34 replies to this topic

[JimBob]

I have been seeing Chimney Swifts flying just feet above the ground lately. I always thought them to be more of a high flying bird. Why are they flying so low?

And what do they use for nesting material? And how do they get it?

If you have a random bird QU feel free to post it.

[Sparky the Cuttlefish]

Chimney Swifts use saliva to cement small twigs onto walls as a nest. They gather the twigs by breaking them off trees with their feet while flying through foliage, I believe. Not sure about the low flying, but are they doing it where there's water around? They drink by dipping their bills into ponds and other bodies of water while flying like swallows, so they have to fly low for that, but that probably isn't the reason that you're seeing them down so low. Perhaps gathering nesting material or catching low flying insects?

[JimBob]

Yeah they were not near water. And it was over grass.

[Clip]

I have a randon bird question. Is there any way to tell what kind of bird these little guys are. I found them at the Off Leash Dog Park I go to frequently. This was late summer last year. The large bush was completely dead.

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[Fern Valley Jim]

Last year where I work, I kept hearing strange noises in the utility room in the basement. I thought the water heater was starting to go, so I went to check on it and when I opened the door, to my amazement, there were seven Chimney Swifts hanging on the wall. At first they startled me, I thought they were bats. But upon further inspection, found out they flew down the duct work of an old boiler and were roosting on the walls, no nests, just hanging on the walls.

[JimBob]

Clip, I would post it in the help me id a bird forum. . .

[Clip]

Jim Bob do you think they can be identified? I only caught a fleeting glimpse of the parents.

[JimBob]

I'm thinking American Robins. . . but I'm sure some other person knows fledglings better then I do.

[Clip]

JimBob-This is an area of birding that I know very little. But, I can see in the beak why you would say Robin. The only birds I saw close to them were much smaller than Robins. The nest was tiny 4 inches across maybe.

[NatureLady]

Clip~ that was my first thought too was Am. Robins but am not 100% sure.

[JimBob]

Still might want to post it in the other forum.

[JimBob]

Just a minute ago I found a Carolina Wren egg on my deck railing. In the open, not cracked. intact. No one in my family moved it there. Why is it there? Last year I found one on the ground.Why?

[JimBob]

Bump.

[Clip]

JimBob- I found a tiny egg splat in my backyard right under a tree. There are no nests in that tree so I can only guess that another bird or squirrel brought to the tree and dropped it. Perhaps the same thing happen but with ours the bird or squirrel left it there for later. Any hope of getting it to hatch?

[JimBob]

I found two more eggs on the ground in the open! They aren't Killdeer eggs. And all of them have been completely intact. Weird. Oh and there are no nests around were I've found the eggs.

[Ryn]

I've read that mother birds can sometimes tell if an egg is a dud and will get rid of it. Can't back up with lit. Might be a bird getting rid of an egg from a parasitic nester as well.

[JimBob]

I thought of that. . . but still doesn't make since why I've found three!

[Parula]

what color are the eggs jimbob

[JimBob]

Cream w/brown speckles. Very small, like half inch, maybe a little bigger. NOT cowbird eggs.

[nanaku]

I have a photo of a white bird, found in a local park. I am pretty sure it is a male as it seemed to be displaying. his head was tucked back and his tail feathers were splayed and up. I figure it was a white ring neck dove. I have not figured out how to add the photo. any ideas?