For the third straight year (4 out of the past 5), the Coopers are back in the yard getting the nest prepared for another breeding season. It's interesting to watch them work on the nest. Instead of using all of the available tree branches on the ground, they break the branches off the trees. They hop around from tree to tree testing the branches for the right size and feel (I guess). If their not adding to the nest they'll hang around for most of the day. Meals in the yard are a daily ritual. Unlike my kids, they don't leave any messes behind. Bob Hilliard, OH ______________________________________________________________________ Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. Additional discussions can be found in our forums, at www.ohiobirds.org/forum/. You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask]