Hello everyone,



Last summer, the Atlas received 14 records (2 confirmed & 3 probable) of
Red-breasted Nuthatch in Ohio.  To date, OBBA2 has received 38 records of
this fascinating species in 29 different Atlas blocks.  During the first
Atlas (1982-1987), Red-breasted Nuthatches were recorded from 21 Atlas
blocks.  (View stats for the species at
http://bird.atlasing.org/Atlas/OH/Main?viewResults=1).



If anyone has Red-breasted Nuthatches coming to their feeders right now, I'd
like to encourage everyone to keep track of these birds to see if they stay
into the summer.  This past fall was a huge invasion year for these
nuthatches.  A quick check of eBird data from 2005-2008 shows that
Red-breasted Nuthatches were included on 31% of submitted checklists during
the week of November 1, 2007.  This same week in November 2005 and 2006
showed an 8% and 4% detection rate, respectively.  Similarly, nuthatches
seem to have been detected more frequently this winter than the previous 3
winters.  As recently as last week, Red-breasted Nuthatches were included on
11% of submitted checklists.  The Great Backyard Bird Count also helps to
substantiate their increased presence in Ohio this winter with 235
individuals counted over 4 days in February 2007 and 1,208 individuals
counted this February!



Will this be an indication of increased nesting presence for this species in
Ohio during the coming Atlas season?  My prediction will be 'Yes'.  Their
summering presence in Ohio seems to increase after these invasion years when
many birds winter in the state.  It certainly will be interesting to see how
things unfold.  Nesting in Ohio was first confirmed in Ashtabula County back
in 1929 and the sparse breeding presence of this species in Northeast Ohio
was continually noted from the 1950s through the 1970s.  A statewide nesting
distribution materialized during Ohio's first breeding bird atlas, and birds
were noted mostly from the northeastern counties while birds were also
detected in some northwestern counties (particularly the Oak Openings
Region) and one nesting confirmation from Hamilton County (summering/nesting
records from the Hocking Hills also were recorded before and after the Atlas
period).



Spring movements of Red-breasted Nuthatches take place from mid-April to
late-May.  For this reason, OBBA2 set their safe dates to begin June 1st.
However, nesting activities for the species can be initiated in mid-April
(egg dates have been recorded during early May in Ontario) so keep a look
out for breeding activities.  If you continue to observe Red-breasted
Nuthatches at your feeders or anywhere else starting in April, please pay
close attention to what these birds are doing.  Typical nesting habitat for
this nuthatch is coniferous woods, hemlock forests, pine plantations, or
ornamental conifers in urban settings.  Some breeding behaviors to watch for
would be the males "courtship song" (described as a repeated series of
plaintive, nasal "waa-aa-n" notes) which is given incessantly from the tops
of trees while exhibiting a unique upward-extended body posture.  Other
behaviors are courtship feeding and courtship flights.  Nest cavities
typically occur in dead trunks or limbs at heights of 10-30 ft. and pitch
globules are applied around the entrance hole.monitor any cavities you find
with this characteristic.  Fledged young can appear in June and July.



Please keep us informed about your Red-breasted Nuthatch observations.
These observations will be important to document for Ohio's second project.
If you would like more information on the Ohio Breeding Bird Atlas II and
how to participate, please contact me and I'll send you information right
away.  Good birding!



Aaron Boone

Project Coordinator

Ohio Breeding Bird Atlas II

(614) 247-6458

[log in to unmask]

 <http://www.ohiobirds.org/obba2/> www.ohiobirds.org/obba2/




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