funded by:
DESCRIPTION
NestWatch. Funded by:. Developed by:. Developed by:. In collaboration with:. NestWatch - www.nestwatch.org. A citizen-science nest monitoring project from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. NestWatch. It's a rewarding way to participate in scientific research and have fun outdoors. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Funded by:
NestWatch
In collaboration with:
Developed by:Developed by:
2
NestWatch - www.nestwatch.org
A citizen-science nest monitoring project from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology
3
NestWatch
It's a rewarding way to participate in scientific research and have fun outdoors.
NestWatch collects data on ALL North American breeding birds.
However, several species will be followed more closely because they are more accessible – they tend to nest near humans and across a variety of landscapes.
We call them our “FOCAL SPECIES”
Please join us in our investigations to find out more about the birds we see in our everyday environment.
4
NestWatch Focal Species
American GoldfinchAmerican KestrelAmerican RobinBarn SwallowBlack-capped ChickadeeHouse FinchHouse WrenMourning DoveNorthern MockingbirdRed-winged BlackbirdSong SparrowTree Swallow* Brown-headed Cowbird
Lesser GoldfinchMountain BluebirdSay's PhoebeViolet-green swallowWestern BluebirdWestern Scrub Jay
Blue JayCarolina ChickadeeEastern BluebirdEastern PhoebeGray CatbirdNorthern Cardinal
Widely Distributed Eastern North America
Western North America
5
Widely Distributed Focal Species
American Goldfinch House WrenAmerican Kestrel Mourning DoveAmerican RobinNorthern MockingbirdBarn Swallow Red-winged BlackbirdBlack-capped Chickadee Song SparrowHouse FinchTree Swallow
* Brown-headed Cowbird
6
American Goldfinch (Carduelis tristis)
Habitat & Range
Nest Type & EggsNest: Tight cup of twigs, roots, and spider silk with a soft (thistle) lining; built by femaleEggs: (2-7) White tinted with light blue
Nest Location
Areas with a variety of deciduous vegetation, suburban yards
1-30 ft. - Shaded areas with dense leaf canopy
Cool FactLate nesters (June-July) &
strict vegetarians!
7
American Kestrel (Falco sparverius)
Nest Type & EggsNest: Shallow scrape in loose material on the cavity floor, no nesting material; built by female Eggs: (3-5) White, cream, or pink with brown specks
Nest Location
Variety of open areas: forest edges, orchards, pastures, deserts, etc.
10-30 ft. - Cavities in trees, buildings, nest boxes, cliffs, & cacti
Habitat & Range
Cool FactNestlings squirt
feces on the cavity walls, keeping the
floor clean
8
American Robin (Turdus migratorius)
Nest Type & Eggs
Nest Location
Wide range such as forest openings, woodlands, farmlands, yards, parks
5-50 ft. - Trees, shrubs, or buildings, usually located in a crotch
Nest: Open cup of grass & twigs, held together with mud, lined with fine dry grass; built by femaleEggs: (3-4) Pale blue
Habitat & Range
Cool FactRobins can
become intoxicated from eating too much
honeysuckle!
9
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)
Nest Type & EggsNest: Open, shallow cup of mud, grass, & hair, lined with feathers; built by both adultsEggs: (4-5) White with spotting
Nest Location
Breeds in variety of areas, sometimes near water
As high as 100 ft. Usually stuck against a flat surface with overhead support
Habitat & Range
Cool FactUnmated males
will kill nestlings of a mated pair to mate with the
female
10
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)
Nest Type & EggsNest: Cavity with moss base, lined with fine material such as animal fur; built by femaleEggs: (6-8) White with reddish-brown speckles
Nest Location
Breeds in wooded areas
4-40 ft - Cavity in rotten wood, old woodpecker hole, or a nest-box
Habitat & Range
Cool FactChickadees can
remember thousand s of
locations where they’ve hidden
seeds
11
House Finch (Carpodacus mexicanus)
Nest Type & EggsNest: Open cup of grass, leaves, string, feathers, etc., lined with fine material; built by female.Eggs: (2-6) Pale blue with speckles
Nest Location
Variety of urban & suburban habitats. Rarely use broad-leaf trees or cavities
10-15 ft. – Pine trees, building ledges, vines, planters
Habitat & Range
Cool FactNestlings are fed an exclusive plant
diet.
12
House Wren (Troglodytes aedon)
Nest Type & EggsNest: Stick platform, nest cup lined with grass, bark, hair, feathers; built by both adultsEggs: (4-8) White or pinkish with reddish spots
Nest Location
Wherever there is low shrubby cover & thickets, with holes for nesting
2-20 ft - Placed in tree cavity, nest box & various crevices
Habitat & Range
Cool FactAdults will
puncture the eggs of other species nesting nearby
13
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)
Nest Type & EggsNest: Flimsy platform of twigs, pine needles or grass stems; built by both adultsEggs: (2) White, unmarked
Nest Location
Breeds in open woodlands, cultivated areas, suburban gardens
1-250 ft. - Trees, shrubs, vines, flower pots & man-made structures
Habitat & Range
Cool FactA single pair may have up to five or six clutches in a
year
14
Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)
Nest Type & EggsNest: Open cup with outer layer of twigs, lined with grass, leaves, & plant fibers; built by male Eggs: (2-6) Shades of gray, white, blue, & green
Nest Location
Breeds in a variety of areas, usually with some sort of vegetation
3-6 ft. - Built in shrubs & trees, sometimes found in eaves & building rafters
Habitat & Range
Cool FactBoth males and
females continue to add to their
songs throughout life
15
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)
Nest Type & EggsNest: Woven sedges and grass, lined with fine grass & rushes; built by female
Eggs: (2-4) Very pale blue with dark marks
Nest Location
Variable – wetland, upland, & agricultural; some urban or suburban
1-8 ft. - In vegetation near or over water: cattails, trees, cereal crops
Habitat & Range
Cool FactOne male may have up to 15
females nesting in his territory
16
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)
Nest Type & EggsNest: Cup with rough layer of dead grass & weeds, lined with fine grass & hair; built by femaleEggs: (3-5) Very pale blue with reddish speckles
Nest Location
Low scrubby growth and thickets, most often in moist or swampy locations
0-4 ft - On ground, grass tuft, or shrub; found higher as vegetation grows
Habitat & Range
Cool FactFemales prefer
males with songs that reflect the male’s ability to
learn
17
Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)
Nest Type & EggsNest: Cup of dry grass, pine needles, etc., lined with feathers; built by femaleEggs: (4-7) White, unmarked
Nest Location
Prefers open woodlands or farmlands near water
3-30 ft. - Natural cavity, woodpecker hole, nest box, or in a man-made cavity
Habitat & Range
Cool FactUsing feathers in
their nests helps to reduce the parasite
load
18
Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater)
Habitat & Range
Nest Type & Eggs
Nest Location
Habitats with low or scattered trees among grassland vegetation
0-10 ft - Female cowbirds choose nests with smaller eggs & lay an egg once the host lays two eggs
Nest: No nest; lays eggs in nests of other bird species
Eggs: (1-7) Whitish with brown or gray spots
Cool FactThey are the only
brood parasite common across North America
19
Focal Species of Eastern North America
Blue JayCarolina ChickadeeEastern BluebirdEastern PhoebeGray CatbirdNorthern Cardinal
20
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)
Nest Type & EggsNest: Open cup of twigs bark, or moss, lined with small roots, mud, or leaves; built by both adultsEggs: (2-7) Variety of colors with brown spots
Nest Location
Breeds in variety of areas including woodlands, rural & suburban habitats
3-90 ft. - Tree crotches or branches, near buildings in suburban areas
Habitat & Range
Cool FactThe oldest known wild Blue Jay lived to be at least 17
years old!
21
Carolina Chickadee (Poecile carolinensis)
Nest Type & EggsNest: Cavity lined with moss, bark, animal hair & plant fibers; built by femaleEggs: (3-10) White with speckles
Nest Location
Breeds in wooded areas
2-25 ft. - Usually in dead tree hole, wooden post, or a man-made structure
Habitat & Range
Cool FactPair bonding
between male and female can remain intact for several
years
22
Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis)
Nest Type & EggsNest: Loose cup of grass and pine needles, lined with hair, grass, or feathers; built by femaleEggs: (4-5) Pale blue
Nest Location
Open woodland or man-made sites around farms & buildings
2-30 ft. - Natural cavity, old woodpecker hole, or nest box on a post
Habitat & Range
Cool FactMales do a wing
display at the nest to attract females
to the cavity
23
Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe)
0
Nest Type & EggsNest: Open cup of mud, moss and leaves, lined with fine grass & hair; built by femaleEggs: (2-6) White
Nest Location
Man-made structures & other structures, usually near running fresh water
3-20 ft. - Under bridge, cliff, or eave of building; cemented to wall
Habitat & Range
Cool FactPhoebes are loners, rarely
coming in contact with other phoebes
24
Gray Catbird (Dumatella carolinensis)
Nest Type & EggsNest: Bulky cup of twigs, leaves, & grass; lined with fine roots, leaves, & pine needles; built by femaleEggs: (5-6) Uniform deep blue or greenish blue
Nest Location
Woodland areas with abundant vegetation
3-6 ft. - Found in small tree, shrub, or vine; maybe much higher
Habitat & Range
Cool FactCatbirds will
recognize cowbird eggs and throw them out of the
nest
25
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)
Nest Type & EggsNest: Cup of 4 layers: outer layer of rough debris, inner layers of fine materials; built by femaleEggs: (1-5) White with gray, buff, or green tinting
Nest Location
Breeds in variety of deciduous, coniferous, & herbaceous vegetation
3-30 ft. - Hidden in twigs and branches
Habitat & Range
Cool FactMales will often attack their own
reflections, thinking them an intruder
26
Focal Species of Western North America
Lesser GoldfinchMountain BluebirdSay's PhoebeViolet-green swallowWestern BluebirdWestern Scrub Jay
27
Lesser Goldfinch (Carduelis psaltria)
Nest Type & EggsNest: Open cup largely of plant fibers, lined with hair or feathers; built by female
Eggs: (2-6) Pale, with varying tints
Nest Location
Variety of deciduous or coniferous habitats in rural, suburban, & urban areas
4-45 ft. - Different species of trees and shrubs, such as cottonwood and willow
Habitat & Range
Cool FactThe amount of
black or green on a males back can
vary in their range
28
Mountain Bluebird (Sialia currocoides)
Nest Type & EggsNest: Cup of grass, weed stems, & pine needles; lined with wool, hair, or feathers; built by femaleEggs: (4-8) Pale blue, bluish white, rarely white
Nest Location
Open areas & the edges of deciduous and coniferous forests
1-7 ft. - Natural cavities, woodpecker holes, cliff crevices, or nest boxes
Habitat & Range
Cool FactAlthough the male
appears to help build the nest, he
usually drops material en route.
29
Say's Phoebe (Sayornis saya)
Nest Type & EggsNest: Cup of stems, grass, moss, & rocks; lined with paper, hair, wool, or feathers; built by femaleEggs: (3-7) White with occasional reddish spots
Nest Location
Breeds in various open & dry areas; prairies, plains, canyons, & deserts
5-50 ft. - Requires a horizontal ledge, ex: cliff, mine, barn, old car, etc.
Habitat & Range
Cool FactBreeds further north than any
flycatcher, limited only by lack of nest
sites
30
Violet-green Swallow (Tachycineta thalassina)
Nest Type & EggsNest: Constructed of stems, twigs, grass, & fur; lined with feathers; built by both adultsEggs: (4-6) White
Nest Location
Open deciduous or mixed forests of ponderosa pine, aspen, willow, & spruce
5-15 ft. - Cliff crevices, tree cavities, woodpecker holes, old swallow nests, under eaves & nest boxes
Habitat & Range
Cool FactA violet-green
Swallow pair has been observed
helping Western Bluebirds raise
young
31
Western Bluebird (Sialia mexicana)
Nest Type & EggsNest: Loose collection of grass, weeds, hair and feathers; built by females
Eggs: (3-8) Pale blue, bluish white, or white
Nest Location
Open habitats with scattered trees: farmlands, orchards, open forest edge
4-40 ft. - Natural cavities, woodpecker holes, or nest boxes
Habitat & Range
Cool FactHelpers are often seen at the nest, most are young from previous
years
32
Western Scrub-jay (Aphelocoma californica)
Nest Type & EggsNest: Open cup of twigs and plants roots, lined with plant fibers and animal hair; built by bothEggs: (1-5) Greenish with speckles
Nest Location
Various trees, shrubs, and vines
6-12 ft. - In tree, shrub, bush, or vines; often well concealed within shrubs
Habitat & Range
Cool FactUsed in several
laboratory studies for its ability to hide & remember seeds
33
NestWatch – www.nestwatch.org
Observing nests is an educational and motivational experience.
Remember, the birds you observe will vary depending on the region that you live. Also, you can monitor and enter data for any bird nests found, no matter the species.
When monitoring nests please follow the NestWatcher’s Code of Conduct.
For further information, please visit our website at www.nestwatch.org or search our Resource Center at www.birds.cornell.edu/nestinginfo
We are grateful to all the thousands of nest monitors who have volunteered their time and effort to monitor, record, and submit their valuable observations.