Hi Tweeters,

A few things made me curious about the above species.
One is the Bald Eagle that drowned in Magnolia. I
went to look for the Hooded Oriole in the very same
neighborhood and noticed at least 4 Bald Eagles last
week flying over the sound and interacting. According
to Cornell Birds of North America (BNA) online Bald
Eagles can be very adept at recruiting new mates when
one is lost but not always. I think with the high
population we seem to have currently, there are
available eagles waiting in line for opportunities.

Also last night while waiting around for the Northern
Mockingbird to show up Marv and Matt and I were
talking about Bushtits wondering if they reuse their
nests or go back in after fledging. Again checking
with BNA
apparently the fledgling do not ever reuse the nest.
The adults can lay a second clutch of eggs in the same
nest before the first brood fledges. After one season
the nests are rarely if ever reused. Bushtits were
one of the first birds documented to have nest
helpers, although in some areas it is uncommon.
Usually it is other birds that have lost their mate or
their nesting failed, or a competing male can be
accepted as a trio.
I am always amazed such a tiny bird can build such a
large and intricate nest. There is a busted up nest
on the Burke Gilman near where I work and the Bushtits
lined it with some large feathers they found. I would
have loved to see them with one of the feathers in
their bill stuffing it into the sock nest.

Kathy
Roosting in S King County


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