Poor LLRX. Remember him? He was the male that cruelly abandoned his mate to raise the kids on her own in 2018 while he did who-knows-what.
Well, the first nest lost this year to predators was his. We found it early in March on Reed campus not far from his nest last year (also lost to predators). High in a tall cedar, it was fairly cryptic although a bit hard to watch because of the distance. LLRX and the unbanded female he was with were dutiful in their nest-building activities. Things seemed to be going well. The nest looked finished. But, alas, the area is crawling with cawing crows and I believe (not know) that they were the culprits.
At first we thought our eyes were deceiving us and we just couldn't see the nest. But 30 minutes of searching and finding no nest where it used to be along with hearing no bushtits, and we were sure it was gone. We did finally find the remains (how gruesome that sounds!) on the ground near the tree. It was torn to shreds with no evidence of what it contained: no eggshells, for example.
Worried about LLRX (sometimes adults are also taken) I played my favorite bushtit tape and he came roaring in right away, sptting like mad. He may have lost the battle, but wasn't going lose the fight! I expect to find his new nest soon.
On a more cheerful note, a nest we had given up as abandoned mid-build, has been re-occupied! We found a pair madly building there the same day we lost LLRX's nest. A nice surprise.
Lose one. Gain one. An even exchange.
Wednesday, April 22, 2020
Sunday, April 19, 2020
Bushtit crazy time
It's that time of year. Nests are mostly complete. Some birds are egg-laying and incubating. But it's not nearly that simple. It's time for the friendly little bushtit to become not so friendly to their flock mates.
Today I saw a couple of good examples of bushtits mis-behaving:
The first was at a lovely nest over-hanging a creek. It was finished quite some time ago, being built by an unbanded pair. Soon after the nest was finished we began to see chases around the nest when we visited. Apparently someone (we couldn't see who!) was interloping and perhaps trying to take over the nest. That happens. Without color-banded birds in that area, I can't be certain what the outcome was.
Today I was watching that nest again. First an unbanded male showed up with nothing in his beak. This was suspicious because both male and female bushtits continue to carry nesting material into the nest after it is finished and through incubation. Soon after, an unbanded female arrived and went right to the nest. Also with nothing. Instead of going into the nest as the "owner" would, she peered in and then hopped about the nest, cocking her head as if to inspect the real estate. The entire time the unbanded male stayed in a branch above as if keeping a look-out.
They left quietly to the north after a few minutes, neither one ever entering the nest. Immediately from the direction they took and nearby I heard the sound of chasing bushtits (loud spits!). I couldn't see what was happening, but I could hear it. Then suddenly, a pair shot past me heading south, followed by a lone male. It must have been the presumed nest-owner chasing off the interlopers.
I can't wait to have these birds banded! Then things will become much clearer as they always do.
So why the fuss from the owner (assuming that what was happening?). Well, sometimes owners are booted from their nests. And sometimes neighboring females secretly lay an egg in a nearby nest -- usually while her mate stands guard.
So there is good reason for neighbors to keep neighbors away!
The second instance was a banded male (RCRX), nowhere near his own nest, chasing an unbanded male near that male's nest. This went on for quite awhile while a female entered the nest several times with feathers. What RCRX was doing is anybody's guess. But last year another male (RXRG) did take over a neighboring nest while his own nest was being incubated by the female alone (not the usual arrangement). After taking the other nest over and ensuring there were eggs present and being incubated, RXRG returned to his first nest to help feed the kids, leaving the female at the second nest to raise her kids alone.
There's a quite a bit more to THAT story. It's very complicated. But I'll save it for another day.
Today I saw a couple of good examples of bushtits mis-behaving:
The first was at a lovely nest over-hanging a creek. It was finished quite some time ago, being built by an unbanded pair. Soon after the nest was finished we began to see chases around the nest when we visited. Apparently someone (we couldn't see who!) was interloping and perhaps trying to take over the nest. That happens. Without color-banded birds in that area, I can't be certain what the outcome was.
Today I was watching that nest again. First an unbanded male showed up with nothing in his beak. This was suspicious because both male and female bushtits continue to carry nesting material into the nest after it is finished and through incubation. Soon after, an unbanded female arrived and went right to the nest. Also with nothing. Instead of going into the nest as the "owner" would, she peered in and then hopped about the nest, cocking her head as if to inspect the real estate. The entire time the unbanded male stayed in a branch above as if keeping a look-out.
They left quietly to the north after a few minutes, neither one ever entering the nest. Immediately from the direction they took and nearby I heard the sound of chasing bushtits (loud spits!). I couldn't see what was happening, but I could hear it. Then suddenly, a pair shot past me heading south, followed by a lone male. It must have been the presumed nest-owner chasing off the interlopers.
I can't wait to have these birds banded! Then things will become much clearer as they always do.
So why the fuss from the owner (assuming that what was happening?). Well, sometimes owners are booted from their nests. And sometimes neighboring females secretly lay an egg in a nearby nest -- usually while her mate stands guard.
So there is good reason for neighbors to keep neighbors away!
The second instance was a banded male (RCRX), nowhere near his own nest, chasing an unbanded male near that male's nest. This went on for quite awhile while a female entered the nest several times with feathers. What RCRX was doing is anybody's guess. But last year another male (RXRG) did take over a neighboring nest while his own nest was being incubated by the female alone (not the usual arrangement). After taking the other nest over and ensuring there were eggs present and being incubated, RXRG returned to his first nest to help feed the kids, leaving the female at the second nest to raise her kids alone.
There's a quite a bit more to THAT story. It's very complicated. But I'll save it for another day.
Tuesday, April 14, 2020
It's been a long time......
.....and much has happened. I've been cautiously going in the field as have my two assistants and we have already found 56 nests.
Fifty-six nests!! I believe that's some kind of record for this time of the year. Last year I found a total of 97. I'm guessing, based on what we have so far, we'll find over 100 by the end of the summer. Wow.
Nests are in all stages. Some are complete and I believe incubating. In fact, we may have a few hatching now. Others are in the very early stages of building. They are are either loose sacks or just a whisper of spider web and lichen on a branch. There have been a few false starts: nests begun and abandoned for a better site nearby. Nest material thieves (likely goldfinches or other bushtits) have decimated a couple. But most are going strong.
This is banner year for bushtits. It's too bad it's not a banner year for bushtit researchers. I have had to confine my searches to areas where I can maintain distance and wearing a mask is a problem because my glasses fog up. But I go out anyway --- with an abundance of caution when I can't maintain 20' or so distance. I have two fabulous field assistants who have been absolutely essential. And Gary on the Reed campus has been keeping me up-to-date on the banded birds he sees at his feeder on campus. So all is not lost.
But the season has one big challenge: Banding and collecting blood for DNA analysis will be limited to only those nests without much traffic because of the need to social distance. I always say that every year is different. Usually I'm referring to the birds. This time I'm referring to the fieldwork and the challenges we need to face to keep ourselves and others safe. Sigh.
A cute story:
Three days ago I came in for lunch and sat by my big picture window looking out over the front yard. The window has a bush in front of it which I like because it's open enough to let in light but also shades a bit and provides some privacy. Occasionally a pair of bushtits who are building about 2 houses down bop through the bush and then out in a minute or two.
So I was surprised and enchanted when a lone male joined me for lunch one day. He hopped about in the bush and then made his way to a new branch that was right up against the window only a few inches from my face. He seemed to me to be just coming over to say "hello." He hung out long enough for me to eat and was then gone after I got up to put my things away. Magical.
It happened again yesterday and, again, he left after I was done with lunch. How sweet!
Or so I thought. Of course there was a rational explanation rather than some "mystical bushtit coming to commune with the lone bushtit researcher" reason. Today he showed me why and it was exactly what many of you are thinking: he was investigating his reflection in the window. Today, instead of just coming to the branch and looking at me (or so I thought), he was much bolder. This time he pecked at the window repeatedly as if pecking at another bushtit. Then he'd take a short break, hop around the bush, and come back to do it again. After doing this for a bit, he huddled up to the window (I am not kidding) as if he was huddling up against another bushtit (they do this often) and....fell sound asleep. In the sun and leaning against the window. It was absolutely adorable. He was so sleepy, he even began to tilt back and hang sideways. I got a little worried about him and tapped on the glass whereupon he woke up and began to hop around energetically and even came back to peck at the window again. Quite the little character.
So what was going on? Why as he alone? I strongly suspect this little guy is an unmated male who is "lonesome" for flock members that are now associated with nests. Bushtits are very social but as nests are completed, pairs do take up residence and spend less time in flocks. That leaves lone males vulnerable and....lonely. Because of this they often join a pair at a nest and earn the privilege of spending the night there. Sometimes they even feed the kids (and maybe a few of their own...only DNA will tell). Such is one of the interesting traits of bushtits, but from the perspective of this little lone male.
I couldn't help but hope he has somewhere safe and warm to sleep tonight. Perhaps he will even join the pair I see so often and I will soon have 3 bushtits joining me for lunch.
Fifty-six nests!! I believe that's some kind of record for this time of the year. Last year I found a total of 97. I'm guessing, based on what we have so far, we'll find over 100 by the end of the summer. Wow.
Nests are in all stages. Some are complete and I believe incubating. In fact, we may have a few hatching now. Others are in the very early stages of building. They are are either loose sacks or just a whisper of spider web and lichen on a branch. There have been a few false starts: nests begun and abandoned for a better site nearby. Nest material thieves (likely goldfinches or other bushtits) have decimated a couple. But most are going strong.
This is banner year for bushtits. It's too bad it's not a banner year for bushtit researchers. I have had to confine my searches to areas where I can maintain distance and wearing a mask is a problem because my glasses fog up. But I go out anyway --- with an abundance of caution when I can't maintain 20' or so distance. I have two fabulous field assistants who have been absolutely essential. And Gary on the Reed campus has been keeping me up-to-date on the banded birds he sees at his feeder on campus. So all is not lost.
But the season has one big challenge: Banding and collecting blood for DNA analysis will be limited to only those nests without much traffic because of the need to social distance. I always say that every year is different. Usually I'm referring to the birds. This time I'm referring to the fieldwork and the challenges we need to face to keep ourselves and others safe. Sigh.
A cute story:
Three days ago I came in for lunch and sat by my big picture window looking out over the front yard. The window has a bush in front of it which I like because it's open enough to let in light but also shades a bit and provides some privacy. Occasionally a pair of bushtits who are building about 2 houses down bop through the bush and then out in a minute or two.
So I was surprised and enchanted when a lone male joined me for lunch one day. He hopped about in the bush and then made his way to a new branch that was right up against the window only a few inches from my face. He seemed to me to be just coming over to say "hello." He hung out long enough for me to eat and was then gone after I got up to put my things away. Magical.
It happened again yesterday and, again, he left after I was done with lunch. How sweet!
Or so I thought. Of course there was a rational explanation rather than some "mystical bushtit coming to commune with the lone bushtit researcher" reason. Today he showed me why and it was exactly what many of you are thinking: he was investigating his reflection in the window. Today, instead of just coming to the branch and looking at me (or so I thought), he was much bolder. This time he pecked at the window repeatedly as if pecking at another bushtit. Then he'd take a short break, hop around the bush, and come back to do it again. After doing this for a bit, he huddled up to the window (I am not kidding) as if he was huddling up against another bushtit (they do this often) and....fell sound asleep. In the sun and leaning against the window. It was absolutely adorable. He was so sleepy, he even began to tilt back and hang sideways. I got a little worried about him and tapped on the glass whereupon he woke up and began to hop around energetically and even came back to peck at the window again. Quite the little character.
So what was going on? Why as he alone? I strongly suspect this little guy is an unmated male who is "lonesome" for flock members that are now associated with nests. Bushtits are very social but as nests are completed, pairs do take up residence and spend less time in flocks. That leaves lone males vulnerable and....lonely. Because of this they often join a pair at a nest and earn the privilege of spending the night there. Sometimes they even feed the kids (and maybe a few of their own...only DNA will tell). Such is one of the interesting traits of bushtits, but from the perspective of this little lone male.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)