ML339185651

Behaketaren xehetasunak

On 5/5/2021, a male and female pair were discovered here. The male was singing repeatedly, and one bird was observed carrying nesting material (a beak full of leaves) into a nest being built under loose bark of an old, dead pine tree. A return visit today again found both birds quite active. Not much singing was heard today, but lots of call notes were heard between the birds. We watched them for about an hour. One was observed carrying food. In another instance, one was observed entering the nest from the top (disappearing behind the bark). In yet another instance, one was observed carrying food (a large insect) to the nest, inserting food into nest hole, and exiting without the food (likely feeding either the other adult in nest or feeding young). These actions are documented in photos and video available upon request (a few shown here). The nest was built about 20 ft above ground in a dead tree. The tree was in a mixed forest habitat in a small ravine with a small creek. A Louisiana Waterthrush was often heard nearby. The nest was built behind a large section of bark that was loose, providing a protected shelter behind which the pair built their nest. The photos show the space behind the bark stuffed with what appears to be grass, twigs and leaves. The birds were entering and exiting the nest many times from a small crack at the top. We were not able to determine if there were any eggs or young in the nest, but one bird (the female?) definitely seemed to be spending a lot more time in the nest than the other, which was usually nearby foraging.