[TN-Bird] Irruptive species, continuing Red-breasted Nuthatches?

From: Shawna Ellis <yodergoat@xxxxxxxxx>
To: Tn Bird List <tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Fri, 22 Mar 2013 16:07:36 -0500
Shawna Ellis
Paris, Henry County TN


Here at our home in Henry County we have been enjoying Red-breasted
Nuthatches many times daily at our feeders since mid-November.This was
the first time we ever had them in our yard, and we've lived in this
place for almost 17 years... and before that I lived across the road
for the first 18 years of my life and fed birds there also. We had
only seen Red-breasted Nuthatches once in the vicinity during all that
time.

This truly was a year with many irruptive species for us... the one
glorious day of Evening Grosbeaks in November, many more Purple
Finches than ever before, the Red-breasted Nuthatches and lots of Pine
Siskins, which also had not been feeder birds for us prior to this
year. We have been dreading the time when these species move on, but
none more so than those personable and friendly nuthatches!

What is the possibility of them staying on to breed here?

If they do leave, we at least have a small consolation... a pair of
White-breasted Nuthatches has taken possession of the nesting box in
our yard. My husband observed a bluebird versus nuthatch battle for
the box, but since the nuthatches were already inside and could defend
it from within, the bluebirds gave up and set up residence in a box in
my parents' yard.

The nuthatch nest box is on a large hickory tree about 25 feet from
our feeder area. The male flies to the feeder, grabs a seed or a piece
of suet, then makes the very short flight back to the box to give it
to his mate. What a convenient location!

So, even if/when the Red-breasted Nuthatches leave, we will at least
have something to look forward to! It will be fun to see the
White-breasteds bring their young to the feeders, although of course
that is counting my nuthatches before they fledge.


-Shawna Ellis
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[TN-Bird] Irruptive species, continuing Red-breasted Nuthatches?

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