Heat shields for nestboxes in SE Arizona

After I lost a nest with 6 chicks to heat, I immediately modified the two other active nestboxes with ash-throated flycatchers in it with heat shields. I am happy to report I have not lost a single chick since, even during several days of consecutive high heat, that’s currently in SE AZ.

We have ground predators (snakes) and those which can jump from trees (squirrels, etc) . So I could not get the mounting pole very close to the trees for early afternoon shade and the sun is very high in the sky with temps in the upper 90s and even 100F right now.

I used 3/4” styrofoam boards and since I did not want to drill into an active nestbox, instead of using screws or tacks, I used self-adhesive Velcro tabs and natural rubber pot risers as spacers for the styrofoam plates. This was easy and quick and least “invasive”. All items were available at the local Home Depot. The Velcro tabs stick really well even with wind, and teh styrofoam plates can easily be removed again when not needed.

Nesting on Bird Islands

Bird Islands, Cape Breton Island, Canada – July 4, 2023
https://ebird.org/checklist/S143575624

Tree Swallow Mama and Eastern Bluebird Babies

Beautiful Tree Swallow Mom with her clutch.
Eastern Bluebird babies.

The new nest

The male of nest #2 (with 2 eggs) is working on another nest in a tree next to it.

Infertile eggs?

Today is day 14 and the eggs have not hatched and do not appear to have been turned. The nest is damaged. Any ideas?

Only 2 nestlings now

Sadly there are only 2 nestlings left. The two weaker, smaller ones are gone from the nest. Any idea what happened? There used to be 4, then 3, and today 2.

Fledgling Hummingbirds

Fledglings. Being cared for by mom.

3 baby mockingbirds

There are only 3 babies in the nest. I meant 3 yesterday. 1 baby hatched late and looked weak, he sadly probably died.

Still waiting…

It’s been 13 days and these eggs have not hatched. Could they be infertile?

Wren eggs and ?

I’m not sure what the blue speckled eggs are. The pink/brown ones are Wren, they have set up the nest in one of my hanging plants in my porch. Anyone have any ideas?

Waiting…

Hopefully, these eggs hatch tomorrow, the nest was a bit damaged from a storm.

Such Sweet Mockingbirds!

Still 4 cute baby mockers.

Bathing(Part 3)

All between 3:54 PM and 3:57 PM in all the submissions. Except robin which was 3:49 PM. There was black birds, and I am not sure about starlings? No picture of them. 6/30/2023.

Empty Nest

House Finch nest had 3 eggs 6-26-23 The next day it had only 1 egg. On 7-2–23 my husband saw a bird take off from the nest. He only caught a glimpse of it…slender gray sparrow size. As of today 7-4-23 the nest is empty. I haven’t seen a HF since the raid which is strange because they are always around. The bird population seems much different this year. Even the House Finches struggled raising their broods this year losing chicks along the way.

Bathing(Part 2)

Continued…6/30/2023

Bathing/robin

6/30/2023

Baby Tree Swallow checking out the world with parent on alert

just hatched (and still hatching)

Arrived just in time to see this newly hatched Eastern Bluebird. If you look closely at two of the other eggs, you’ll see the peck marks of the hatchlings trying to get out.

Eagle Nest

Eagle nest located on Hawkins Road in Ferrisburgh VT. 7-3-23

Two Mockingbird Eggs

These eggs should hatch tomorrow or the day after!

They all hatched!

All 4 eggs hatched! Even the one that I thought was infertile.

Mockingbird Trying To Keep Its Nestlings Cool On A Very Hot In South Florida!

Mockingbirds Unusual Behavior!

Woodpecker

Think this is a female Hairy Woodpecker. She’s been around alot ~ very hungry! 7-1-23

Tree Swallow Young!

UNKNOWN NEST FOUND

I have a bluebird nest box with a 2 inch hole that I found this unidentified bird. I thought it was an American kestrell but they don’t add material and this nest has some long grass stocks with a cup made of all black feathers. Can anyone tell me what this nest is? I’m about to get a game camera to post nearby to help find the identification of the bird but thought I would ask this community first.

American Robin – Day 3

American Robin – Day 2

Newly Hatched Robins

Mockingbird Eggs

Only 4 or 5 more days until they hatch!!

Happy Birthday Mockingbird #3!

Baby Mockingbird #3 hatched today! I wonder if the 4th egg will hatch or if it’s infertile.

Waiting for baby mockers

These little eggs are due to hatch July 4th or 5th so they’re be 4th of July Mockingbirds!

Happy Birthday Baby Mockingbirds!!

Two have the four eggs hatched!! Still waiting for the other two. The other nest’s eggs are due to hatch between July 4th and 5th.

Nest ID needed

Nest is in evergreen tree (6-7ft high). May be an old one. No eggs.

Sharing

Sparrows sharing ~ 6-29-23

Bathing.

6/28/2023

Eastern Phoebe.

Morning Dove.

Mockingbird Nest with 4 eggs

I wonder when these eggs will hatch. The female has been doing a great job defending the territory from other mockingbirds.

Northern Mockingbird Nest

The male is always singing in a Pine Tree next to the nest. Can’t wait for the eggs to hatch!

Waiting to be Fed

Fledglings waiting at the library feeding.

Waiting

Fledglings waiting in the Forsynthia bush for breakfast 6-28-23

Tree Swallow Leaving Nest Box!

Mockingbird Nest with 4 eggs.

Mockingbird Nest with 2 eggs

Buffet of Birds

Buffet of birds today including Black-Capped Chickadees, Female American Goldfinch , Nuthatches, Cardinals,
Robins!

Barn Swallows have left the building!

Northern Mockingbird Eggs ~ still here!

Sorry for the bad pictures. Even though the nest is only 5 feet up it’s kind of sideways so it’s hard to know where the eggs are when I can’t see them! I have to use a camera above the nest.

Mockingbird nest with 4 eggs

Still 4 eggs!

Barn Swallows

American Robin eggs

2 eggs laid between June 11th-17th. Another egg laid between June 18th-20th.

Bridled titmouse chicks

Photo of chicks taken on June 21. Today, on June 24, chicks are gone and nest is empty. I don’t think they were ready to fledge, were they??

I am afraid a snake got them.

House Finch nest ~ egg

The House Finch built a deep perfect cup nest in the hanging Fern plant on my porch. She laid her first egg this morning. The usual number is five eggs. This will be the the third brood of season for the House Finches. 6-24-23

Tree Swallow Young!

The other day, I saw both the male and female Tree Swallows going in and out of the box. Because the weather wasn’t really nice, I waited until today to check the box. All four eggs have hatched!

American Goldfinch

Handsome yellow visitor today 6-23-23

Mallard Ducklings

Mockingbird Nest #4 of 2023!!

Hopefully, these two nests don’t get eaten!!

Birds(Part 3)

Mockingbird Nest

The nest still has two eggs so shes only going to have two. The nest is pretty big for only two eggs, but I guess the babies will need lots of room.

Eastern Phoebe – In and Out!

Little momma knows what goes in must come out! Keeping the nest nice and tidy.

Birds(Part 2)

Birds.

6/23/2023

Cliff Swallow nests.

New Mockingbird Nest!

We saw this nest get built and today it had 2 eggs!! Hope the Blue Jays won’t get them. The female was fighting another female about 20 feet from the nest. After she chased off the intruder she flew to the nest. The male was singing.

Newly hatched Eastern Azure Bluebirds

Continued Nestwatch monitoring of nestbox. First view of chicks after previously observed 6 eggs.

Juvenile Barn Swallows

Baby Purple Martin Close Up!

I was about 6 inches from this little guy before he flew off to join his dad.

Purple Martins Feeding Juveniles

Purple Martins feeding juveniles at John Paul’s Landing

Northern Mockingbird Nest Failure

We went to visit the nest after 4 days of not seeing it. I had that bad feeling that the eggs would have been eaten (as has happened with all my nests). It was past 8 pm and I walked up to the nest. The mother wasn’t on it and thought that was a bad sign. I stuck the Canon Powershot EPLH 180 (the smallest of our 3 cameras and easy to hold above a nest) and there were the remands of yolk and shells, there was a shell on the ground under the nest. Why do my nests always get eaten? We heard Blue Jays in the trees nearby so I suspect a Bue Jay.

Nest building

Female House Finch with nesting material in the hanging fern on my front porch…6-19-12

Robins breeding in popular spot on my house (2nd story bedroom window)

Bridled Titmouse chicks

continued nest monitoring (now with a borescope.

Nesting Eastern Azure Bluebirds

Continued monitoring of nesting effort

GREAT BLUE HERON BUSY FISHING IN THE MARSH

This beautiful and elegant bird enjoying fishing in the marsh on a cloudy morning in Southern California close to the Newport Coast.
The great blue heron is a long-legged wading bird of the heron family, Ardeidae and is native throughout North America.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

These two hummingbirds have mated this year and the male has done multiple courtship displays.

Dummy or active nest?

The male built this fortress of twigs. I have noted the female (very tiny) going in and out. I am wondering if she is building a cup behind the twigs. I read that they do that. Looks like there is a space for her to do so. Even if she did I think it would be pretty difficult to spot any eggs.

Lots of birds.

Good practice for the chickadees once they get old!

American Robin Nest

Northern Mockingbird Nest Part 3

Northern Mockingbird Nest Part 2

Mockingbird Nest Part 1

The nest has 4 eggs and both the parents were around the nest

The Mockingbird Nest now has four eggs!

The Mockingbird Nest now has four eggs! Sorry for the poor quality, it was almost 8 pm, and we had to go late due to it being 180 real feel today.

Dummy Nest

The House Wren has filled this Bluebird box full of twigs ~ looks like a dummy nest. The male sits on top and sings. Guess he’s hoping a female will decide to build a cup in there somewhere to lay eggs. 6-14-23

Baby Cowbird

This baby cowbird is a daily visitor to my feeders.

Famous Cardinal

June 7th, 2023. I put out some jam and I was getting my camera setting adjusted, and I looked back in to the screen and saw a cardinal there.

Male and Female Dark-eyed Junco Collecting Grass for Nest

May 24, 2023

Unknown Colorado bird nest.

Bird nest built under the eave of my shed. Small size bird. Gray in color.

Robins in North Alabama

Robin babies nesting on front porch light, right beside busy front door!

Shared nest – North Alabama

Shared nest with one speckled egg and three white eggs in front porch hanging potted flowers.

White-Winged Dove with Fledgling

This is an adult White-winged Dove with her 7-10 day old fledgling located in a cherry plum tree at a residential acreage in southwestern New Mexico.

Not done yet…

House Wrens are still working on their nest ~ lots of twigs! 6-11-23

Northern Mockingbird Nest Part 3

Even more photos

Northern Mockingbird Nest Part 2

More photos of the nest

Northern Mockingbird Nest Part 1

Found a new nest on the 9th of June. Today the 11th, the nest had 2 eggs! Excited to watch the nest! It had to make multiple parts due to me getting tons of photos. It’s really hot (in the 100s) so I’m curious if the mother will sit on the eggs, or would they get too hot?

Tree Swallow Eggs!

On the 30th of May I noticed that the female tree swallow wasn’t really leaving the nest box, so I thought that she probably laid at least one of her eggs. Just to give her some space, I decided to wait till today to check on them. In the photo, there are three visible eggs; but I believe that there may be one more underneath of some of the feathers.

Male Tree Swallow

See you

Funny shot of an American Robin 6-9-23

Wren

Male Bluebird visiting nestbox to feed female.

Adult male feeding female in the nest with 5 eggs.
Is this a Western or Eastern Azure?
Thanks.

Need bird ID confirmation from eggs

By surprise, I found another bluebird nestbox occupied and now has eggs in it. I have not spotted any bird frequenting the box, and did not expect it to be occupied, since the location has some foot traffic, so I am not sure what bird it is. In the close by car port, there is a pair of Say’s Phoebe nesting on a beam. (Recurring over the years).

I have two other bluebird boxes which are occupied by dusky-capped and ash-throated flycatchers.

Please see pics of the eggs and location of the nestbox. Thanks.