eNews December 2024

  • four images clockwise from upper left: a nest box made from scorched wood; a chickadee perched on a branch with dark green leaves and red berries; a young partially-downy Barn Owl perched on a wooden rafter inside a building; a small wren-like songbird with bright orange, black, and white markings.
    eNews December 2024

    – New Blog, Ancient Technique
    – Welcoming Two New Chapters
    – Data Entry Reminder
    – Newly Added Data

  • Charred wooden boards
    Is “Shou Sugi Ban” Suitable for Nest Boxes?

    With the help of NestWatcher David Alva, we went on a learning journey about the centuries-old Japanese technique of shou sugi ban to find out if it would be suitable for a birdhouse. This wood-charring method creates a weathered look that adds durability and beauty without the need for chemical treatments.

  • four images clockwise from upper left: a screenshot of the NestWatch homepage with the words
    eNews October 2024

    -New Website Launched
    -New Chapter in Ecuador
    -Do Birds Use “Scarecrows”
    -A First For Us

  • A yellow and gray bird perched at the entrance to a nest box with a piece of snake skin in its beak.
    Do Birds Use Scarecrows? On the Evolution of Snake Skin as Nest Material

    Humans use scarecrows to scare away birds, but do birds also use scare tactics to repel predators from their nests? Our latest research suggests that they do, and NestWatchers may have even witnessed it in action. Read on to find out how birds try to frighten away ghouls from the nest.

  • four images clockwise from upper left: a hummingbird perched in its nest incubating eggs; an adult blue jay feeding nestlings at its nest; six white eggs in a nest cup lined with feathers; a Blue-gray Tanager perched next to its nest and a begging nestling.
    eNews August 2024

    – Do Hummingbirds Use Birdhouses?
    – New App Update
    – New Chapter in Colombia
    – A Maine Focus

  • An adult female hummingbird sitting in its lichen-decorated nest, built on a tree branch.
    Will Hummingbirds Use Birdhouses?

    Hummingbird “nest boxes” are relatively new products that have a lot of bird lovers asking, “Should I buy one?” But the short answer is “no.” Hummingbirds do not use nest boxes, and there are better ways to attract these flying gems.

  • Four images to represent four new stories. Upper Left: a blurred image of a webpage with the words
    eNews July 2024

    -Hatching Soon: New Website
    -Meet the Nuttall’s Woodpecker
    -Robins Galore
    -Super Job, South Carolinians!

  • a Nuttall's Woodpecker feathered nestling lies in a nest box
    Meet the Nuttall’s Woodpecker, a Little-known Nester

    This month we shine a spotlight on the often-overlooked Nuttall’s Woodpecker. Much about their breeding habits remains a mystery, creating a great opportunity for citizen scientists to contribute valuable insights. Discover what we still don’t know about Nuttall’s Woodpecker and how you can get involved in uncovering these mysteries.

  • clockwise from upper left: the head and breast of a serene female mallard; several people with binoculars looking across a field out of frame; a carolina wren perched sideways on a branch and holding a leaf in its beak; a mourning dove nest in a planter that has been hung on a balcony of an apartment.
    eNews June 2024

    -Past Nest Records Revived
    -Our Host on the Coast
    -New Chapter in Upper Manhattan
    -Kansas Data Boost