The Daily Bucket is a nature refuge.
We amicably discuss animals, weather, climate, soil, plants, waters and note life’s patterns.
We invite you to note what you are seeing around you in your own part of the world, and to share your observations in the comments below.
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I recently wrote an article about chicks and young birds that I photographed around my home in Oxford, Mississippi. Here is the link: www.dailykos.com/…
After some thought, I decided I should explain the different choices and environments the birds (I highlighted in the article and a few different ones) make for their nests. I’ll start with the title photograph of the Red Head. The hole-nest is 18 feet off the ground. It is facing south. The power pole is at the corner of an intersection of two roads (road on the north side of the pole and on the east side of the pole. There is not another tree within thirty feet of the pole. The Red Heads feel safe from predators and have easy access to food and protective cover. These birds are easy to observe.
The Red-Bellied Woodpeckers above chose a dead Pine tree for their nest. The hole is 25 to 30 feet high and on the east side of the tree. This tree is close to other pines all the same age and size.
There are two nesting sites on my back porch. The nest above is typical of the cup shaped bed with another style having a cover and the entrance hole on the side (not facing the porch).
This Cardinal nest, shown above, is in a Cedar tree. It is 10 feet off the ground and facing the wood line (open yard). The bird must approach from the side because of the heavy foliage. The nest is the size of a dinner plate, shallow and snuggled against the tree.
Robins have been using this spot for many years. The Forks of the tree are 20 feet off the ground. The nest fills the pocket between the limbs (size of a dinner plate) and drains well if raining. Easy to defend for the Robins and the entrance-exits are in varied directions.
Summer Tanagers like to make their nests about 12 to 15 feet off the ground. The nests are away from the trunk of a tree, on a sturdy branch with a forked limb to lace to. The nests are about the size of large coffee mug, open top with a bowl shaped bed like the Wren’s nest shown above.
Not every nest houses a bird in my neighborhood. The nest on the above left photo is the breeding nest of one family of squirrels. This nest is built of small limbs that are placed between trees that fork close together. The nest is lined with small branches (with leaves attached) and some moss in the bottom. The nest on the left is about 2 feet deep (lip to lower point) and about 15 inches diameter at the top. Imagine a funnel with a soft plug that drains when it rains.
The nest on the above right is a “day nest” for squirrels. Several limbs growing close together have branches (with leaves) woven into a flat platform. Squirrels will bring food to eat together and rest during busy days. These “day beds” are usually protected from the weather by upper foliage.
Blue Birds rarely fly into objects like windows or sides of cars. I was quite surprised when this happened today. I wanted to show the vibrant colors of this beautiful creature that even in death is worth admiration. This male has bred and has family here to carry on his legacy.
I am compelled to include a spider because they’re here, every day and every where. This arachnid built it’s funnel nest-web in my compost pile. The spider is near the bottom of the web. It is about 1 / 2 inch long, brown, fast like a trap-door spider (a distant relative) and seems safely guarded under the steel grate that protects it. My compost brings plenty of victims.
I hope you enjoyed visiting the varied homes here in Mississippi. Stop by any time. You will be welcomed.
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What’s up in nature in your area today?
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