[Mnbird] Nesting Update, Cavity Dwellers Edition, Dakota Co

[Miller Johnson]

I have my eye on several nests.

Black-capped Chickadee Nest #1: 
03-19-2022 First observed a pair excavating at a knothole in a dying tree. They were still excavating on 04-21.

BCCH Nest #2: 
04-09-2022 First observed a pair excavating inside an existing hole in a very dead snag. Still excavating on 04-19. Also, one would go inside for quite a while, and the second would also go inside, then one would pop back out quickly.

BCCH Nest #3: 
04-10-2022 First observed a pair excavating a hole in a very dead, small poplar. Still excavating on 04-19.

BCCH Nest #4: 
04-19-2022 Observed a chickadee inside a wooden Troyer nest box, looking out. Aha, on 04-23 there was no nesting material inside the Troyer nest box, but there was plenty of moss inside a nearby Gilbertson pvc nest box.

Red-bellied Woodpecker: 
03-18-2022 First observed a male hanging around a dead tree with multiple old holes. It was across a small clearing from the nest hole they used in 2019. On 03-19 I observed the male excavating a hole where he had been hanging out. On 04-01 the male was still excavating, and the female joined him at the hole. As of 04-19 I believe egg-laying had begun. Each bird would spend quite a bit of time inside the hole, stick its head out and churl, waiting for a response. If the male was outside, it would respond by calling, but didn't come to the nest. If the male was inside the nest and called, the female didn't respond or come to the nest! I've found the female Red-bellied Woodpeckers to be very independent. If they churled multiple times and the mate didn't come to the nest, the one inside would leave the nest untended. On 04-21 the male called from the hole, and flew to a nearby tree. The female flew to his tree; they copulated. Incubation should begin shortly. (When they are incubating, the mate comes rather quickly to swap places when they get the call from the one inside the nest.)

Hairy Woodpecker: 
04-09-22 A hole I'd been keeping my eye on since last summer started to show some fresh wood around the edges. It was about 15 feet from the Hairy Woodpecker nest in 2021, so it was easy to check. On 04-21 a female hairy flew out of the hole. Will have to continue monitoring for more activity. 

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker: 
04-19-2022 Heard sapsucker calls from near a cherry tree that they have been tapping since at least 2019, when I first found them nesting in our yard. On 04-21 I observed the male drumming on a dead snag. I heard what sounded like courting sounds, but couldn't locate the bird(s). Later I saw the male digging at an old hole in a poplar that was about 12-15 feet away from their 2021 nest-hole tree. On 04-23 the male was into the hole up to his breast. 04-25 finally saw the female hanging around the nest hole and nearby trees. What took me by surprise was that she has a black cap, not red. She's quite striking, and has a lovely yellow belly, but is otherwise black and white.

Downy Woodpecker: 
Both the male and female seem to be checking out a dead tree for nest viability. So far their holes have gotten as big as quarters, but then seem to be abandoned. They both hang out in the nearby trees, so this seems to be their preferred territory. Will continue to monitor.

American Kestrel: 
04-23-2022 Observed the male for the first time this season, scanning from a pole that he used frequently last summer. He dropped down and got something to eat. Later I heard kestrel calling and went to see what was happening. The female had come in from the northwest, which is where they nested last year. After quite a bit of calling, they copulated. Last year they brought at least two kids to our yard to hunt. Looks like they are setting themselves up for a repeat this year.

Eastern Bluebird:
03-19-2022 Heard a bluebird singing, then continued to hear or see at least one male most days until 04-09. Had not seen or heard again until today, when a male and female were hanging out in our yard, and eating suet. I have a few suet feeders, and both the male and female figured out how to use them and were able to eat suet bits. That made me happy.

Hope everyone has a great nesting season. It looks promising here right now, but you never know and this weather isn't helping.

Molly Jo Miller
Inver Grove Hts
Dakota Co