empty nest

 

Cornell University has a program called NestWatch  https://nestwatch.org/ where citizen scientists report on birds' nests they see.  I missed this one until now; it was hidden very well in the reeds near the pond.

hidden nest found in autumn

We trimmed back some undesirable willow plants around the pond.  That action revealed a hidden nest.  Earlier this summer, I found one Red-winged Blackbird nest near the pond in some reeds.  All summer long, the male RWBB was bothered when anyone walked near the willows. He even dived at my head when I walked near that shore. I assumed he and his mate had a nest among the reeds closer to the pond.  No wonder I could not find it in the reeds!  It was revealed -- low in the willow sprouts -- when we trimmed around that area.
 

blackbird nest

The Red-winged Blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus gave away the secret location of their nest by screeching at us as we walked around the pond.  As I came near the spot, he warned me vocally and hit my hat with his feet as he flew by.

 

eagle nest, January

The eagle nest near the pond is again claimed as home for a pair of Bald Eagles Haliaeetus leucocephalus. One was in the nest for a while before this, probably rearranging sticks to her liking in preparation to lay eggs.

nesting mallard

Mallards have 1 or 2 broods each year.  One is hiding her 2nd clutch near the pond among grasses.

There are six eggs in her nest, nestled among short pieces of grass and small downy feathers.

 

robin

Robins nesting by the pond have 4 eggs in their nest.  The female gathered food items on the shore while taking a break from incubating her clutch.  It looks like she caught an insect larva, but Robins also eat grubs, snails, spiders, beetles, grasshoppers, termites, crickets, and other insects.

bee swarm

On Friday, we noticed a blob of brown on a drooping branch on one the pine trees near the pond.  Close inspection revealed hundreds of Honey Bees clustered. The next day they were still gathered around that branch. We discovered with some research that when overcrowded in a hive, bees with divide their population then some will set out for a new hive. Scout bees look intensely for the new nest while the most of them wait together.  This probably saves energy and protects them by staying together in one place while the scouts scout.

By Sunday morning they had all gone from the tree branch, no trace left behind of their weekend stay.

lovey doves

Mourning Doves being lovey-dovey.  A small flock has been here all winter, coming to the feeders for nourishment. These two hang together now since it is mating season. One was feeding the other a morsel, a sure sign of courtship.  The male of this species is slightly larger than the female, and he has a pink chest.  

hatched Tree Swallows

Yesterday, the three eggs in the Tree Swallow nest were arranged carefully on a bed of white fine feathers (above).  The long feathers upright around the cup are placed carefully by the female adult to hide the eggs from predators. This morning, the eggs were hatched (below).  The 3 baby birds look like pink wriggling gummy worms. They have no feathers and cannot control their movements, so they flop around until one of the parents will bring a food item.  Then the babies will ‘gape’ their beak open to receive food.

raided nest

Many Painted Turtles Chrysemys picta live in our pond. They mate once a year; in Minnesota, it is usually late May or June. Usually, Painted Turtles lay between 4 and 15 eggs. This year, the females looked for nest sites with soft sandy soil, even if they have to cross lawns and rocky shores.


One found a good spot on the sunny slope above the pond. Because she knows her hatchlings will instinctively head straight for the water, from here their short trip will be downhill.  She dug a shallow hole with her hind feet, and deposited her eggs.  She covered the hole carefully and returned to the water, her job done for this season.

The eggs usually hatch about 72 days later, in late August or early September.  Unfortunately, turtle nests are often discovered by birds, raccoons or skunks, who make a meal of the eggs.  It's not unusual for many of painted turtle eggs to be lost to predators.  We found a few raided turtle egg nests like this one . . .  the eggs eaten and the shells strewn around the hole.