Hi Tweeters,

First a request to please refrain from tape/ipod playback due to the nestbuilding activity at this location. Actually playback isn't really needed as both males are still singing away and I eventually got great looks at one of them though it did take some patience. At one point he flew into a bush quite close to me.

What an amazing experience to first see the female and puzzle over her for a short bit before realizing she was Mrs. Redstart. One male seems to sing from the right side of the opening and one from either straight in or towards the left. The female was foraging when I first saw her then I saw her take a bit of cottony material to a tall lanky shrub across the mostly dry creekbed. I think she may have chosen the right side male. When he finally materialized he flew into the bush with the nest and landed in several spots above the nest and looked down into it but did not land on it or much closer than 4 feet. I only heard the other male. I don't know how long nestbuilding takes, it does not look complete but there is enough cottony stuff to see she has been working on it. I don't know if the male helps at all but he was certainly interested in it.

I stayed long enough to see the female make multiple trips to the nest and to see the male cruise around different places besides the nest inspection cruise although that was highlight of watching him. I went after work.

This totally made my day, pretty exciting stuff. I hope we can give these beautiful little birds enough space that they succeed in their nesting activities. How cool would that be?

Kathy
Roosting in Kent, near Lake Meridian
(chukarbird at yahoo dot com)
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