Bullock’s Oriole Male all photos by Larry Jordan

Last weekend I returned to the site of our Audubon Chapter picnic at Whiskeytown National Recreation Area’s Tower House, where we had seen a Bullock’s Oriole nest with the parents making trips to an fro.  I thought it would make an appropriate Father’s Day post.  Here is Dad, apparently attempting to coax the youngster out of the nest.

The Bullock’s Oriole usually arrives in northern California from their wintering grounds in Mexico around mid April and they were true to form this year.  We saw the first sightings April 10th.  The thing is, they take up to two weeks to build their nest!  And what master engineers these birds are to create a nest like this.

Bullock’s Oriole Nest With Chick

Their nests are suspended from branches of large trees, usually near water.  They are neatly woven, often containing hair (especially horsehair), twine, fibers, grasses, and wool, and lined with cottonwood or willow cotton or wool.

As I watched the parents, I noticed that they were not feeding the youngster in the nest.  Apparently, this chick was nearly ready to leave the nest which they do around two weeks after hatching.   Bullock’s Orioles usually lay 4 – 5 eggs and this was the only chick I saw so I have to think it was the last to fledge., bird nest,  Here is a picture of the female with the same chick.

I never did get to see it fledge, but I sure enjoyed watching as the parents urged their youngster on.

I wish all you fathers out there a very Happy Father’s Day, and everyone an enjoyable solstice.  For more great critter photos, check out Camera Critters.

Western Bluebird At Tree Cavity Entrance photos by Larry Jordan

While monitoring my Bluebird Trail at Lema Ranch, I see all kinds of birds and discover many nesting birds in the Spring and early Summer.  This day there were several male Western Bluebirds exploring this oak tree which had three perfect nesting sites within four feet of each other!

Sometimes it’s hard to compete with mother nature for housing for these beautiful birds, but they can always benefit from more choice breeding sites.

If you are interested in starting your own Bluebird Trail, please check out this monitoring guide and watch my video on setting up a trail.  It is lots of fun to watch birds as they mate, build their nests and raise their young but it takes some dedication.  Make sure you make time for your new adventure, should you decide to monitor nest boxes.

While you are setting up your Bluebird Trail, make sure to check out the other great Camera Critter posts!

Acorn Woodpecker photos by Larry Jordan

I put up a couple of woodpecker feeders and got some visitors right away.  Acorn Woodpeckers have been visiting both of these feeders.  I expect to see some Downy Woodpeckers and maybe some Hairy and some Nuttall’s Woodpeckers later in the season.

This woodpecker feeder has twelve holes drilled into it, six on each of two sides, plus the other two sides have hardware cloth and are open to the woodpecker mix on the inside.  Here’s a shot of this male Acorn Woodpecker with his beak buried in one of the side holes of this Ultimate Woodpecker Feeder.

This is a suet feeder with a tail prop, specifically made for woodpeckers, although several other species feed on it.

The combination of this feeder with my suet recipe is guaranteed to bring in a variety of birds, including woodpeckers.

Check out all the other great critters at Camera Critters!

Western Kingbird In Flight photos by Larry Jordan

The Western Kingbird is a Tyrant Flycatcher, or New World Flycatcher, that make up the largest family of birds in the world.  They are also the most widespread kingbird in the West.  The flycatcher family of birds also includes the Ash-throated Flycatcher, one of my favorite birds that will nest in birdhouses.

Western Kingbirds arrived in Northern California a few weeks ago from their winter grounds in southern Mexico and Central America and have really been putting on a show.  They catch insects on the fly like Ash-throated Flycatchers but are more conspicuous.  You will often find them sitting on wires or fences in open areas that have some trees or shrubs nearby.  This bird was sitting on a fence behind the hospital where I work hawking insects.

I believe there are a pair ready to nest in this area as this Western Kingbird was interacting with his own reflection in one of the huge windows of the hospital building.  I believe he thought it was a rival for his mates affections.

I will be following these two if they nest nearby although I have not been able to locate an easily visible Western Kingbird nest as yet.

To see more cool critter photos, visit Camera Critters and have a great weekend!

White-breasted Nuthatch Peeking Out Of Nest photos by Larry Jordan

Do you remember the post I wrote a few weeks ago when I found a pair of White-breasted Nuthatches building a nest?  Well, this male is getting ready to leave the nest after feeding the female who is probably still incubating eggs.  But not for long.  White-breasted Nuthatches usually lay 5 – 9 eggs that are incubated for two weeks.  By my calculations, these eggs will be hatching out this week!  But that’s not the most interesting thing about this entire ordeal.  Take a good look at this photo.  Do you see anything interesting about this tree?  Yes, there are two entrance holes!

I discovered that the upper entrance hole in this oak tree is being used by a pair of Tree Swallows!  The photo above is the male who appeared to be checking out the digs yesterday to see if they were acceptable.  Then today, when I went by Lema Ranch to check in on the White-breasted Nuthatches, I observed the female (below) and the male going in and out of the upper entrance hole.  Apparently, they will be setting up house in the same tree.

I have three other Tree Swallow pairs building nests in homemade birdhouses at this site, one pair has 6 eggs in the nest already but the other two so far only have the nest built.  So this pair seems to be right on time with the decision to build their nest in this tree.

It looks as if I will be able to follow two nestings at the same time, the White-breasted Nuthatch and the  Tree Swallow.  The nuthatches being about three weeks ahead of the tree swallows, their young should fledge before the swallows since both species have a two week incubation period followed by three to four weeks in the nest before the young fledge.  I am very curious whether the adults will be using the entrance holes at the same time during the nesting period.  I think it will be unavoidable during the next 3 – 4 weeks.  I will try to get a photo of both species at their respective entrance holes at the same time.