Claim Straws And Nest Building

[Evelyn Cooper]

http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/k...mStraws003.jpg

Here is a picture of a beginning of a nest. You can see the female has placed the three pine needles almost in a circle. If she had left just one or two needles with no uniformity, most bluebirders call them "claim straws". I have seen the needles with one in the ring and a few days go back later and she would have place two more beside them and it would be three needles deep round. The female makes several rounds like this and then she starts on the sides of the nest. They make it all the way up as high as they intend to and then they place material for the bottom of the nest. Every trip they make bringing in materials, they do a little shuffle against the side of the inside part of the nest and turn some. This is what makes the nest so compact, neat and perfect.

Nest building usually is influenced by the warm weather. We've had some unsually warm days, up to 70* and lows of 55*. Then, it turned cold and all interest in the nest building or bringing claim straws stopped.

Not all of the Bluebirds place "claim straws" in the boxes. I have about a third of my boxes that have them. They always are a joyful sight to see though, as it is a sure sign it won't be long!

Evelyn
Delhi, LA