I blew off the entrance bridge this morning. As I walked back across the porch, I noticed fresh grass on the mat. This has happened before. Last time it was a Phoebe.
I thought I had corrected the issue with a tight ring of hardware cloth which covers the top of the lamp and extends up to almost touch the ceiling.
I have been outdown by a tiny bird. This is not unusual here. It seems that tiny creatures are smarter than I am quite often.
I will wait to see which of my little friends has chosen to set up house on my porch. A Titmouse just scolded me. Is it she? Nope. She is in a house in the carport.
I had my Merlin App listen for possible suspects. See the screenshot below. Only a few are small enough.
Merlin App list of birds recorded.
I waited as patiently as an impatient person can, but never saw the nester. The nest must be removed. It is not only a mess-maker, it is also a fire hazard.
Somebody id. this nest.
Don’t hate on me bird people. I have enough problems without adding housefire to the list. Remember, I rescue mice, spiders and snakes.
I went into my neighbors houses while they were away and took pictures. I knocked at the door and if no one answered, I went in with my camera to check out their housekeeping and furnishings.
At one house, some babies were home alone. I took their pictures while they were sleeping.
Once the lady of the house ignored my knocking and was inside when I opened her door. It was quite a shock for us both, but she let me take her picture without a fuss.
Here is Mrs. Chickadee stuck at home incubating those eggs.
She was probably glad for my company.
That fluffy stuff is fur from my New Zealand rabbit named Barley. How cozy? I love her colors.
Here are the babies that were left home alone.
I don’t get this free-range parenting.
I’m a helicopter mom, like my mother before me.
I saw Mrs. Wren leave, so I took the opportunity to check out her decor.
Wren nest.
Then I dropped by the Bluebirds’ house and…
What’s this? Darn cowbird. You brood parasite! You need to mooooove on.
“Cowbird”
Kidding aside, let’s compare these three nests of three different species.
All three nests were in birdhouses connected to the deck on my home. They are the standard bluebird type houses.
Three birdhouses
Three little nests are we.
The Carolina Chickadee lays 6-8 lightly speckled white eggs in a flat, soft nest with fewer twigs.
Chickadee nest:flat but very soft
The Carolina Wren usually lays 5 brown-spotted, whitish eggs in a domed nest. It looks like a bassinet made of twigs and grass.
Wren nest: tallest with a dome
The Eastern Bluebird lays 4-6 light blue eggs in a loose, cup-like nest. All three nests included pine needles and moss.
Bluebird nest: loose with an indentation in the middle
The Brown-headed Cowbird (not really pictured)lays one white speckled egg at a time in the nests of other, usually smaller songbirds. The foster chick grows more quickly than the biological offspring of the nest owner. The cowbird chick out-competes the smaller chicks for food and sometimes pushes his “siblings” out of the nest.
If you hear a squeaky, rattling gurgle-like sound, look around. If you see two strangers and one is in all black with a brown hood, alert your neighbors to the possibility of an impending invasion.
NO, not me with my camera. I was referring to the cowbirds.
She was probably glad for my company.
floweralley 