Nest building on the Nature Cam

[Chesslike]

Boy, I am surprised that people who say they are so much into nature, would advocate interfering with plans that nature already has. Nature is not always pretty and we may not understand why certain things happen in nature, but usually when we have good intentions to try and change the course of natural events, we wind up screwing things up. The flicker nest that you see is a hollowed out log that was customized by the flicker pair. It is outside hanging on a tree and if critters wanted to come take those eggs, nothing would stop them, except the flickers themselves. How is this nest different than the flickers making their home in any other hollowed out tree that is in the forest? Besides having a camera, so that we could watch nature do its thing, there really is no difference. Birds are pretty creative when it comes to where they build their nests and if this nest did not fill their needs, they would not have customized it and laid their eggs. There is something innate in why they are still sitting on those eggs, sad as it may be, but they will decide when it is time to abandon them and get on with their lives. Why would we want it any other way?

[TiniLady]

BostonBob I couldn't agree with you more.

So called nature lovers asking to have eggs removed from a nesting location picked by a pair of northern flickers is outrageous.

All North American woodpeckers are primarily cavity nesters that excavate their own cavities, but some species occasionally use existing cavities or nest boxes. Woodpeckers need dead or dying trees, (also known as snags), to excavate their nesting cavities. With the growth of communities, the availability of snags has decreased significantly and challenges the woodpeckers to find suitable alternatives. Remember all the dead and dying trees are being removed from the community of Wrightwood during the past few years.

Take a good look at the pictures they posted on this website and see the fabulous job they did on creating a natural and safe nest box for woodpeckers. It looks like a tree because it's made from a tree and they've showed plenty of other birds in the nest so natural predators can get to the eggs. Maybe the flickers are protecting the eggs and won't allow predators to get to them yet you want a human to go and remove the eggs so the flickers can move on with their lives.

Woodpeckers are classified as migratory nongame birds and are protected by the Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act. A federal permit is required before any lethal control methods are employed. Penalties and fines are assessed to violators.

Why would nature lovers want to remove eggs from a federally protected bird?

[angelwolf326]

Opinions vary don't they? 

I have not put down any of yours and I have not insulted you or said you were a so called antything!

I resent the comments that I am a so called nature lover.  Who are any of you to judge me?  Please don't even go there.

I spoke my opinions and I don't like seeing an animal suffer.  This bird evidently does not know her babies are dead (as they evidently are based on the known hatching facts presented on this thread). 

Do you think it's good for a bird to spend her whole day sitting in a hot box?  I don't.

Sometimes we need to step in when we are aware that something is not right, like the infant squirrel that Surfer Dude brought to me.  He is living and healthy.  I guess I should have not interfered and let the cat that was trying to kill him go ahead and do it?

Maybe the cam can be pointed somewhere else?

[ElizaBent]

Perhaps you can just avoid that thread until the birds decide that it's time to lay some new eggs. It will be less stressful. That's what I plan on doing until we get some new eggs and baby birds to watch. 

Thanks again for the opportunity to see nature "up close and personal" and without interference.

[ForestGal]

[KWBoy]

Exhausted ForestGal does have a point!

Im gonna get yelled at for this!

Any one want scrambled eggs? 

[Bud]

over easy please. Some people can be so judgemental ,vain, and just plain  snobs .   

[Vulcan]

I have a feeling that Wrightwood just bought some eggs from Henry's, placed them there neatly, and is pulling a fast one on us and the birds.  Is he a sick puppy or what?  Let the birds fly Wrightwood, & let us have the scrambled eggs!!!!!!!   

[TiniLady]

As this is a man made nest, I actually would not be interfering.  If the nest was in a tree or outside I truly believe that other critters would have already eaten the dead eggs.

The nest box was hollowed out by man but the nest was fashioned by birds so the nest is not man made.

Some people can be so judgemental ,vain, and just plain  snobs

Why the name calling Bud? Does calling someone a snob makes it OK to remove eggs from a federally protected birds nest.

[Bud]

So called nature lovers is not name calling The rest is self explanitory. Just because someone disagrees with you doesn't make them wrong. I don't care but I do believe you two owe Angelwolf a big sincere apology

[2CatMama]

Well, she/he just finished moving and turning the eggs, and has settled down for another day of hopeless incubatin'.  This is the forst time I have seent he care she/he takes withthe eggs, and it just makes me so sad.  All this TLC and it will go nowhere...
Hopefully next season these parents will have better luck.

[angelwolf326]

She's finally out of the nest getting some air....... Poor precious thing.....

[Wrightwood]

It is the male currently tending to the eggs and has been most of the time. The eggs have been turned frequently since the beginning and the parents leave the nest regularly to eat at a nearby suet feeder. I should also note that the parents aggressively defend the area near the nest box and when they see others at the suet they run them off.

The parents are in charge while they continue to occupy this nest box just as the Steller's were in charge when the little one died in their nest.

Due to the comments posted about removing the eggs I did check with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service website and found a couple of important postings.

The first one:
"The issue you raise, regarding the legality of removing nesting material from nest boxes - or other locations - does merit clarification from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.  In general, inactive nests may be legally destroyed, while active nests may not.

It is against the law to remove nests or eggs of birds other than sparrows or starlings. Monitors need to be positive of bird and egg identification before taking action to remove them.

The second one:
US Fish and Wildlife Service
http://library.fws.gov/Bird_Publications/prob.html

The federal and state laws that protect wild birds also protect their nests and eggs. You must have a federal permit to disturb the adults, nests or eggs.

The most effective way to eliminate these problems is to discourage the bird before the nest is built by offering an alternative artificial "nest" nearby, but out of your way. If that doesn't work, contact a federal or state agent for advice. Resist the temptation to destroy the nest or harass the adults.

[angelwolf326]

Thanks WW for the clarification, it is a bit vague though, it does not say anything about dead eggs...

I appreciate you looking into it.

[kew]

It is sad by human standards,however, nature has been dealing with these kinds of situations for a very long time.

We should just watch and see how nature resolves the problem.

[ElizaBent]

Wrightwood-perhaps you could put a watercooled evaporation system on the nest box to keep the birds cool.  (If they are still sitting there in the winter, you could rig a water heating system) 

Maybe these two birds are just practising for the real event that will take place next month?

[Wrightwood]

Thanks WW for the clarification, it is a bit vague though, it does not say anything about dead eggs...

I appreciate you looking into it.

I think it's clear that this is considered an active nest. Until the parents abandon the nest box the eggs or nest can't be touched.

[Wrightwood]

After 42 days of sitting on the eggs the flicker parents appear to have given up.

This morning at 7:30 the male flicker left the nest and neither of the potential parents have returned since.

Playing back video I noticed some bug activity near the eggs.

[ForestGal]

[Wrightwood]

I guess I won't open my office window in the morning as it's only 15 feet from the opening 

Seriously... I'll check on the eggs tomorrow if the parents do not occupy the nest.

In the future the nest will be cleaned (with bleach as directed) and placed back in service. We will monitor activity and keep everyone informed if a new family moves in since so many birds tried for the spot in spring.