Nesting season is well under way – and already complete for some birds and nearing completion for others.
Several species of birds have a second, and even a third nesting, while the goldfinches haven’t even begun nesting yet. They will wait until later in the summer to start at a time when the natural food supply of delectable fresh weed seeds and insect larvae will be much more abundant.
Our small colony of five cliff swallow pairs are busy nesting on our house and barn. Unfortunately, a male house sparrow has evicted one of their nests on our house, but I believe that pair has found a new location on our barn and is busy building a new nest right now.
One pair of cliff swallows that was able to reuse a portion of last year’s nest is on the verge of fledging its first brood. The others are also feeding young. The young fledge in about three weeks, whereas their relatives, the purple martins, fledge closer to four weeks. We are enjoying a nice colony of martins at Silver Lake. We have some summer rentals and our guests thoroughly enjoy the purple martins’ company and entertainment next to the lake.
If they don’t encounter any glitches, eastern bluebirds have three broods per year, but that is unlikely. The average bluebird pair probably has two nestings which is still very good. There are so many challenges during nesting season like inclement weather early in the season, predators like raccoons and squirrels, ants invading the nest box, etc. Blow flies, a parasite of the young, generally do not cause brood failure. If you have a nest box that has had bluebirds fledge, remove the old nest. Also remove the old nest if the bluebird nesting has failed for some reason. They can quickly start over.
If they have already built a new nest over the top of the first successful nest, you can just leave it alone – or you can carefully clean out some of the debris, etc. toward the bottom of the old nest. Getting the nest down lower gives the brood a safer distance from the reach of predators.
My experience so far this season shows very good nesting results among my many nest boxes scattered around the farm, up and down LaGrange Road, and in other various rural locations where I have nest boxes. If you have a house sparrow problem, don’t let the house sparrows be successful! Try moving your nest box to an open country road utility pole well away from your home.
The many grackles, cowbirds, and starlings are being a bit overwhelming at bird feeding stations, but as their nesting season is already starting to wind down, they may become less of a problem. Keeping the feeders going for the goldfinches, purple finches, grosbeaks, woodpeckers, and several other favorites is much fun.
Keep the grape jelly (or whatever works best for you) going for the orioles and several other neat bird species. Later in summer the yellowjackets and hornets become a bit of a nuisance at the jelly feeders. Both Baltimore and orchard orioles may be bringing their young to the grape jelly.
Many people have been asking me where their hummers are. It does seem like a lighter population than normal. Though we have a pretty good population probably because of our many flower gardens and our greenhouse. Like all birds, their population will be picking up as more and more young birds fledge. July will probably be our high mark for the overall bird population given the multiplier effect of all the young leaving the nest.
Early August is also a high population time; however, many birds already start exiting during the second half of August – hummers included. Yet, others will linger longer and even into late September and early October. It varies greatly among species and within species. It’s much safer for the population not to all exit (or arrive) at once.
Mockingbirds are busy nesting and mimicking several other birds – sometimes mimicking up to 10 birds all within a couple of minutes. Their nests are built in thick shrubs or trees, generally quite low. Over the years they have selected peculiar places and often abandon a completed nest and build a new one elsewhere.
Between the five species of swallows, there will be many young lining the roadways resting on fence and utility wires. When you notice large group of birds ahead, please slow down as the young are still learning to fly and do not understand the danger of a fast-moving vehicle. Next time you hit a bird with the car, look at your speedometer and you’ll probably realize that your speed was excessive. A little slower makes a big difference! Thanks!
Birds of prey only have one nesting and their young have been fledging. The upcoming weeks of camping, hiking, working in your yard, etc. will provide some really nice encounters and experiences with many birds, including young ones that are just learning the ropes. Keep your cats in the house during the day if possible.
Thank you to so many of you who are sharing your special sightings, stories, and photos with me! As always, feel free to contact me with questions, observations, bird feeding, bird and garden walk information, etc. via text or call at 585-813-2676. Keep on birding – time flies!
-- Hans Kunze writes a biweekly birding column.
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