This season is all about nesting as far as I am concerned,
and yet I was surprised yesterday while at the Salem Audubon Reserve when some
of the other volunteers reported a Bushtit nest. I was taken to the location at
this drooping Indian Plum shrub where we observed the pair busily constructing
a nest. I took some photos, which didn’t turn out that good when looked at
closely on the computer, and had to make a second trip in the afternoon to get
this photo with a Bushtit working with a long piece of material at the nest. They make a very interesting, sock-shaped
hanging nest of up to twelve inches in length with an opening at the top. These
are very small birds, only about four inches in length from beak to end of
tail. The question came up, which I had to research to find the answer, how
small are the eggs? The average size is 13.7 x 10.1 mm, which strikes me as enormous
given the size of the bird. I think only some hummingbirds have smaller
eggs. They normally produce 5-7 eggs. I
was most surprised because I have only seen Bushtits on three occasions on the
24 observation lists I’ve made at the Reserve since the first of the year. This
is the first known nest at the Reserve this season that I’m aware of, and unfortunately
not by a species that would take advantage of the ten artificial cavities that
we have constructed.
Thursday, April 17, 2014
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I'll never know how I got through a week prior to my introduction to CascadeRamblings. As always, your pictures, Jim, along with your prose...well, it makes my day! Don't ever stop!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Larry, it's one thing that gives me a reason to get up every morning.
ReplyDeleteAnother very interesting story with fantastic photo! I agree with Larry's comment as well. C.R. is may favorite blog. Thank you Jim!
ReplyDelete