Nature Journal Notes

Welcome nature journalers! It’s hard to believe that the month of May is coming to an end, but the recent weather is certainly a reminder that Summer is right around the corner!

 
Spring migration is winding down, which means our feathered friends are ready to settle in and start raising their first clutch of young birds. As we get further into June, you will probably notice that the symphony of bird songs will decrease as birds shift their focus from attracting mates to providing resources for their hatchlings. It is quite possible that you’ll even be able to hear the squeaking of baby birds as they beg for food!

Young House Sparrow begging for food in nest

American Robin collecting food to bring back to nest

​Not only will parent birds stop singing as much, but they will also start gathering food. Recently, the Robins in my neighborhood have all been wandering around with big caterpillars hanging out their beaks, which is an indicator that they have nestlings to tend to! If you are patient enough, you can watch parent birds bring food back to their nests to figure out where it is. I will warn you, though, birds are clever and if they know you are watching them, they will postpone feeding the nest as long as possible.

​Observing parent birds gathering food and visiting their nests is a great nature journaling activity. It can help us to learn to sketch birds at various stages of their lives, to identify different nest structures, and to notice new behaviors and patterns. Not only do birds have unique calls and colorations, but nest structure is often different for different types of birds as well!

​Here are some local birds and what to look for when searching for their nests (taken from Clare Walker Leslie’s The Nature Connection).

​Red-Eyed Vireo: Nest hangs from a tree branch, is usually comprised of plant fibers and birch bark strips, and is lined with pine needles and spider silk.

Red-Eyed Vireos get their name from their bright red eyes, which can be easily seen on the picture to the right!

Red-Eyed Vireo sitting on nest

Chickadees and Woodpeckers: Both birds will nest in holes in trees. Chickadees will occupy old holes, whereas woodpeckers will excavate a new nest hole.

Black-Capped Chickadee poking head out of nesting cavity

Woodpecker poking head out of nesting cavity

​Baltimore Oriole: These nests are woven together and will hang from the ends of tree branches. They are often made of plant fibers, string or hair. I’ve been watching a pair of nesting orioles pull the straw-like material from the lining of a hanging flower basket over the past couple of weeks. I have yet to figure out where their nest is!

Baltimore Oriole building hanging nest

Robin nest with distinct blue eggs

Robins: Nests are made of rootlets, pine needles, string, grass and mud! They often make their nests on porches, low trees, and even right along sidewalks.

​If you think you've found a Robin's nest, you can look inside for the bright blue eggs that they lay!

​Phoebes and Swallows: These nest are easy to identify because of how unique and gravity-defying they seem to be at times! Made of mud, these semicircular nests are caked onto the sides of buildings underneath eaves that provide additional shelter!

A group of swallow chicks in their nest just about ready to fledge

An Eastern Phoebe nest tucked snuggly between a pipe and a house overhang

Hawks, Ravens, Crows and Eagles: These raptors and the like will make large nests out of pretty substantial sticks. Often found toward the tops of trees.

Adult Bald Eagle keeping watch next to nest with two juvenile eagles

Crow sitting on nest made of sticks

​You can help some of your local bird species by providing nesting materials for them to use! Lay out supplies such as wool yarn, dryer lint or even hair from your hairbrush and see if anyone stops by to pick them up! We have a felt dog ball in the backyard that has recently been torn to shreds by some Tufted Titmice who used it for nesting material!

In your nature journal this week, see if you can identify some of the birds that might be nesting near your home, or in your favorite green spaces. You can record what behaviors they are displaying that indicate they may be nesting. If you are able to get your hands on a pair of binoculars you can track their movements to try to figure out where their nest is! You can even take note of what kind of food the parent birds are taking to their young (caterpillars, grubs, dragonflies, etc.). Make a list of what materials are used for the bird’s nest as well as any additional observations you make. Be sure to be making sketches while you watch!

Bonus Challenge: We all know that parent birds have to bring food to their nests, but can you figure out what they need to remove from nests as the nestlings grow? You can either find a nest to observe, or do some research online to learn this surprising fact about birds!

​I hope you are all able to observe some new bird activity and as always, if you find anything interesting and would like to share your recordings/observations, be sure to email them to us at education.nrt@gmail.com. Happy journaling!