Ten days ago we watched a red-bellied woodpecker predating a blue-gray gnatcatcher nest at Killbuck Marsh.  The frantic gnatcatchers, flying around the woodpecker and calling loudly, could not deter the woodpecker who was pecking in the nest, presumably having eggs for breakfast.  The woodpecker left the nest intact, but I would expect the gnatcatchers would abandon that nest site.  

Helen Ostermiller


On May 8, 2015, at 4:26 PM, Pam Unger <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

>     This Spring in the Moses Wright Nature Area (a mini-preserve on the side of Dublin-Granville Rd. in Old Wrothington) I've witnessed 2 separate events that I've seen in the past but convinced myself my eyes were deceiving me.  Now I'm sure.    ONE:  The Tale of the Mysterious Disappearance.  I'd been watching a pair of blue gray gnatcatchers building their beautiful little nest--sort of like a giant hummingbird nest--high in a big old tree that hadn't yet leafed out.  They appeared to be putting the finishing touches on it.  Last time I went, expecting to see the female brooding on this masterpiece . . . it was GONE.  Now, I know that male house wrens construct a number of make-shift nests to display to their wives, and I know that the wives reject these poor efforts but condescend to take one apart and rebuild it satisfactorily.  But the gnatcatcher nest was a joint effort and appeared perfect.  They didn't just abandon it--they totally disassembled it.  What's up with that?
>  
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> 
>  There are a thousand ways to kneel and kiss the earth.  --Rumi
> 
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