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.
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