And now there is a second nest. It was only a fairly good start of a nest when a male House Sparrow came and sat on the robin's pile. She flew at him, they tussled, and he flew off. I am very surprised he has not returned - at least as far as we know. Cleon and I monitored nesting boxes for our local conservation district for about 10 years and we watched House Sparrows regularly out-compete both Eastern Bluebirds, House Wrens, and Tree Swallows for nest sites. However, a robin is bigger, stockier, and will vigorously defend its nest.
This second location is right across the drive from the first robin's nest and this is not a good choice. A few years ago, a House Sparrow did try to nest there, but they do not actually 'build' nests - they use holes or nest boxes in which to nest and they pile up material. A robin will weave material together and sort of glue it with a bit of mud and her own saliva. House Sparrows do not glue anything - they just pile. This down spout has only one wall - right behind it - and so there is not much support for a nest. The other spout is close to 2 walls and the robin's nest touches both so it is supported. The House Sparrow from a few years ago piled stuff on that elbow and when the first good breeze came along, it all blew down to the ground. The site was abandoned. So I am not sure how this robin will fare building her nest on this elbow. From what I have read, first year nesting birds often do not have successful nests - nesting is an art evidently learned from experience. So this pair of robins could be young. I will share this robin's progress with you - and photos when I can although this nest is harder to photograph as I am doing it through the kitchen window so I do not alarm either female and this nest is farther away. The pictures will not be great - blurry. But you will get the idea.
The first photo is of the male House Sparrow just before she attacked. The skirmish was over in a nanosecond, but she got her point across. The second is her starting to shape the cup of her nest.
So for now, 2 nests!
And both females are working hard each morning - they do not come to their nests at all in the afternoon. So no eggs in the original nest - at least not yet. I am imagining on Day 8 or 9, the first female will be sitting on eggs. We will see! Linda
And now there is a second nest. It was only a fairly good start of a nest when a male House Sparrow came and sat on the robin's pile. She flew at him, they tussled, and he flew off. I am very surprised he has not returned - at least as far as we know. Cleon and I monitored nesting boxes for our local conservation district for about 10 years and we watched House Sparrows regularly out-compete both Eastern Bluebirds, House Wrens, and Tree Swallows for nest sites. However, a robin is bigger, stockier, and will vigorously defend its nest.
This second location is right across the drive from the first robin's nest and this is not a good choice. A few years ago, a House Sparrow did try to nest there, but they do not actually 'build' nests - they use holes or nest boxes in which to nest and they pile up material. A robin will weave material together and sort of glue it with a bit of mud and her own saliva. House Sparrows do not glue anything - they just pile. This down spout has only one wall - right behind it - and so there is not much support for a nest. The other spout is close to 2 walls and the robin's nest touches both so it is supported. The House Sparrow from a few years ago piled stuff on that elbow and when the first good breeze came along, it all blew down to the ground. The site was abandoned. So I am not sure how this robin will fare building her nest on this elbow. From what I have read, first year nesting birds often do not have successful nests - nesting is an art evidently learned from experience. So this pair of robins could be young. I will share this robin's progress with you - and photos when I can although this nest is harder to photograph as I am doing it through the kitchen window so I do not alarm either female and this nest is farther away. The pictures will not be great - blurry. But you will get the idea.
The first photo is of the male House Sparrow just before she attacked. The skirmish was over in a nanosecond, but she got her point across. The second is her starting to shape the cup of her nest.
So for now, 2 nests!
And both females are working hard each morning - they do not come to their nests at all in the afternoon. So no eggs in the original nest - at least not yet. I am imagining on Day 8 or 9, the first female will be sitting on eggs. We will see! Linda
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