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NestWatch Blog Posts

  • twigs, sticks, and dried grasses in a suet cage, hanging from a feeder pole
    What Kind of Nest Materials are Best to Provide for Birds?

    By Holly Grant, Project Assistant Some birdwatchers and nature lovers like to celebrate the beginning of breeding season by providing nesting materials for use by the birds that will soon become their neighbors. Each spring we see a similar uptick…

  • Cherry ants crawl over a piece of wood.
    What Should You Do About Ants in Birds’ Nests?

    NestWatchers occasionally encounter ants or their colonies in birds’ nests. What, if anything, should be done about them? The answer depends on whether the ants are predatory or not.

  • inside a nest box, the beginnings of a nest being built on top of a blowfly trap
    What Should You Do About Bird Blow Flies in the Nest?

    Bird blowflies are an unwelcome blood-feeding parasite found in the nests of many species of birds. Their presence is often blamed for nestling deaths, but there is little scientific evidence that they commonly reduce nestling survival, suggesting that their harmful effects are below a lethal threshold. What—if anything—can or should we do about them when monitoring nest boxes?

  • two featherless Northern Flicker nestlings lying on wood chips inside a nest box
    What’s All The Buzzing About?

    Do Northern Flickers have a “hive mind” mentality? Or is their acoustic resemblance to a swarm of bees simply coincidence? Listen in, and decide for yourself!

  • An adult kestrel perched at the entrance of a wooden nest box with a lizard, about to feed its chicks.
    Why Are American Kestrels Declining? New Insights from a Continental Study

    American Kestrels have been experiencing a long-term decline in populations. NestWatch data contributed to a recent study that brought together multiple data sources from around the continent. This integration of demographic data sources revealed new insights into how we can help reverse these declines.

  • Wildlife at Work

    As companies slowly reopen and work to make their facilities safe for their staff, they can also consider making their properties safer for wildlife. In our new blog post, we highlight some certified wildlife habitats on business campuses as examples of good stewardship which benefit both people and planet.

  • a male northern flicker in the grass, munching on a cicada
    Will Brood X Benefit Nesting Birds?

    Brood X is an enormous cohort of periodical cicadas in North America and is emerging now! NestWatchers are asked to be on the lookout for impacts on the 2021 nesting season.

  • 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.

  • Your Junco Nest Observations Could Help Researchers Impeded by COVID-19

    Nesting season is upon us, and yet researchers studying urban-nesting juncos have found their research halted by stay-at-home ordinances in response to COVID-19. They’re inviting anyone who finds a junco nest (of any subspecies) to please report the details to NestWatch. Together we can help the junco research team continue their studies even as we all stick close to home!