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Nesting FAQs By Bill Thompson, III Editor | Bird Watcher’s Digest
Whether you’ve purposely set up a series of nest boxes or just discovered an unexpected bird nest in the bushes in your backyard, you’re likely to have a few questions. Nesting birds are exciting but also inherently vulnerable, and it’s only natural to want to make sure you’re doing the right things to facilitate the birds’ success. Below are answers to a few of the common questions and concerns that come up in spring when nesting birds are busiest!
Q: If you touch a baby bird that has fallen from its nest, will the parents detect your scent and abandon it?
A: No, most birds do not have a very well-developed sense of smell. However, most mammalian predators (skunks, foxes, raccoons, weasels, etc.) do have a good sense of smell and may follow your scent trail to a bird’s nest. If you are going to handle a baby bird be sure to place it out of harm’s way, back in the nest, or in an open-topped cardboard box propped in a tree. However, many bird species are equipped to survive outside the nest at a very young age. These species include many shorebirds, gamebirds, and birds such as robins and wrens.
Those who love the bluebird have begun a massive effort to save it through the erection of thousands of nesting boxes appropriate for this species and predator- and competitor-proof. And the bluebird is beginning to reappear in areas where these bluebird houses are established.
There are three species of bluebird: Eastern, Western, and Mountain, and they belong to the thrush family. The Eastern Bluebird or Sialia sialis breeds in every state east of the Rocky Mountains. It is bright blue with a rusty red breast similar to the robin’s. The Western Bluebird or Sialia currucoides breeds in the western states from Canada to Mexico and east to Colorado. It has a blue throat, and the red color extends to its upper back. The Mountain Bluebird or Sialia mexicana breeds in the Northwest, east to the Dakotas, and north into Alaska. It is entirely blue, with a white underbelly.
Bluebirds are primarily insectivores, eating many insects considered pests by man: cutworms, grasshoppers, and flying insects. They supplement this diet in fall and winter with wild berries and may starve if snow covers the ground and berries are unavailable.
Did you know that there are at least 19 different species of owls? and that the smallest has a wing span of approximately 12 1/2 inches while the largest is approximately 69 inches? Wow. They really are fascinating.
Not all owls are nocturnal. Several species do very well during the daylight. They do very well keeping themselves hidden. Screech owls can be encourage to nest in specific locations by positioning nesting boxes in specifice places around your property.