Early Nesting Activity

Carolina Wrens Quirky Nest Locations

It is hard to believe given the recent winter weather but presently you may see evidence of certain birds beginning the nesting process. For weeks now I have been hearing Cardinals singing, as well as Chickadees, Titmice, Bluebirds, and Carolina Wrens.

The Carolina Wren is one of the earliest nesting birds you should be aware of and be prepared for its quirky choices of nesting locations around the house. Carolina Wrens are notorious for choosing to nest in what seems to us to be terrible and dangerous locations. But their beautifully crafted nest can be so well concealed that you only accidentally discover it while doing a little spring cleaning. Their nest is an expertly engineered “cave” made from long thin pieces of root, a little moss, and lots of lacey skeletonized leaves intertwined where the eggs will be laid deep within.

Hopefully, by pointing this out now you may be able to discourage one from nesting in a location that will be quite the inconvenience for you later.

Here is a list of actual nesting locations we have either experienced or encountered with customers: A wreath on the front door, open mailbox, on a shelf in the garage or garden shed, under the hood of an old vehicle that’s been sitting for a while, upside down canoe, bicycle helmet hanging on a wall, in a hanging plastic shopping bag, behind pillows on an outdoor couch, in a potted plant on the porch, on a hanging ladder, in a covered boat, in a gas or charcoal grill, and in the folds of a hammock to name a few.

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If you have experienced something like this in the past get ahead of it now to avoid the unpleasantness of having to relocate a nest, which rarely works. Avoid leaving a window or door open on your garage or shed because these inquisitive little birds will and do quite expertly find their way in and out of small places and openings. At the store during the spring months, we sometimes leave the backdoor open to let in the fresh air. We have seen in just a few hours a Carolina Wren discover an empty box on a shelf and promptly begin nest building. It can happen that fast. You may think to put up a birdhouse for them out in the yard somewhere but that usually does not work. Carolina Wrens want to be close to the cover and protection of your house, or some large object. I have had success with Carolina Wrens in a birdhouse, but it was placed on the wall of my covered porch just a few feet from my backdoor.

If you discover a Carolina Wren nest with eggs or babies in an unwanted place, please consider letting them finish and allow the babies to fledge. Wren babies leave the nest quickly, sometimes less than two weeks after hatching.

Bluebirds Searching for Nest Sites

Bluebirds are now singing and exhibiting courtship behaviors. Listen for the sweet call and the male wing waving as he sits on a nest box or near-by perch to court a female. Although bluebirds are going through the motions of courtship relatively few will get on nest in the month of March. Sure, there are always a few eager pairs, but the majority seem to wait until early to mid-April. There is plenty of time to still offer a nest box in your yard and attract Bluebirds this spring and summer. Bluebird numbers are great and its easier than ever to attract them with a nest box. Rather than duplicate our “Bluebird Handout” in the store with all the nest box placement tips and suggestions I would prefer to dispel a few myths instead. We frequently encounter customers who are under the impression one must have the perfect situation to attract Bluebirds. Bluebirds are quite good at adapting and the very fact they use nest boxes made by man illustrates this.

· Nest-boxes must face east. Not true. Facing it east is suggested only because the entrance hole would be away from prevailing weather patterns. Good idea but not necessary. My most successful box over the years has faced northwest.

· The nest box must be in a big clearing. Bluebirds are at times of the year a “field and meadow” type of bird which may be what led to this myth. The fact is fields and meadows never provided Bluebirds with nest sites so they would leave those areas in the spring to look for them in more wooded areas where secondary cavities (abandoned woodpecker holes) were available. Simply choose the most open space you have even if there are trees around. My yard is surrounded by forest, yet Bluebirds use one or two of the boxes I provide every year.

· You have to offer mealworms to attract Bluebirds. Absolutely not the case. The nest box is the most important part of the process in attracting Bluebirds. Feeding them is enjoyable and in periods of several days in a row of spring rains and very cool temperatures feeding them live mealworms can help them significantly, especially as the young grow and demand more food.

Announcement about Curbside Service

Curbside service is available Monday Through Friday ONLY. Saturday is our busiest day of the week with in-store customers requiring more help and consultation. Please understand we cannot efficiently attend to our in-store customers and fulfill orders being called in from the curb. You may still place an order by Friday for Saturday pick-up but we cannot process orders called in on Saturday. Thank you, we appreciate your cooperation.

Wood Thrush Notes

Who’s Knocking?

It started recently and maybe you’ve noticed, maybe not. There’s a very audible “knocking” sound that seems to go on and on sometimes for several minutes at a time. The sound may be very close by, it may be deep in the woods, sometimes from multiple locations. It sounds like two pieces of wood rhythmically making contact. I’m embarrassed to say it took me awhile to figure this little mystery out. My initial thought was it’s a bird. The Yellow-billed Cuckoo, a bird that I hear regularly throughout the summer, makes a clucking sound yet it is distinctly different than the knocking I was hearing. And as I was hearing this knocking well into October and November it did not make sense that it would be a Yellow-billed Cuckoo as they migrate back to S. America in the fall. One day as I was working in the yard the knocking began right in my backyard. I grabbed my binoculars that I keep close and stalked into position to catch the culprit making the sound. It was a chipmunk.

Most information I could find on this behavior referred to the sound as a warning to other chipmunks that danger is present, like a hawk for example. It may very well be the sound is also being used to stake claims on certain areas. In the fall as chipmunks begin to gather food for the long winter they become highly territorial. The work of gathering and storing food can mean life or death for them. Turf wars begin and it’s every chipmunk for him or herself. Chipmunks do not hibernate but may stay in their dens for long periods of time only coming out briefly when temperatures are conducive to gathering extra supplies. They may even go into torpor, a slowed-down state, to conserve energy.

So if you have heard and wondered about the knocking sound you hear this time of year it’s the eastern chipmunk.

Many of us still have hummingbirds although their numbers are dwindling. Remember, there is not a time that you should take your feeders down. Hummingbirds will continue to move through middle-Tn during the month of October. Keeping at least one feeder available can be of great help to these tiny travelers.

Keep your eyes on your birdbaths as weary warblers look for water sources during migration. You just may be treated to one of the many beautiful species of warblers bathing and drinking in your yard.

Dealing with Raccoons

You step out in the morning to find your birdfeeder on the ground and squirrels are gathered around it munching away on your deluxe birdseed you just bought, and maybe even on the feeder, too. You cuss the squirrels like any normal person would, and chase the squirrels clapping your hands like a lunatic while your neighbors peer at you from a window with fear and concern. They think being quarantined has finally gotten to you. Admit it, you’ve done this. But hold on. Maybe you’ve cussed the wrong animal.

Finding your feeder on the ground in the morning is likely due to the activities of our TN state mammal, the Raccoon. They routinely work the night shift raiding bird feeders, hummingbird feeders, and trash cans. The squirrels are simply taking advantage of the leftovers. Perhaps Raccoons know if you see squirrels gathered around your feeder on the ground you will conclude they were responsible. Raccoons just may be that smart. Just because you never see a Raccoon doesn’t mean they aren’t coming around. Raccoons are extremely intelligent and resourceful, and can efficiently remove birdfeeders from hooks and hangers in trees, climb a ½” diameter pole with a squirrel baffle in the way, fidget with lids on seed containers until they get them off, and will eat all the cat or dog food you left out for Fluffy or Fido. They are likely the best example of a true omnivore. They are extremely adaptive and use their dexterous front paws and long fingers to find and feast on a wide variety of fare. And they are as at home in the forest as they are in urban areas.

The next few months are typically when we hear the most frequent and numerous complaints about damaged feeders. Why? Just like birds consuming more because of the breeding season Raccoons are also having young, cubs as they are called, and are out every night looking for easy food sources like your feeders.

Females have one to seven cubs in spring to early summer. The young raccoons often spend the first two months or so of their lives high in a tree hole. Later, mother and children move to the ground and the cubs begin to explore their surroundings.

Unfortunately, the list of solutions is limited. The first recommended remedy is to remove the feeder, or feeders, in the evenings leaving nothing for the raccoons to find when they visit at night. Yes, this is inconvenient but it isn’t permanent. Usually two weeks of this strategy is enough to cause the raccoons to change their search pattern. It is extremely effective and inexpensive.

The second choice involves hardware. Our heavy duty shepherds pole, or 1” diameter pole system, with a raccoon baffle will work to keep these fur bearing bandits from getting your birdfeeders. A Raccoon baffle is double the length of a squirrel baffle and larger in diameter, too. Ones that we stock are made to fit certain ½” diameter poles up to a 1 3/4”

Many of you have heard that feeding them will keep them away from your birdfeeders. This typically just encourages more raccoon traffic. They will eat what you intended for them to have and get your feeders too.

As for live traps to relocate the animal I am not an advocate, particularly this time of year when they have cubs. And there are always more Raccoons that will come along.

So, next time you see your feeder on the ground don’t be so quick to blame the squirrels.

Get Ready for Bluebirds

In the coming weeks we will be sharing information about Bluebirds. We would like to address specific questions and concerns you may have that can then be shared with everyone. If you have questions regarding Bluebirds please email us at thewoodthrushshop@gmail.com.

Have you noticed? Birds are singing and going through some of the motions of courtship. The breeding season is fast approaching. Its evident Eastern Bluebirds are already searching and competing for mates and potential nest-sites. Several times in past weeks I’ve seen multiple Bluebirds land on and look in the nest boxes around my yard. (See video) In the video you will see classic courtship behaviors like wing fluttering. Many of you have reported likewise.

Although most Bluebirds won’t begin their first nesting until late March to mid April, their search for nest sites will typically intensify in the last weeks of February and into March. A few eager Bluebirds may get on nest as early as mid-March.

You may think you don’t have the right situation for Bluebirds because you’ve heard they have very specific needs for a nest-box location. Not really true. Most things you hear about what Bluebirds NEED are very much over stated. Bluebirds adapt very nicely to all kinds of yard situations. If Bluebirds needed the “perfect setup” as described by the many articles you may read about them they would be extinct by now. These perfect nest-sites generally never existed in nature.

In fact it’s interesting to consider where Bluebirds nested before people started putting out nest-boxes. Bluebirds are considered a secondary cavity nester which means they will not excavate a nest, like a woodpecker, but use one that has been created already. Once upon a time secondary cavities were in great supply but through habitat loss and competition Bluebirds were “forced” to adapt to birdhouses, or what we refer to as nest-boxes. Using nest-boxes is an example of Bluebirds adaptability. Offer a couple of nest-boxes in good locations and see what happens. If you already have nest boxes now is a good time to make sure they are cleaned out and free of old debris left over from last year’s nesting’s.

Here are a Few Tips on Choosing a Location:

Ø An open lawn area may be preferable but not absolutely necessary. Choose the most open location available in your yard even if it means there will be a some human traffic.

Ø Bluebirds are typically more sensitive to a lot of bird traffic, so it’s not recommended nest boxes be placed near bird feeders. What’s a comfortable distance? It’s impossible to be exact but we would suggest 50 to 100 feet away, or out of sight of feeding stations.

Ø You may have heard that nest boxes need to face east. While this may be helpful to keep wet weather from being a detrimental factor this is not something Bluebirds require.

Ø A Bluebird box does not need to be on a pole. The advantage of a pole is it allows you to position the box in the location you determine to be the best and apply a predator baffle if necessary. Bluebird boxes can be mounted to trees, fences, and utility poles. A height of about 5’ is sufficient. Our pole system for Bluebird boxes will put the box at 5’ after installation. The two primary predators of nesting Bluebirds are raccoons and rat snakes. Both can easily climb trees and poles so if you experience regular visits by raccoons you should consider placing your Bluebird box on a pole with a raccoon baffle.

Bluebird box with raccoon baffle.

Ø How many boxes can be offered in a typical yard situation? As a general rule we would suggest boxes be placed 90 to 100 feet apart, or out of sight of one another. There is no harm in offering lots of nest boxes (birdhouses) in your yard but do not expect them to all get used at the same time especially if they are close in proximity to one another. For instance, nest boxes within 25 feet of one another are not likely to be occupied simultaneously. Birds are too territorial to accept this situation under normal circumstances unless they are colony nesters like Purple Martins and Cliff Swallows. But feel free to decorate your yard with lots of birdhouses if that’s your thing. Offering multiple nest-boxes is great and it does lessen the competition for a single box but do consider the nature of the species you are trying to attract and what kind of setting would be most appealing. I offer many boxes in varied situations in my yard and enjoy observing which ones get used from year to year. Sometimes I’m surprised by the choices made by birds.

Ø We are often asked “when is a good time to put up a bluebird box”? Every day is good. However, it is a great time to do so now and in the next few weeks because the breeding season is fast approaching. The sooner they know the box is there the more likely they will consider using it this season.

And PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE remember do not let your desire to attract Bluebirds cause you to clean out other songbird’s nests like Chickadees, Wrens, Tufted Titmice, or White-breasted Nuthatch. In no way does cleaning out these birds nests ensure you will get Bluebirds. Chickadees typically nest earlier than Bluebirds and only once. So PLEASE let the Chickadees have the box if they have begun to nest.

Bluebirds will nest up to 3 times per season and have plenty of time. Even if you do not get Bluebirds during the first nesting there is still time for two more. Besides, if a Bluebird wanted the nest-box it would easily out-compete a Chickadee. Enjoy the fact that you’ve attracted a native songbird to your nest-box and watch the process. It’s a lot of fun.

Late Summer and Early Fall Hummingbirds

Wow! My hummingbird feeders have been working overtime for a week and a half now. Yesterday evening my wife and I estimated approximately 50 hummingbirds swarming the 5 visible feeders on our back porch. This morning we saw the same thing. It was hovering room only. There is no doubt that we are experiencing the peak of hummingbird activity which means we will soon begin to see numbers of hummingbirds dwindling with each day that passes. As the days grow shorter hummingbirds will instinctively feel the urge to go. For now, though, we are thoroughly enjoying the action. And I am paying very close attention in case a different kind of hummingbird appears. Recently, a friend of mine in the western most part of Bellevue had a confirmed Rufous hummingbird at her feeders.

Rufous Hummingbird

The Rufous is a summer resident of the west coast, mainly from central California all the way up into northwest Canada. Like the Ruby-throated hummingbird they migrate back to Central America and Mexico and along the Gulf coast to Florida for the winter. However, each year small numbers of Rufous hummers appear in southern states including TN. Late August and September are the months they tend to appear, or at least be seen. Some Rufous hummers have been known to stay in mid TN most of a winter.

The adult male Rufous is quite distinguishable with its rufous (reddish brown) back, flank, rump and tail. The head and crown are even darker brown to red, a red face, and bright red gorget and white breast. Pic of Male and Female Rufous

Adult females have a green back and crown with hints of rufous on the flanks. A central grouping of red spots may be visible on the white throat. Juvenile males and females will look very much like the adult female with the exception of the red spots. A lone juvenile Rufous would be difficult to notice amongst a group of Ruby-throated hummingbirds.

Rufous hummers are reportedly even more aggressive about guarding a food source than Ruby- throats, if you can imagine that.

The video was taken on my back porch this morning. Most of you do not get to see multiple hummingbirds on a feeder at the same time. In more rural areas it is quite common to see. Continue to keep your feeders clean and nectar fresh. You might be the next one to see a Rufous hummingbird.