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Its been awhile since I’ve posted anything so I thought I’d give an update. A Prothonotary Warbler pair built a nest in the Gilbertson’s box, laid 4 eggs which should fledge any day now. The day before yesterday I spotted a female warbler going into the Hexagon box, she stayed in there for a few minutes then left. Yesterday I saw her taking nesting material into that box. Note that the PRO WRBS haven’t fledge yet from the Gilbertson’s box yet. Is it the same female or a different one? My guess is that it is the same one. The boxes are only about 25′ apart so I doubt that the nesting pair would allow another pair that close. This will be only the second time that I’ve had two PRO WRBs nestings in the same season.
The blues are on their second nesting now. This time they decided on the TRES box. The TRES did not show up again this year. No Robins nesting in the trees nor Mourning Doves. The Northerning Mockingbirds had at least one fledge from their nest that was in the large Spurce tree. It hung around for about a week in that tree then became a better flyer. I haven’t seen it since last week when it was quite good at flying around the yard. I think it was about to be on its own since its parents were starting to ignore its begging to be fed behavior.
Well thats it for the nesting update. Hope everyone’s nestings are going well.
When the new wears off the old shines through
When The New Wears Off The Old Shines Through.
Good to hear from you, Renee. Wow, you really do have a lot going on in your yard. I have mostly HOSP, wrens, bluebirds and other non-cavity nesting birds. And the blues are what I cater to. Also love to feed and watch the hummingbirds Good luck the rest of the season.
P.S. I do like to watch the doves – they are so calm to me compared to other birds.I had to look in my bird book to see what the prothonotary warbler looks like. I have seen them come through here around migration time, but none have stayed to nest. Looks like we live within their nesting area. I would love to have a pair nest here. Maybe someday.
You have plenty of birding going on at your place. So nice to have the beauty of nature to entertain us during this virus/quarantine times. We have Baltimore Orioles in our yard daily coming to eat grape jelly. They will be bringing their fledglings with them to the jelly feeders around July 1st. Second nest of 5 bluebird eggs due to hatch in 8 days. I love staying home‼️
Judy-Michigan
Renee, what fun to see those gorgeous warblers! Wow. I don’t think I’ve ever seen one in “real life.” Your yard sounds like a fun place to sit and watch.
Judy, do you put out grape jelly all summer for the orioles? I had orioles come by early this year for a few weeks (a first for me). I quickly put out oranges, which they visited daily, and finally grape jelly, which I saw them at a few times. The catbirds love the jelly, though, so it does get eaten. They fly up to the tree near the house to call for me if the jelly empties! Very comical birds. All my bird books say catbirds are shy. Not these gorging on grape jelly! I don’t do oranges now b/c it’s so hot–they become rancid and stinky fast.
Carol, I like the doves, too. Very peaceful.
Julie, I do put out grape jelly all summer. In high times they will go through a jar a day! They arrive around May 1 and stay through mid September. I see fewer in June while they are nesting, but they still slip away for a bite of grape jelly. I also get a pair of orchard orioles, the male is colored similar to a robin and the female is more olive. Fun.
Judy-Michigan
Judy, thanks for that tip, too! I’ll keep putting out the grape jelly. For all I know, the orioles could be grabbing it at times of day I’m not there to see. I thought they might disappear during nesting season. I’ll be patient and maybe be rewarded, if not this year, next when I put out that jelly right away!
Soooo jealous on the Orioles! Inhave them fly over my yard and sing multiple times every year but they just refuse to go for the jelly feeders or oranges…of which I have 3 feeders. The catbirds are non stop but not orioles. I have tried everything. I have running water and keep the feeders out in the open. Is it too late now?
This tip worked for a friend on attracting orioles…..get something large and bright orange, put it close to the feeder. She used two plastic orange Adirondack chairs and was able to get them coming into her yard the first year. You could also use orange beach balls basically anything orange they can spot from above. Each year gets better and better.
Phillyblues….never too late to try. Best time to try is the end of April. I would give it a whirl. Other birds do enjoy the jelly too. Good luck.
Judy-Michigan
I always have Baltimore (and sometimes Orchard) Orioles some to my hummer feeders. They are just beautiful to watch at a nectar feeder, so calm compared to the hummingbirds. Never tried the jelly because my feeders are hanging from my house deck handrails and would draw ants too bad (I keep them out of the hummer feeders with a mote on the top of feeder). Out in the yard on a Shepard hook or something would work fine for the jelly – heard lots of people do this. Enjoy!
I think yoi gals live in heaven or something close to it. Lol. Catbirds at least eat it so not wasted ar least. If I put any more orange stuff out they may send me to the loony bin.
I had an array of upside down orange Home Depot buckets out there this spring when I first put jelly out in a little bowl. It seemed to work b/c the catbirds found that jelly (i had homemade raspberry then) almost instantly. Carol, can orioles access nectar thru a regular hummer feeder? I didn’t know that! I only have so many spots for feeders and, like you, want to be careful not to draw ants close to the house. Thanks for sharing about your birdwatching adventures!! Love hearing about that.
Julie, I always leave one of the tubes open (without bee guard) so other birds can get the nectar, and even the hummers will drink from this spot sometimes. Yes, the Orioles have no trouble getting the sweet nectar.
I have a few of these. They’re great..just screw on a standard jar of jelly upside down and the gravity does the rest. It also has little drain holes on the tray so water doesn’t collect. You have to churn it with a built in spinner every few days or so.
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