Millie Mocker

Millie Mocker
Thanks to Millie's friend, Greg Harber, for her photo.

Sunday, April 14, 2013

House Hunting and Nest Building


 Mike and I have been refurbishing our nest. We have built a new nest higher up in the Dogwood tree. We pulled good twigs from the old nest to use and found new twigs.  After weaving the twigs together to build a strong, cup shaped nest, I gathered grass to line the nest. The grass makes the inside of the nest soft and warm for my babies.  I’ve been watching my neighbors build their nests, too.
  The barn swallows use a lot of mud. They gather dirt in their beak and mix it with saliva. Then go to their nest site and add the mud to the nest. When the mud dries, it’s like having a brick house with no roof!
The Carolina wren likes to build nests inside things. The people that live in a house in MY yard have a big pickup truck. The wrens built their nest on top of the spare tire located under the truck. Early one morning the man got in the truck and drove away. Mr. and Mrs. Wren were frantic because he took the nest and the babies with him. When he came back at the end of the day the parents rushed to the nest. The babies were all there and actually enjoyed their day out! I don’t think the man knew he was bird sitting that day!
The Red-bellied woodpecker couple has been checking out holes in the trees. They make a hole in the tree and excavate an area in the middle of the tree. They use wood shavings from their tree diggings to line the nest.
My hummingbird friend uses spider webs and lichens to make a small nest. The lichens camouflage the nest as it rests on a branch. Of course, female hummingbirds are single mothers. They build the nest and take care of the young.
Not all birds use their beaks to carry nesting materials. Remember my friend, Rusty the Red-shouldered Hawk? He will grab a dead tree branch with his feet and break it off of the tree. He then flies off with the branch in his feet.

What bird nests have you seen? Have you noticed that my friends and me will use “building” materials we find in the environment?
My friends that live across the lake, Grady and Gloria Great-Crested Flycatcher, will hunt for a snakeskin to add to their nest. They think it will help keep predators away.
My cardinal friends who live in the cemetery build a nest that is shaped like mine. They will use silk and plastic flowers in their nest because they are all over the cemetery.  Some birds will use things like yarn, ribbon, and even plastic trash.  Sometimes those man-made things can hurt the bird families. What materials do you see birds using? You can help us build our nests by setting out yarn, ribbon, thin strips of cloth, or even dog hair. You can put these items on the ground, hanging in a tree, or in one of those netting-type bags in which your parents may get oranges.

Download Millie's newsletter for photos, birding tips, and puzzles.

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

The Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC)



We do count!  Did you know you have an opportunity to help bird scientists, called Ornithologists, count bird species? The big weekend to watch birds in your yard, park, or at school is Friday, February 15 to Monday, February 18, 2013. After watching and counting birds, you will get on the computer to submit your report of the number of different species you have seen.  Scientists all over the world analyze the data about birds and compare the data from year to year. They learn about my bird friends that you see each winter and if our populations are increasing or decreasing.
To participate in the GBBC:
1.    You or your parents will need to create an online account.
2.    Watch and count the birds for at least 15 minutes on one or more days of the four days.
3.    Enter your results online at the GBBC website.

By helping the scientists, you can help my friends and me. You can also see what other people in your area, state, or nation have reported. For more information about the Great Backyard Bird Count go to http://www.birdcount.org

As you observe the birds, you can also take notes of
·      Time of day
·      Temperature
·      Weather (sunny, cloudy, raining)
·      Where the birds are searching for food
·      Types of bird food eaten
·      How the birds behave with birds of same species or other species
·      Any thing else you find interesting
These notes will help you understand the birds better.

Another way to help scientists is to play “Merlin’s Bird Color Challenge.” This game is helping to train Merlin the computer to solve future bird identification questions. Your answers provide to the computer more information about how people see my bird friends and me. Merlin will do a better job of providing possible bird identification based on colors of the bird you see. This will make bird identification easier for you! Visit Merlin’s Challenge at


Millie's E-Newsletter January 2013:  Vol. 2, issue 1