Backyard Nesting Report

I'm still processing the photos from my trip last week - hope to have some posts beginning tomorrow.

The nesting/breeding season in my backyard is at its height. So far we have helped raise, through the VERY generous provision of seeds and suet, or nest boxes, families of the following:
American Crow, Common Grackle, Red-winged Blackbird, European Starling, Chipping Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Evening Grosbeak, House Wren, Blue Jay, Mourning Dove, Rock Pigeon. Brown-headed Cowbird probably belongs in this list - at least we are feeding a lot of them.

Yet to bring their young around for our free board, but busily feeding them with our provisions: Gray Catbird, Purple Finch, Ruby-throated Hummingbird.

Also nesting in the neighborhood are: Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Veery, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, American Robin, Eastern Phoebe.

The Rose-breasted Grosbeak is an enigma. There have been two pair visiting the feeders regularly. It seems they should be tending their nests. Perhaps they tried and failed, or decided to skip it this year given the really crappy weather.

I have probably forgotten a few.

Also enjoying our largess are chipmunks, red squirrels, gray squirrels, and one humongous ground hog (which is also munching some favored plants - a no-no which has prompted putting out the hav-a-heart trap), plus assorted other smaller rodents and burrowing creatures.

Two nest boxes are hosting first broods of House Wrens. They scold me when I sit and watch their nest box, but with young to feed, they come in spite of my presence:



The Evening Grosbeak families have been coming the last three days ....

Gray Catbirds seem to be getting protein for their young from the suet; I expect the young will be around in a few days. At lunch today, I watched a young Hairy Woodpecker clinging to this suet feeder; she knew food came from it but could not figure out to pick it out. She kept looking expectantly toward a young male Downy, hoping he might feed her. Having just learned the mystery of feeding himself, he had no interest in feeding his larger cousin.

So ... lots of good birding in my own backyard.