They do this on purpose.



The Red-breasted Nuthatch collects resin globules from coniferous trees and plasters them around the entrance of its nest hole. It may carry the resin in its bill or on pieces of bark that it uses as an applicator. The male puts the resin primarily around the outside of the hole while the female puts it around the inside. The resin may help to keep out predators or competitors. The nuthatch avoids the resin by diving directly through the hole.

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/red-breasted_nuthatch/lifehistory

Christine Southwick
N Seattle/Shoreline
clsouthwick at q.com
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

On Thu, 15 Aug 2013, Dianna Moore wrote:

> Date: Thu, 15 Aug 2013 21:52:22 -0700
> From: Dianna Moore <dlmoor2 at coastaccess.com>
> To: tweeters <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
> Subject: [Tweeters] nuthatch nestbox
>
> Hey Tweets...a friend of mine recently removed her red-breasted nuthatch nestbox to clean it and found the entrance hole is surrounded by sticky resin and evergreen needles.
> Her question is did they do that on purpose to keep out other birds, or is it the natural result of them feeding on resinous (sappy) trees, getting it on their feet, then
> transferring that stuff to the entrance hole as they stepped into and out of their nestbox?
> ?
> Dianna Moore
> Ocean Shores
>
>
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