peek inside a nest

A pair of Tree Swallows Tachycineta bicolor are nesting in one of several nest boxes near the wild wild woods.  Today she laid the third egg.  She is not yet incubating them, but keeps guard at the box opening all day. 

feeding baby birds

In a corner of the woods, hidden in one of several nest boxes, a mother Black-capped Chickadee Poecile atrcapillus feeds her young nestlings.  As soon as they hear her land at the opening, each "gapes" as wide as possible to get fed the most.  What is she feeding them?  Mostly insects and small worms . . . for protein to grow fast.  They need to be able to fly in just a week or so!

furnishing a nestbox: House Wren

 

A House Wren Troglodytes aedon carries twigs, one at a time, to a nest box.

The male works until he fills the box with twigs, leaving a small cup or cavity. 

The female adds soft grasses, fur, feathers, and junk to line the cup where she will lay her eggs.

 Below, we peek inside another nest box containing a cozy nest for seven wren eggs.

The female will incubate the eggs for about 2 weeks.

 

woods in bloom

top left: Arisaema triphyllum Jack-in-the-Pulpit; top middle: Geranium maculatum Wild Geranium;  top right: Asarum canadense Wild Ginger; and a view of Aquilegia Columbine, all blooming now in the wild wild woods.

nest cavity

A pair of Downy Woodpeckers decided the tree stump near the feeder garden is a good prospect for their 2016 nest cavity.  They've been excavating into the old tree for a few weeks.  Today, the female peeked out long enough for a look around; it was long enough for us to get a look at her!

new hatchlings

 

Seven little Black-capped Chickadee eggs hatched in the last few days.  The nestbox cam caught a snapshot when they were all gaping for food.

A few trees in the woods are doing better since some clearing last summer.  This Black Cherry tree, with more open sunlight, is blooming this Spring. Prunus serotina is native in southern and central Minnesota.  It provides  drooping clusters of small very tart cherries  -- good food for birds!