August 2018
Meet the Naturalists & ALNC Happy Hour
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These days it seems that birds are everywhere when you go outside, and so are their nests.![]()
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Bird nests are an impressive feat of nature with each nest catering to the habits, adaptations and environment of the bird species building it. Using found materials, birds are able to construct a home base that will keep their babies safe until they are ready to set out on their own.![]()
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The most common and recognizable type of nest is the cup nest. A round nest, often made out of sticks and mud, they’re built by birds like robins, finches, and even hummingbirds, who build their nests out of soft plant fibers, spider silk, and lichen. These natural materials and the cuplike construction actually allow for the nest to stretch as its inhabitants grow. ![]()
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Pendant nests are very interesting looking nests that are suspended from a tree. Birds all over the world utilize pendant nests but the only one we’re likely to see in Wisconsin is the Baltimore Oriole. Their nests hang down from the branches of a tree with a similar shape as a plastic bag. These nests are nearly impossible to spot when trees are covered in leaves but easy to find when the branches are empty.![]()
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Cavity nests are another type of nest birds like to use. Most commonly excavated by woodpeckers, these nests are built into tree cavities. Woodpeckers create a new cavity for their nest every year leaving their old cavities open for other birds to utilize. The Eastern Screech Owl is considered a secondary cavity nester, nesting in naturally made cavities or those made by woodpeckers. Black-Capped Chickadees can excavate cavities in softer trees and will also nest in cavities they find. ![]()
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And then there’s the mud nests made by the swallows. These nests are made of grass, bark, hair, feathers, and… mud. They may sound dirty, but are very helpful to the birds raising their young. Mud nests are very durable and can stick to vertical surfaces such as cliffs. They are cup shaped and commonly found in barns, under bridges, on the sides of cliffs, and on other man-made structures. ![]()
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Have you seen any unique bird nests lately?![]()
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What signs of spring do you see? Visit us for a hike or take a walk around your neighborhood to observe life cycle events that are influenced by seasonal changes!![]()
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Photos: Aldo Leopold Nature Center![]()
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#PhenologyFriday #BirdNest #WIEnviroEd #NatureIsEverywhere #NatureIsForEveryone #EveryBodyOutside
