Almost every day, I look for wood thrush nests.
Photo: June 4, 2008
This nest looks very much like what a Wood Thrush would make. It's new this year but I have not seen any bird on the nest. The nest is right next to the driveway and very exposed so I am wondering if the Wood Thrush changed his mind.
Photo: May 29, 2008
About 25 feet from this nest is this one where a female Wood Thrush has been incubating the eggs for over a week now. This nest is well hidden in a Witch Hazel, a common understory tree here. One evening I saw the male sitting right next to the female on the nest, perfectly still as I approached (the photo came out too blurry to post). Could the male have built the empty nest as a decoy?
While I was photographing the empty nest above, a couple of birds landed on a branch nearby. I first thought they were goldfinches but no, they were a pair of Hooded Warblers! I thought I had seen them before but this time, I knew for sure that's what they were. They called but then left after a minute before I could photograph them. I don't think they were the ones that made the empty nest. I also have seen the Worm-eating Warbler near this same spot.
The Wood Thrush on the nest looks so innocent and fragile that I want to protect her from the Blue Jays who might steal her eggs or the Cow Bird who might lay an egg in her nest. The baby cowbird would muscle out the others.
My husband and I have probably done the best to protect wood thrushes and other forest-dwelling birds by putting a conservation easement on our land.
Every time I pass by our easement sign, I remember that this land (79 acres of the 83 we own) is protected forever from development which poses the most threats to wildlife. The warblers, ovenbirds, tanagers, and barred owls will always have a home here. So too does the box turtle which probably is the most threatened on our land. To be sure, we benefit from the easement as well. We received tax credits and we still can enjoy our land until the time when we must move someday--hopefully not anytime soon. But, I am most comforted to know that wildlife will always have a home on this Appalachian mountain long after I am gone.
How wonderful to be watching the woodthrush nest like that! I also love hooded warblers! Bravo
ReplyDeletemon@rch--yes, I feel good that I can see the wood thrush nest just about everyday. Hope to see the warblers again.
ReplyDeleteThat is really interesting about the easement. Just curious: after you move (long time from now) what arrangement will the new homeowner have with that land?
ReplyDeleteJennifer--the new landowners can build no more than one house on the 79 acres(there's a great building site at the back of the land). Any commercial logging must be sustainable and approved by the Va. Outdoors Foundation. The main use of the land is for wildlife. That and other restrictions are a part of the land deed and cannot be changed by any future landowner. Our easement is one of only 2 in this county.
ReplyDeleteFabulous post! And a wonderful thing to do for wildlife in this area!!
ReplyDeleteThe property easement is a wonderful thing to set in place. I think the beginning is concern and care; and even if my small contribution may only be in the pictures that I post, I like to think that it might influence others to develop a caring awareness and guardianship of sharing our world with nature and its creatures. Your post was a lovely read.
ReplyDeleteKerri--thank you for your note. I love the wildlife too, especially the migratory birds.
ReplyDeleteme ann my camera--your posts with the fantastic photos do help. They get people interested first. Next, comes the concern about survival about birds and other wildlife. Thanks for your note.
ReplyDeleteI love that you've done this.
ReplyDeleteWood thrushes are a special bird for me--and I worry about ours here.
We've thought of having some designation made on our land, too--though it's not as large as your property. It won't change how we behave on it, but I like the thought of it being more formally protected. A great witness to those who think vacant land needs no care.
Nina--it's changed the way we use our land only in that we know it will conserved in years to come. So, right now, I'm looking at some diseased trees (walnut) that need to be removed to make a healthier forest.
ReplyDeleteThe original reason we bought the land around us was selfish--to keep it from being developed. So, the easement puts that permanenetly in place (but also devalues the land).
What a wonderful post! Good luck to the wood thrush, I hope they make it safely this year!
ReplyDeleteBravo! More people in this country need to share your sentiments. We need to preserve, preserve, preserve. I drive by too many parcels of land for sale and witness heavy equipment destroying wildlife habitats in a few hours.
ReplyDeleteGreat photos. My hat is off to you.
Mary--I also hate to see all the farms around here parceled into 5 acre pieces. People build nice home and mow huge lawns--chasing away all the wildlife (except deer of course).
ReplyDeleteChris--I think the wood thrushes will be ok. I chased away the cowbirds earlier in spring and haven't seen any for awhile. So far, so good.
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