Tree Swallow feeding its youngs.
Very hungry chicks make parents busy.
American Robin Nest on Porch
Both happy and and sad when I discovered this beautiful robin had built this nest on the ledge above our front door on the porch! We had to block the window from the inside because our living room light would disturb the birds at night, and that was not a problem. But we had to use the back door to get in and out of our house, which was inconvenient! The good news is that the venture was successful, and the fledglings left successfully:)
Place bug here….
Young Northern Mocking birds want to eat!
Full House
This nest was located under my bathroom window on the side of my house.
Chow Line
The one that got away…
An Osprey pair on their nest along the Susquehanna River
The Baby and His Blankie
Newly hatched Mockingbird baby. The white cotton the parents picked up to incorporate into the nest reminded me of a baby blanket.
The Second Story
My husband and I watched a Mockingbird pair build their nest on our front port, using an old birdhouse as the base. We were very excited for them to move in, as we could watch from our living room without disturbing the family.
Mourning dove chicks snuggle under parent
Feed Me Seymour
My wife and I were sitting in a bird blind for about 15 minutes before we heard this “tiny” little cheep…. We turned around to see this little guy peaking his or her head out of the nest. I took this photo and we immediately exited the bird blind. As we did we saw one of the parents flying into the blind with a large worm in its beak.
Osprey on nest
I noticed the nest as I was leaving the park. I pulled over, hoping the bird would show. After about 5 minutes, the Osprey returned and stared at me for what seemed an eternity!
Barn Swallow Pair
There is a picnic pavilion in Fairmount Park where every year, Barn Swallows make nests and hatch their young. There are some days that the field near the pavilion seems to be alive due to all the Swallows flying around catching insects.
Eastern Kingbird on nest.
This is an Eastern Kingbird sitting on her nest.
Osprey Feeding
Dad brought dinner home again
No Snakes Here!
Newly hatched Carolina Wren in a nest lined with snakeskin
The Barn Swallow Quintet
The Barn Swallow Quintet lives in the old hog barn in our centennial farm. My daughters greet them every morning and every night as they care for their 4-H animals. A barn cat got hold of the mother swallow, but my empathetic 11-year-old was able to rescue her. It was a good thing, because the eggs hatched the next day. Three days later, these babies popped up to chirp for their supper.
Fuzzy eyebrows
Baby Carolina wren in the nest.
Carolina Wrens
Is it feeding time yet?
The parents built a nest in an old Christmas wreath, and it was a beautiful and safe home for these adorable chicks!
Two Adult Cliff Swallows on Nest with Chick Inside, July 2, 2014
Although a pair of Barn Swallows was perching near this already-built porch nest earlier this spring, the pair ceased doing so during May. On June 13, 2014 we first observed adult Cliff Swallows inside the nest, guarding and adding mud to it. In retrospect, assuming a 14-day incubation period, there must have already been at least one egg in the nest on that date because on June 30 and on subsequent days we observed a chick through the nest’s entrance hole. There may have been more chicks in the nest, but they were not visible. On July 2 I took this photo from inside my apartment through a crack in my blinds and through two layers of glass. It shows the chick inside the nest with two adults on the outside, presumably about to feed the chick. During that time period, there were often more than two adults seeking entrance to the nest, but not all of them were allowed inside because an adult inside the nest’s entrance would peck some of them away. Once an adult would gain entrance to the nest, it would often seem to be feeding the chick and adding mud to the nest at the same time. We no longer observed this chick in the nest, or any adults guarding the nest, after July 8. We therefore assume that this chick fledged on July 9. A detailed chronology is available at http://www.deerkisshollowjewelry.com/2014updates.htm
Cliff Swallow Chick, July 7, 2014
On June 13, 2014, adult Cliff Swallows were first observed guarding this nest from the inside and adding mud to it. Unbeknownst to us, there must have already been at least one egg or tiny hatchling inside the nest on that date because we observed this chick in the nest on June 30. After July 8 we observed no chicks in the nest nor adults guarding it. We therefore assume that this chick fledged on July 9. A detailed chronology is available at http://www.deerkisshollowjewelry.com/4014updates.htm
Cliff Swallow Nest on my Porch with Chick Inside, July 7, 2014
Barn Swallows built the bottom part of this nest on my porch in 2011 and used it to successfully raise a brood of five. The nest is right outside the only door to my apartment and that of my neighbors. In 2012, two separate pairs of Barn Swallows used this nest to raise broods of five and four, respectively.
In July 2013, a pair of Cliff Swallows arrived and modified the nest, adding a dome with an entrance hole. However, the Cliff Swallows abandoned the nest about two weeks later after my landlord had sent a roofer who put up a ladder next to the nest to inspect the roof for a leak.
In May 2014, a pair of Barn Swallows began perching near the nest. However, later that month, Cliff Swallows arrived at the nest and seemed to take it over. The Barn Swallow pair ceased perching near the nest. On June 13, 2014, we first observed a pair of Cliff Swallows inside the nest, guarding it and adding mud to it. A chick first appeared in the nest on June 30, 2014. The adult Cliff Swallows continued adding mud to the nest even while they were feeding the chick. Because the nest is enclosed, we had not been able to observe the number of eggs or hatchlings inside the nest.
July 8, 2014 was the last date on which we observed this chick in the nest. Therefore we are assuming that the chick fledged on July 9. I have done my best to enter this nesting attempt under NestWatch, but had difficulty adding all of my observations. A chronology of this successful nesting attempt is available at http://www.deerkisshollowjewelry.com/2014updates.htm
Bald Eagle Nest
Bald Eagle Nest on River Road near the Mississippi River in Baton Rouge, LA
Pick me! Pick me!
It was hard to believe there were actually EIGHT swallows in this nest. The only way to tell was to count beaks. Their hard-working parents sure had their beaks full trying to get enough food to their large brood!
Osprey Family
I’ve been watching this and other Osprey nests along the Columbia River on the WA and OR border. This little family just finished breakfast and ‘Daddy’ is taking off for another round of fishing.
And the winner is…
I thought this was the worst location for a house but I couldn’t find anywhere else to put it and I wanted one close that I could watch from our deck. It’s obviously not as bad as I thought because these 2 both seemed to want it What I didn’t manage to get in the photo was the wren who was moving in and kept popping her head in and out. I’m not sure who was there first but the wren won.
Swallow nest this year
This year they added horse hair from a nearby corral to their nest.
The swallows enjoy a quiet moment before the babies arrive.
This is the fifth year this pair has returned to the nest under our deck.
Humble Abode in a Geranium Basket
Momma Mourning Dove nested on my hot front porch in my hanging geranium basket! Fledglings are named Geri and Num! These three have been a pleasure to watch each day!
The Alligator
This chickadee keeps flying in and out of the alligator’s mouth. Unfortunately, it was too dark to take a photograph of the interior with the chicks, but this alligator is just about equivalent to a birdhouse anyways 😉
I also have a video of the chickadee flying into and out of the nest with baby chirping coming from inside the alligator. If you would like to see it, it is on my Flickr account. Here is the link: https://www.flickr.com/photos/arcticpug/14314875029/
Prim and Proper Nest Sitting
At Sandy Point State Reservation, on the Southern end of Plum Island, there is a large roped off area that is closed to protect nesting Piping Plovers and Least Terns. Their nests are right out in the open, on the flat sandy beach! There were many Terns flying in circles, obviously protecting their nests, but this on was sitting patiently on her nest, all prim and proper!
The One & Only
The Northern Mockingbird couple spent well over a month perfecting this nest in my topiary next to my front porch steps. This spot is prime real estate for the Mockers who fight for this location every season. Every time we were outside anywhere in the vicinity, he or she would come with a stick in mouth, and fine tune the nest right in front of us. She finally laid an egg in it on Mother’s Day, but, decided to lay the remaining in my neighbors yard. The egg was abandoned.
Majestic Osprey Nest With Million Dollar View
Osprey and 3 nestlings in gigantic breathtaking nest overlooking Lake Sawyer.
Pretty Gray Jay Eggs
Blue-headed Vireo Nest
This is definitely my favorite nest so far that I have discovered.I like how they tie it to a branch allowing it to hang from there. And the assortment of old mans beard, along with lichen and birch bark makes it such a nice looking nest, and reminds me of a little purse.
Mom is Fed First
Every time the male blue jay would arrive to the nest with food he’d first give the female some of the food, they’d then both feed the nestlings together.
Gently, with loving care, they fed their nestlings together
Watching nests is a fascinating and quite a learning experience. I’ve watched several different nests over the last couple years but had never found a blue jay nest – which is one I’ve really wanted to find – they hide their nests so well, as is evident in the photo I’ve chosen here. When I came across this nest late May of this year I was over the moon happy and the best part was that I hadn’t really missed that much because I discovered it just a few days after they had hatched. Every day I visited the nest and stayed for hours recording video, and just observing what they do. Luckily for me the pair know me very well and have for the last 3 years so they had no trouble with me being there whatsoever. What I liked the most was that the nest was no where near the neighborhood and was very far into the local woods. This made for a very nice setting. For me, this nest has been one of the most interesting and fun to watch, the way they work together as a team is beautiful. I can’t help but to admire all the hard work they put into it!
Hooded Warbler chicks
I was observing a female Hooded Warbler when I saw her land on a nest about 2 feet in past the tree line. I waited for her to fly off then I quickly went in and snapped a couple shots before she returned.
Dinner Time!
Four young American Robins wait for the mother to return with food
Baby Mockingbirds
Mockingbird nest in my rose bush, June 2014.
Mockingbird Eggs
Northern Mockingbirds nested in my rose bush. They added an egg each day from May 26 to May 29, 2014.
Swainson’s Thrush nest in Oregon
The nest was located in a 40-acre stand of large second-growth Douglas Fir trees. There were a few Oregon White Oak and Bigleaf Maple trees along the edges of the stand, and scattered Hazel bushes throughout. The ground cover was mostly mosses, Sword Fern, and some Poison Oak. I found this nest exactly 62 years to the day after my father found a Swainson’s Thrush nest in an oak grove about three miles from this location.
Robin Feeding Frenzy
This nest is only 4 feet from the ground and right by the road. The chicks were quiet, and I didn’t notice them or the nest. Then a parent showed up with lunch. The noise these little ones can make!!!
Treman Babies
I am submitting this photo which was taken by my daughter, Mathea, along the trail at Treman Park. She asked me to submit it for her. Around shoulder height, they found this nest nestled into the rocks, full of baby birds waiting for mom and a meal. Very surprised to see this nest and birds so vulnerable close to the trail and people.