to see a fledging unless they have a 3rd brood which would be a bit unusual for this part of the country. Fledgings are supposed to be wonderful things; little heads peeking out, lots of coaxing from parents, a brave leap, lots of flapping, oftentimes hitting the ground before being able to make it to a safe tree branch. Oh, I do hope I get to see this!! By the time we get back a full week later, they will probably be hidden somewhere in a tree by the parents. I don't recall seeing the first group of fledglings in the open for over a week and a half.

Bluebirds -- Day 10

Boy have I interracted with a lot of animals today! I did a 4½ hour shift at Wildcare today and it was mayhem. I was the only volunteer there with the shift manager Molly for most of that time. The avian room was in disarray because a major release and transfer was going on. We released 14 robins, and when I mean "we", I mean we. The avian outdoor area that housed them doesn't have a convienent way of releasing the birds, so we had to catch all of them individually and take them out the door. We transferred the bluebird fledges to and outdoor tent as well although they are still hand-feed. Inside, we still have 2 of the original 6 Chimney Swifts (the others found homes) which eat every 30 min. There were 2 Cardinals and 2 Robins who needed 20 min feedings as well as 2 tiny Hummingbirds who were brought in still in their nest!! On a 30 min feeding schedule were 2 Carlolina Wrens, 3 Robins and 2 Mockingbirds and a Catbird. On a 40 min feeding schedule were the 6 Bluebirds, 1 Grackle, 1 Cedar Waxwing, 6 Robins and 2 Blue Jays. I'd get finished with one group only to have another need feeding. Then on top of it, I'm running around outside releasing birds, taking birds out for some "sun time" and whatnot.

After Wildcare, I released a Starling at Target. Even though I don't like the idea of another Starling out in the world, it was pretty cool to release a bird. After doing some shopping there (hey, if you ever shop Target, look for the clearance racks--I find terrific stuff for cheap!) I went to Marsh for a salmon fillet for dinner. Then I went over and picked up Jeanjamin (aka Ben the Dog). He'll be staying until Sunday.

When I got home I checked the nest box. We had 70 mi/hr winds here last night along with some fierce rain, but they are just fine. As I type, Papa periodically shows up on the deck hook and then swoops off to find a tasty insect for the little ones. I lost the email that contained links to the photos, so we're out of luck as far as pictures go. Maybe Paul will snap one when he gets home.

Bluebirds -- Day 9

I just came inside from checking the box and all 4 nestlings are doing just fine. They are growing very rapidly. It must be all the deliciously large insects that Papa carries in to them constantly (or at least it seems like it). I get a great look at what he has in his beak because oftentimes he'll perch with morsel (waiting for it to die?) on the hook that we have on the deck that we kept it up for him even though we took down the hummer feeder that was hanging from it.

It's hot today but fortunately the humidity has abated a bit. It must get pretty damn uncomfortable in that box when it's really hot and humid.

Here's the photo of the day.

Yesterday, I noticed for the first time Papa carrying a fecal sac from the nest box (oh, the joys of bluebird monitoring!) Like I told Paul when he gave me a strange look at my excitement over the event "it's not every day you see a sac of shit flying through the air". If you are curious about how birds manage to keep their nest boxes clean with all the pooping that goes on, this article is a good resource. I think that birds make our babies look totally inferior and downright disgusting compared to their little ones. And with landfills overflowing with shitty diapers, we look like the most inefficient, abusive toward our environment and idiotic species on the planet. Oh, but when don't we look like that!?

Bluebirds -- Day 8

Here's the photo of the day.

I think that our nest box is larger than the one pictured above because our birds aren't quite as cramped. But they are getting big. All of them have now opened their eyes. I was out earlier mowing the grass and weeds around the box and interrupted a feeding session. When Mama and Papa would arrive, I'd turn off the mower and go back into the house. Otherwise they would sit on the fence with tasty morsel in their beak chirping to their little ones who were probably wondering what exactly was going on. It is extremely hot and humid here today and I've only been able to do about 20 minutes of mowing at a time before needing a break. I think that this has been good for the birds, because not only is my mowing exposing bugs, but my absence is allowing for the parents to capture them. (On a normal day, it takes a full 2 hours to mow the lawn--and yes, we only have a push mower--I should be tons thinner than I am!!)

During my mowing of the very long grass (we've been negligent of it lately b/c of all the rain), a garter snake escaped from under the mower unhurt thankfully. I spotted a small toad down by the road and was able to avoid him/her as well. I also found 2 downed nests underneath the long row of pines. We've had some heavy winds lately and I'm sure that the abandoned nests have easily become dislodged. I have a feeling that they are ex-finch nests because we have a big influx of them at the feeders now. We have had a lot more hummingbird activity again, so I'm thinking that their 2nd broods have fledged and are feeding themselves.

Bluebirds -- Day 7

Here's your first and second photo du jour.

One of the nestlings has opened his/her eyes! I assume that both are open since I could only see its profile. It must have been the first bird to hatch.

Yesterday Paul and I witnessed a remarkable sight. All four fledglings arrived at the nest box to check out their siblings. At one point, two were sitting on top of the box and two were on the outside of the box vying for room to peer into the hole. They hung out awhile, but didn't appear to enter the box to get a closer look or to feed the little ones. One of them did do a little insect hunting at one point, but then flew off with the others in tow. We haven't seen them today.

Mama and Papa have been very active around the box, though. We saw Papa with a large, very green grasshopper-looking insect in his mouth. No way could a hatchling swallow it, but there he went, into the nest to deposit it in whatever fashion he could. No wonder bluebirds are voracious eaters if that's what they are accustomed to!

It started raining again about 20 minutes ago. I think that it has rained every day of their very young lives. They'll be more comfortable hanging around water foul once they fledge than their own siblings :)

Bluebirds -- Day 6

Boy are they getting big! We snapped this photo an hour ago. As you can see, pinfeathers have appeared and they are sitting upright by leaning their necks and heads on the side of the nest. It seems to me that the nest would be a bit too crowded with more than 4 birds!

More photos of Day 6 birds:
http://www.hunt101.com/img/184188.jpg
http://www.hunt101.com/img/184189.jpg

This morning Paul and I attended a 2 hour session at Wildcare about birds. We learned a lot, although it was definitely one of those session where you leave knowing that you know hardly anything about the given subject. Not only has wildlife rehabilitation been a recent phenomenon (25-30 years) which means that the rate of research and discovery is quite rapid and contradictory, there are so many species of birds that it is nearly impossible for someone to gain a comprehensive understanding of these creatures. On top of that, there are currently very few published books and guides that aid in hatchling and nestling identification. So even if you know the conditions under which a bird needs to be cared for, it's hard to tell oftentimes what you're dealing with. The majority of baby birds that come into the center are of the "TBD" species.

The lack of information about what hatchlings (~0-4 days old), nestlings (~5-10 days old) and fledglings (~11 days old until they leave the nest) look like for each species combined with the fact that Wildcare gets most of the native species of birds presents an unique opportunity for an enterprising sort of individual. If someone would just take pictures of the birds every day during their development and publish such a photo book, one could do a lot of good for avian rehabbers out there and make a nice profit. This is definitely something that Paul and I are interested in doing. We're also interested in learning how to enhance the outdoor avian areas based on the needs and behavior of different species. Currently, there is a distinct lack of distinction in the avian cages. What needs to happen is the creation of a more realistic, naturalistic environment where fledglings and adults can (re)acclimate themselves to their preferred natural environments.

Bluebirds -- Day 5

We had another storm last night around 5 am. That's the 4th night in a row I believe. All is safe and comfy in the nest box; our nestlings are doing just fine. I'm relieved that all four are still alive looking healthy since we did have a fatality of one from the first brood.

Here's your picture du jour. Enjoy.

Bluebirds -- Day 4

Paul and I just came in from checking the box and all four nestlings are doing well and growing like weeds. At Wildcare today, I feed a brood of 5 who were brought in last week. I have a new-found respect (awe, really) for what the parents do because they ate and ate and ate and ate. Of all the birds that I've feed there, they definitely ate the most for birds of their size. I would call even the Blue Jays "dainty" (how often are Blue Jays considered that!?) compared to their blue brethren.

They look about ready to fledge although they were still inside. I'd love for them to be released here, but I'm sure that the powers-that-be have other plans for them. Plus, I'm not sure if Mama and Papa are quite prepared to take on another brood of 5 plus their own. If they were closer in age, it might be possible, but I don't think that they should be distracted from their little ones.

There are 2 photos today: 1 & 2. Look at how much bigger they are from just 2 days ago.

Bluebirds -- Day 3

Day 3 photo

Again last night we had violent storms blow through and again Mama and Papa protected their little ones. When I checked the box this morning, 4 hatchlings were safe and sound and dry. These birds will be fearless when they grow up!

Bluebirds -- Day 2

Yesterday in the afternoon, Paul and I checked the box and found 4 healthy, sleeping hatchlings in the box! No sign of egg shells, so the 4th hatchling must have hatched sometime earlier in the morning (not that I imagine it takes that long for parents to remove the shells).

We had a veryviolent storm last night around midnight that caused Paul and I distress. We were both incredibly relieved this morning when we saw the box intact. And I'm happy to report that all 4 little ones are just fine (I've checked twice today).

This photo was taken by the same guy as yesterday. He took pictures of his hatchlings for their 14 days in the nest box. I'll include a link to the appropriate day's photo while ours are growing up.

We Have a Hatch!

After returning last night from our weekend in Cincinnati, Paul and I checked the box and found 3 tiny hatchlings. The 4th egg was uncracked and pristine. We had fierce storms last night and I was worried, but mama and papa did a marvelous job of protecting them. All three were dry and unscathed this morning when we checked the box. The 4th egg was still intact although I think that I saw a small crack, so perhaps it will hatch today. When you see the size of these birds, you really wonder how they manage to get out of the shells!

This is not my photo, but it is of 1 day old birds that look exactly like ours. Note that this nest also had a late hatcher. The egg really puts their size in perspective!!

Everything Fine With Blues

Paul and I are headed to St. Louis for a wedding this weekend. I'm feeling fairly confident that everything will continue well for the Bluebirds. It's now a daily task of mine to check the perimeter with purple Maglight in hand before heading to bed. I worry, what can I say?

There are 4 eggs in the box and I have noticed Mama spending her days there, so she must be incubating. I have no idea when they are to hatch, and I don't want to know. I'm sure that I jinxed them last time. This time: one day at a time.

An Unexpected Visitor

Because of the increase in hummingbird activity this year, we have 2 feeders out for them. They use the Oriole feeder as well (no Orioles have shown up yet). Good thing that they have all these feeding stations because a bird that I wouldn't expect to enjoy the sugar-water (nectar) was at a hummingbird feeder--an immature Red-bellied Woodpecker!

As an aside, I must convey how delighted I am that there is a fledgling Red-bellied here. A female died last year because of a window collision and it broke our hearts. Plus, they only have one brood a year, so its great knowing that they were able to reproduce successfully.

Last week, I witnessed the immature Red-bellied being feed suet by his papa which was quite a sight. Today I get to witness an even more remarkable sight. He started out at the tube feeder that contains thistle. There's a tray underneath that he was both hanging onto and eating from. Then he went over to the hummingbird feeder, gripped onto one of the the posts, and while hanging vertically started drinking the nectar. I grabbed the binoculars and could clearly see a tongue extending out into the little hole. He stayed there for over a minute. While he was feeding, papa was at the suet cage. They both left together. Amazing!

Bluebird Nestlings

They aren't "our" nestlings, but here are 6-day old little ones captured by a bluebirder.

http://www.hunt101.com/img/184189.jpg

http://www.hunt101.com/img/184188.jpg

Adventures With Grackle

This afternoon I heard "the sound that strikes fear" and found a dazed Common Grackle on the grass outside the window near the feeders. I determined that he had damaged his wing and so bundled him up in a box and drove him over to Wildcare. Oh, I've forgotten to mention that I did a shift there last week that went very well. I have another this Thursday, so I'll report something after that one. So, I arrive at Wildcare and a volunteer takes him out to the aviary tent to test his flying ability. He plummeted to earth. She checked him and found that his wing was not broken, but probably sprained. To double-check this, she let go of him again and he darted underneath the tent! By the time she made it out of the tent herself, he had disappeared. This happened while I was inside meeting people and taking a look around at the creatures. When I went outside, she explained what happened and we searched awhile finding only a rabbit in the undergrowth.

She was terribly disappointed and embarrassed with herself that she "allowed" it to escape. (I think it was purely an accident.) The bird should have been bandaged and put into a pen for a couple of days and then released by me here. Instead, there is a Grackle out there with sprained wing far, far from home. I keep suppressing the idea that it was a roosting female or male caretaker of some sort. I do believe that the bird will manage alright. There is food available there and the wing wasn't not broken, so should be able to fly again in a couple of days.

Clutch Now Up to 4

I just returned from a quick peek into the nest box and saw 4 eggs therein! One had some white on it and I don't know why. Hopefully its just a pigment thing. If it's excrement from mama, it will cause a sterile egg. But since she's a veteran egg-layer extraordianare, I highly doubt that she'd be so careless.

My nightmares continue because I know that the predator remains in the yard at night. I know this because I forgot to take down the suet cage before heading to JazzFest (Buddy Guy was *great*!) and it had been ravaged by the time we returned around midnight. It also got into the drip pan of our Weber grill, a problem I solved by placing the pan in the grill for safekeeping. I'm hoping that the lack of tasty treats will convince the raccoon (I'm *sure* that's who it is) to move onto other pastures.

Yard Bird Watching

After the Bluebird scare, Paul and I discovered ourselves in perfect weather. The humidity and heat of the last month were gone. We sat on the deck for 2 hours watching birds. The fact that we can sit on our own deck and see so many is a gift beyond value.

Who did we see?

Eastern Bluebird (2 adults, 4 fledglings)
Tufted Titmouse (3)
Carolina Chickadee (1)
Common Grackle (10)
Mourning Dove (12)
Red-bellied Woodpecker (1)
Downy Woodpecker (2)
White-breasted Nuthatch (2)
Ruby-Throated Hummingbird (4)
Chipping Sparrow (1)
House Sparrow (1 male adult, 3 fledglings) damn!
Northern Cardinal (2)
Turkey Vulture (1 circling overhead)
Indigo Bunting (1 male)
Brown-headed Cowbird (4)
American Goldfinch (8)
House Finch (8)

Here's an interesting fact about the male Indigo Bunting from Yahooligans! Animals : "Indigo Buntings may look blue but they have no blue pigment in their feathers. They are actually black, but the way the light shines through the structure of the feathers makes them appear blue."

A Brief Scare

Yesterday afternoon Paul and I were inside trying to figure out what to do with our day when we heard a sound that puts fear in my heart: a bird hitting a window. My immediate thought was "oh, please, let it not be a Blue!" Paul ran to the door and my worst case scenario was confirmed with his "oh, god, it's a fledgling Blue!". The little one was sitting calmly on the deck without visible sign of injury. My panic and nausea was quelled a bit by seeing him(her) knowing that it was very possible that s/he could be alright. The birds who have perished after hitting our windows have looked dead afterward, lying prone on the ground, eyes closed. But the Blue was sitting upright, breathing through its mouth, looking stunned. I was ready to bundle it up in a box and rush it to Wildcare where we would insist on a no-holes-barred treatment (being volunteers there now, we have more pull?) I reached down and stroked its beautiful mottled blue feathers a bit, marveling at the fact that I was actually touching one of our fledglings again. In just a bit, s/he flew off, heading back to the trees where the other fledgling were practicing insect catching.

Later in the day I saw all 4 fledglings sitting on the electric wire with Papa, so I know that s/he survived the collision.

A Rival Pair

I was just in the kitchen cleaning up the blender from a tasty treat of vanilla soy milk, a banana and a scoop of SlimFast (try it with some ice cubes to make it frothy; it's absolutely delicious!) when I saw a pair of bluebirds near the box. As I was thinking, "oh, there's mama and papa checking on their nest, very good" another pair of bluebirds swooped in and chased the 1st pair away. I assume that the aggressors are the original pair since a.) they were the more aggressive and b.) once they had won the battle, mama went into the box.

What does this mean? Well, bluebirds will not interrupt the nests of other birds, including their own species. This "new" pair was probably just combing the area for potential nest sites and happened across restricted real estate. My guess is that they are looking for a place for a 2nd brood, their first nest box having not been cleaned out for them by a box owner.

Bluebird Nest Has An Egg!

I just checked on the box and found a solitary blue egg. Happy days!

Bluebird Nest Complete

Papa Blue finished work on the nest yesterday. I haven't seen much activity around the box today, so I'm thinking that mama and papa are sharing some quality time alone today ;)

I keep having nightmares about the box. They don't extend past my experience of seeing the dismantled box--I don't see the predator, I can't do anything to stop it, etc.

When It Rains...

Not since early spring have I seen a Red-Headed Woodpecker and today I see two! Both were in places that I've not seen them before (come to think of it, I'm not sure if I've ever seen them outside our yard). One flew overhead and landed high in a dead branch while I was out on the path. The other flew in front of my car on the way home from my walk.

Nest Building Has Begun

On my way past the bluebird box yesterday while mowing the lawn, I peered inside and saw a new nest being formed. There was also some, er, mating behavior going on between papa and mama.

Because I've attributed the vandalism of the nest box with the creature that is eating our suet at night, I've been bringing the suet in at dusk. Last night I forgot and went out around 10:30. I must have interrupted the start of its eating fest because not only was the suet on the ground not yet consumed, I noticed that the bird bath that hangs next to the suet was swaying. I also heard rustling in the undergrowth near the road. I checked the nest box and it was fine. Paul jumped at the chance to accuse me of "checking the perimeter" when I came inside with Maglite flashlight in hand :)

New Feeder Addition

In our travels yesterday, we bought an oriole feeder. It is now filled and hanging outside on a hook next to the hummingbird feeder. I halved an orange and nailed it to the stump near the feeder in a hopeful attempt to attract the lovely birds. Indiana is native to 2 species; Baltimore and Orchard. We've seen both varieties on the Clear Creek path, but never in our own yard.

Tragedy Comes in the Form of a Raccoon

I have very sad new to report. The bluebird box was vandalized and the eggs consumed by a predator, probably a raccoon, on Friday night. I came downstairs on Saturday morning to see the box open and on the ground. It was a terrible feeling and all I could think was that I jinxed the birds' success by determining a hatch date last week.

I cleaned the box thoroughly, put it in the kitchen to dry and then we headed out for a day of activities around town. Our first activity was orientation training at Wildcare where I was able to seek comfort from like-minded people about our recent debacle. Both Paul and I are scheduled to do "shadow training" this coming week.

When we returned home in the late afternoon, we put the house back together with some wood glue and some nails (only the base where it attaches to the fence post was damaged). Once it went back up, the birds were there within a minute or two. It is definitely their house and nothing is going to change that. What does need to change is the post that it is on. I can't with clear conscious keep it on the fence post knowing that it is just as susceptible to predation by raccoon as it was before. We have a metal pole that we could use and I think that that's the route we need to take.

They Are Productive Little Birds

I just checked the bluebird box and found 4 healthy eggs within. I've heard mixed reports on 2nd clutch size. Some maintain that each successive clutch contains one less egg than the preceding one; others maintain that they are independent of each other. I have a gut feeling that 4 is going to be the final clutch size. If so, incubation should start this weekend the target hatch date would be the 25th (no comment from the peanut gallery about not counting chicks before they hatch, please).

Paul and I walked the path last night and noticed interesting behavior. Of the human variety we found that people were out in droves, but unlike the crew that walks on weekends and/or in the morning they were distinctly unfriendly. Hardly anyone made eye contact, let alone said hello. The opposite is true in the morning when it is not uncommon to exchange pleasantries (and even short conversations) with 95% of the people you pass. I think that this phenomenon can be explained in many ways, the most obvious being that people are trying to get away from people and unwind from their day in the evening, whereas in the morning people are happy to great the day and the strangers they meet.

Of the animal variety (of behavior) we noticed lots of little ones. A family of Carolina Chickadees were hanging around a tree together which made for quite the scene of chaos and near-cacophony. A baby rabbit darted through some undergrowth. An American Robin was sitting on her nest in a tree. Red-winged Blackbirds were actively maintaining their breeding ground property lines.

Highlights of My Walk

Having Jean le Jeanjamin here was such a wonderful thing. He forced me to walk 3+ miles every day, a habit that I hope to continue despite his departure. On his last day, we walked down to the river to get a lie down and a drink for him when I slipped and fell hard. I really hurt my left arm around my wrist and I was muddy from head to toe. I bought an arm support at Target and have been wearing that. It has shown signs of improvement, although it is still very sore and not able to support any weight or lift anything. I can drive now, though, so that's good.

I walked alone this morning; the first time since my tumble. I was serenaded by a Mockingbird with his assortment of calls. There's nothing like watching a Mockingbird do a Cardinal call followed by a Song Sparrow, followed by 3 more calls that I didn't recognize (I'm not at all proficient in bird calls). There were lots of butterflies out, but none landed on me today. A 3 foot snake crossed the path about 15 feet in front of me and since I cannot identify snakes either, I have no idea what kind it was. I got a good enough look that if I saw a picture of one, I could probably figure it out, but I'm a bit too lazy right now to research it. I'm willing to say that it was a poisonous copperhead because that makes me look brave and un-"girly" approching it for a closer look :)

As Predicted...

The bluebird box is now host to a second nest. No eggs as of today however. I've yet to spot the fledglings and hope that the tornado-like weather conditions of late have not caused them harm.

I spotted a fox running through the back of the property on Memorial Day. It was too big to be our fox pup, although the daytime activity is reminiscent of her. Perhaps she's already grown to full size?

Hummingbird activity hit a low last week, but is up in volume tremendously this week. I suspect that there are some fledglings hitting the feeder. We were able to witness a male mating display this past weekend which does seem to support the theory that the members of the first brood have left their nest(s).

Bluebirds Have Fledged

Our baby bluebirds have left their nest!! During my time outside power-spraying the deck, I noticed a distinct lack of parental activity around the box. My suspicion that the babies had left was confirmed with a quick look inside the box. Because we're inundated with cicadas I didn't stick around the trees long enough to locate them. I suspect that the adults will make the fledglings' whereabouts known if we pay enough attention.

I am just so thrilled that our blues have successfully produced 4 new birds to take their place in the world. Hopefully our heavy downpours will abate long enough to give them a headstart in finding their wings and their way around.

I'll be removing the old nest in a couple of days. I have every hope that the pair will go through the process again and have another brood. Happy days!!

A Worthy Cause

I have just read and signed the petition: "Tell Wal-Mart to stop the sale of
whale meat in Japan!"

Please help by signing this petition. It takes 30 seconds and will really
help. Please follow this link:

http://www.care2.com/go/z/12524

Once you have signed, help even more, by telling your friends
and family to sign as well!

Thank you!

My Walk Today

I walked with Jean 3 miles today on "our path" that runs along Clear Creek. Jean sniffed many things of interest and I spied many birds and butterflies. The highlights? For Jean it was time spent in the creek (he loves to lie in the water) and sniffing out a woodchuck. For me it was seeing two male Indigo Buntings. I haven't seen since I snapped that photo over a month ago. While I was viewing the Buntings, I had a guest on my arm; a butterfly! It landed on my arm as we were walking and traveled with us for about ½ mile! It apparently found something it liked (it was a hot morning in the sun and I was perspiring). It was the most incredible feeling to have such a delicate creature on my arm for such a long time.

And Then There Were 4 Again

In checking the bluebirds today, I have determined that one has died because there are only 4 birds in the box. I suspected as much since returning home, but didn't want to be too hasty in that determination. I thought that there might be a chance that one was wedged under the others, as was the case with the Song Sparrow babies. While it is sad that one has succumbed, I think that the bird's death has not been caused by predation for I see no signs of intrusion into the nest. Therefore, I have every hope that the remaining 4 will become healthy fledglings. And when will that be? Well, the first one hatched on the 10th with the others closely following on the 11th. Bluebirds remain in the nest 15-20 days after hatching, so I estimate that they will be fledging around the 28th.

Song Sparrows Have Fledged

I'm happy to report that the song sparrows fledged last week. I haven't seen them since leaving the nest, but then again, I haven't been here to see them! Now that the nest is empty, we can transplant the grass to the back of the house and finish cleaning the deck. Hmmm...not sure if this is good news or not ;)

Bluebirds Have Hatched

While I was in Marblehead, Paul noticed that all 5 bluebirds hatched. I checked the nest today and they are safe and sound and growing like weeds. I'll get a picture online when I can.

A Song Sparrow Chick Has Hatched!

Please excuse the fuzziness of the image! We didn't want to be hovering too long over this obviously hungry newborn. It's bad enough that we're grilling out tonight. We're leaving tomorrow for the weekend. I expect that if all goes well, all 5 chicks will be hatched when we return.

I checked the Bluebird nest today and found 5 warm eggs. I assume that incubation has begun. We'll have to get some mealworms for them when we get back into town. OH, this is just so exciting!!

I Feel Like a Playground Monitor

Fox pup showed up again today. When I first saw her, she was in "her place" under the suet feeder, but she wasn't there for long. She started what amounted to a tour of our yard, doing a circle that included a side-trip into the garage. I noticed yesterday that the builders ate their lunch inside the garage and left their toaster oven behind (ok, now I have this creepy feeling that I'm an voyeur!) I'm sure that crumbs remained as well.

The fox was noticably larger, more nimble and less afraid of her environment.(I'm just going to stick with "her" until I get evidence otherwise.) Because of this developmental growth, what worried me today was not the well-being of the fox, but instead the possibility that she could destroy the song sparrow nest. As the fox emerged from the garage, she came around by the deck near the nest and that's when I decided that it was time to monitor the situation from the outside. When I came out on the deck, she must have been under it because I couldn't find her at first. Gingerly walking towards the nest and then checking it (I received "that look" from the mom-bird) gave the fox time to emerge from under the deck. What amazed me is that she didn't seem to know that I was out there. Granted, I opened the door as softly as possible, but it sticks and doesn't open very easily. Therefore I was sure that she would have heard me come out. But I was able to snap a couple of photos (on a side note, please excuse my picture-taking--I'm still learning how to use the digital camera!) Then she took off at a fairly fast clip down into the ravine and out of sight.

Am I not the luckiest girl in the world to be a playground monitor between a red fox pup and a song sparrow and her nest?

And Then There Were 5

I am very, very pleased to report that another egg has been added to the bluebird nest. Last night, the temperature dipped into the upper 30's, but despite this, all is well with the nest.

I don't think that nest size exceeds 6 for bluebirds, so if there is to be another eggs, it should appear by tomorrow. Paul and I are heading to Milwaukee on Thursday when I imagine that the female will begin incubation.

And Then There Were 4

I just checked the bluebird nest box and discovered a total of 4 eggs. When we checked yesterday there were 3, so she's been laying one per day. I laid out some more grubs that we pulled from the ground last evening while continuing to dig up an area on the back side of our house.

The Amish builders are here, but I doubt that their presence will adversely affect the blues. It will, however, impact the goldfinches who gather 12 at a time at the niger (thistle) seed feeder.

The Bluebird Nest Has Eggs!

Well, it's been a very exciting day here at Tate Rd. Paul mowed the grass for the first time this season. We had been putting it off because we don't have anywhere to store the mower. It was in our neighbor's barn over the winter. Our garage is still in the process of being built and we disposed of the plastic tarp that we used last year (a very inelegant solution, but the only viable option we had). But our grass was approaching the unmanageable and we feared that if we postponed the mowing any longer our Toro just wouldn't be able to manage. And fortunately, our neighbor is providing room and board for as long as we need.

While Paul was busy walking the Toro across the near-acre that we have to mow, I was busy digging in the dirt. Our goal is to get the tall grasses transplanted to the back of the house to provide a backdrop to the wildflowers and herbs that I want to plant there. My mom gave me a pre-seeded wildflower mat that I plan to use back there. But first, I needed to dig up area and remove the grass and weeds. Boy, is that a lot of work!!

From my vantage point, I was able to keep an eye on the bluebird house. Because Bob, our neighbor, was also mowing his grass, the birds weren't around. I figured that it would be a perfect time to monitor the nest. Yesterday when I checked it out, I was disappointed to see an empty nest. Today, however, I was thrilled to discover two blue eggs. I started jumping around, Paul came over and we jumped around together awhile. It made me feel so good that I chased away those House Sparrows while they were building their nest (I kept removing their efforts).

I went back to digging and I uncovered quite a few grubs. I put them in a shallow dish near the nest for the "birds of blue" as I like to call them.

Bluebirds lay their eggs once a day and they can lay as many as 6. Once all eggs are laid, incubation begins and lasts 13-14 days. Once the chicks hatch, they remain in the nest another 17-18 days. A bluebird pair to can have 3 broods per mating season. I think that the best our pair could do is to have 2 since they are getting a relatively late start.

But I'm getting ahead of myself. There are many dangers the lie between now and a healthy brood of bluebirds able to care for themselves. Racoons are predators who will eat the eggs. Other birds are also predators known for removing eggs and hatchlings in order to seize control of a nest for their use. Careful monitoring helps as does providing a supplemental food source (mealworms). I intend to provide both. I've been a responsible bluebird house owner thus far, I don't plan on slacking off now :)

Song Sparrow Nest

The rains have subsided, the fog is gone and temperatures are on the rise. Therefore, I felt that it would be alright to check on the song sparrow's nest. In the past when I've leaned out over the railing to get a good look, she has flown away, which has given me access to the eggs, but it also gives other creatures access as well. I've seen a pair of Brown-Headed Cowbirds around lately and I'm sure that they are actively looking for nests to lay their eggs in. I certainly do not want to be culpable in such a 'crime', so I have afforded the song sparrow a lot of girth in my movements outdoors. But with the change in the weather, curiousity overcame me. I went out without the camera because I was convinced that she would fly away and that I'd have plenty of time to come back in to get it if there was something worth shooting. However, she did not fly off, even when I extended myself over the railing to get a good look. If you've never been stared at by a bird at close range (about 3 feet in my case), you really should take any opportunity to do it. There is something so unique in the experience that it is a bit beyond words for me right now. Anyway, as the picture shows, a "good look" is still obscured by grass, not to mention the fact of how well she blends into her environment. I tried to capture the look in her eyes, but I'm afraid that its not possible to see them in the picture.

I wonder what her reluctance to fly away means. Is she just simply more accustomed to my intrusions? Or is she sitting on newly hatched little ones? The latter possibility causes in me almost enough temptation to want to go out there and deliberately scare her away. I will not, however. I think that I'll go play tennis instead. I saw a Great Blue Heron last week fly in to the stream that runs near the courts, maybe I'll be lucky again today.

1st Hummingbird of the Season

My efforts to get the hummingbird feeder out have already been rewarded. I spotted a hummer (you may know it as a car, but to me it's a bird) this afternoon and was able to take a picture. It's not the best, but it was the closest that I could get. He flew away right after snapping it. It has rained all day causing our yard to be enshrouded in this wonderful fog that reminds me of Scotland. Most birds haven't ventured out of their warm homes to come to the feeders, so this hummer is quite a treat.