Nesting help

The year before last, curve-billed thrashers raised a family on top of the potting bench, under the eaves. It was a perfect place to nest as it was protected from the weather as well as from predators. The road runners took a lesson from that and evicted them from that spot last year, and raised 3 young ones. This year the thrashers tried to nest there again, but were driven out by the road runners who then abandoned the nest.

The thrashers moved to the east side of the house and tried to set up housekeeping in a small roosting box. I only noticed from the huge pile of sticks on the ground that had fallen from that little perch. Dan to the rescue. He build a good-sized platform, much like the potting bench roof spot, and it took only an hour for the birds to start stacking more wood. Their nests are mostly sticks, and mostly from the mesquites, very prickly. To each his own, of course.

Also last year, cactus wrens were not deterred by the smallness 2 other roosts on the porch, and raised 2 broods across from the kitchen window. It took those birds just a couple of days to stuff those roosting boxes and get to business. It was a real treat to see them care for the chicks so close up, and the parents kept the porch virtually insect free in feeding the entire family.

This year's pair of cactus wrens may be young, or let's just say, they are not experienced nest builders. They have tried for a couple of weeks to push nesting material into the roost, but when they flew out to gather more, most of the stuff fell out with them or was blown away by the wind. Again, Dan to the rescue. He build 2 magnificent condos because the cactus wrens build more than 1 nest and use other nests for roosting or raising subsequent families. This nest box is much bigger and hardware cloth keeps the nesting material from falling out. It also has holes on the sides for entry and exit. And we still have a great view of the nesting activities from the kitchen sink window. I just saw one of the wrens exit the nest after adding grass, twigs and dog hair. I think they approve!

Stay tuned for wren and thrasher family updates.