Pygmy Nuthatches — Big Bear, Calif. Trail (2000) 

    Another first during the 2000 season was a family of Pygmy Nuthatches which fledged a clutch of nine chicks from a hanging box.  Several adults (the pair plus extra helpers) worked to keep the chicks fed. 

Pymy Nuthatch at nestbox hole before entering to feed nestlings  (5/25/02).  

  A mixture of fur and yarn was stuffed over the nestbox door (photo at left) and into crevices by pygmy nuthatches preparing for winter roosting.

The box is hung about 15 feet high, has about 5"x5" floor,  two 1.25" round holes and hardwood face guards.  Very tight box construction, no vents, no drain holes.

Pygmy Nuthatches shown with open beaks  are just a few days old (Big Bear, Calif. trail.)

More small boxes were added prior to the 2002 season with the intent to increase the mountain chickadee population.  In 2001, several pygmy adults took care of nine nestlings in one box.   But with more available boxes in 2002, the pygmy nuthatch adults seemed to spread out into simple pairs to monopolize the extra boxes.

The few mountain chickadee nestings did not increase from 2001 to 2002 and I am concerned that mountain chickadees will not be able to compete against the more aggressive pygmy nuthatches.

Ash Throated Flycatcher Eggs,  June 2003

The Ash Throated Flycatcher eggs were laid in a hanging nestbox on a mountain trail in Big Bear, California.  Three fledged.

 

 

Late Clutch of House Sparrows — Aug. 19, 2001

    The nesting season for my trail is basically over by late July of each year or after the second bluebird nestings at any site (whichever comes sooner).  House sparrows snuck in a late clutch after two clutches of bluebirds successfully fledged.   August in So. Calif. is very hot and it appears these eggs started developing with the first egg laid because of the staggered growth.  

Unknown Nest — 2001

      Because of the number of honeybee swarms that have taken over nestboxes on my Yorba Linda, Calif. trail, metal guards are being placed over some nestbox holes in an attempt to lure bees away from active nestboxes.

  These "Bee" boxes with metal guards across the openings were inactive except one used in 2000 by house wrens that were able to squeeze around the guard.  This box was moved to a new location in 2001 and at season's end, this nest was found. 

 

A small soft nest was built in a hanging box when I was a beginning bluebirder in 1998.  

The nest is approximately 3 inches round, 1.5 inches tall with a cup depth of about .75 inch.  It was built perfectly in the center of a 4"x4" box floor without touching the box sides.

6 Eggs were laid (1 didn't hatch)

I believe the eggs were white (dull?) 

5 Young Hatched and Fledged

While the nest was active, I described the nest to a more experienced bluebirder and was told it was the nest of a Bewicks Wren (and I now know that was not correct).   

Luckily, homeowners saved the nest and recently loaned it to me so that photos could be taken.

If anyone has any ideas which western bird near the Pacific coastline would build a nest of this type, please let me know.  Many  possibilities are ruled out by the large size of the clutch (6 eggs).

The last photo was taken with the nest flipped over to show details of the bottom construction.