Spring Cleaning

I had walked by this nest box a number of times before I noticed it. There are no other boxes around the property, so I was surprised when it finally caught my eye, tucked in against a small red pine. It was probably out in the open at one time, but raspberry canes and brush have grown up around it, partly obscuring it from view.

I’ve been meaning to get out and clean out the box so that it will be ready for a new occupant. The first spring peepers and wood frogs were heard on April 3rd, and the dawn chorus of birds has been a welcome start to the day for weeks now. Soon the swallows will be back too. Today, I finally got out and opened the box up. I cleaned out the old nest and gave the interior a bit of a wash before putting the front of the box back in place.

The nest was firmly anchored in the box and disintegrated when I dug it out. The base of the nest utilized a lot of rough twigs, while the top section had more grass lining it. There were a few large feathers, possibly from ducks. It is probably the nest of a Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor), which would be consistent with the location and type of box. I hope a new resident moves in soon.