Wednesday 5 May 2021

Nests and nest builders

The flicker

Yes, nesting in the dead elm: see Ode to an elm (2020). It's rather funny, as it is deep inside the tree trunk, and you can hear it banging away. It's a frequent flyer: flicker 2019.

I love flickers!

Phoebe Nest

They've gone back to an old nest. There were two eggs on Tuesday, May 4th. They last nested in this spot in 2019. [Critters!] They had 5 that year. It's been dark, cold and damp. No wonder they nest right beside the house. This is a 2019 photo, they always lay me 5 eggs here.


The crows are still nesting, I think.  One sat about 15 minutes high up in a backyard tree. They were making strange noise in another tree!
This one has something in its beak!  crow May 2  
 


The Canada geese are headed for the north. This shows the dreary days we've been having.


You Two were in the meadow.

trailcam from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

9 comments:

Tom said...

...the birds are busy here too!

eileeninmd said...

Hello,

It is great to see all the birds back and working on their nest.
I love your Flicker photo. Have a happy day!

Olga said...

I have been watching a flicker in my FL yard for a few weeks now. A couple of weeks ago I saw a sandhill crane in the neighbor's yard. They used to be around often but I hadn't seen one on the neighborhood like that in several years.

RedPat said...

The Phoebes like you!

Karen said...

I haven't had a look at the pheobe nest yet. I like your mirror idea. We tried to discourage them nesting over the door but they persist. Well, they have put up with us banging in and out that slapper screen for years so they will just have to deal with it. I'm pretty sure another one is nesting in the woodshed. I see it flying in and out but can't see the nest.

DeniseinVA said...

I haven’t seen a flicker in such a long time. You certainly had a great view when they nested at the side of your house. I enjoyed your videos too, always fun to see the wildlife in your garden.

William Kendall said...

At least that dead tree is still in use.

Angie said...

Jenn - interesting that you showed the flicker with the tail fanned out - we had a ring-side seat to courting in a dead tree near our house. Fascinating.

I was puzzling over the phoebe nest, thinking maybe I was looking through some clear plastic at the nest. I went to your previous post and learned you used a mirror - you clever girl!

Lorrie said...

Birds nest in our tall cedar hedge and I enjoy watching them flit in and out. They all disappear pretty fast when an eagle or a hawk happens by. The natural world is full of drama.