In a message dated 5/26/2003 6:21:36 PM Central Daylight Time, Imboden@xxxxxxx writes: > > Can anyone tell me what happens to some of the birds when their > nesting is disrupted by nature in such drastic fashion or does it vary by > specie? I > know that chickadees only nest once, but will they try a second time in such > > circumstances? Is there any evidence that birds compensate in their nesting > > patterns? Thanks for any info. > The response does vary by specie, but as long as the habitat has not changed drastically (like when a grassland is mowed for hay, or an area is clearcut) and the structure they use to build their nest is still in the area, many can renest this early in the season. I am not sure about chickadees specifically (the Birders Handbook lists number of broods as ?), but I know Wood Thrush and Robins will start building within a day or two of losing a nest. I had one Wood Thrush who rebuilt a new nest in the same exact spot where her first nest was blown out of the tree. Major disturbance like this are not all bad for birds. Many bird species need periodic disturbance (fire, tornado, grazing...) to provide or maintain habitat for nesting (and other activities). A tornado moving through a large forest patch would create an opening in the forest canopy, and allow the forest floor in the area to be covered with dense shrub and sapling vegetation. This vegetation could provide nesting habitat for some species like American Redstart (see http://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/pubs/rpc/2002-01/rpc_02january_27.pdf if you would like to read more about disturbance-dependent bird species and why they are in trouble). Jim Giocomo Knoxville, TN (but currently at Fort Campbell in Stewart and Montgomery Counties) =================NOTES TO SUBSCRIBER===================== The TN-Bird Net requires you to sign your messages with first and last name, city (town) and state abbreviation. ----------------------------------------------------- To post to this mailing list, simply send email to: tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx ----------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, send email to: tn-bird-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with 'unsubscribe' in the Subject field. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Topographical Maps located at http://topozone.com/find.asp * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Visit the Tennessee Ornithological Society web site at http://www.tnbirds.org * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * TN-Bird Net Owner: Wallace Coffey, Bristol, TN jwcoffey@xxxxxxxxxx (423) 764-3958 =========================================================