What made this nest?

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jpp77
Posts: 175
Joined: Mon Apr 17, 2017 9:21 pm
Location: Lawrence, KS area
Martin Colony History: 2015 - 1 pair, not successful (Sparrows)
2016 - 1 pair, 4 young
2017 - 5 pair, 23 young
2018 - 8 pair, 40 young, two deaths most likely due to heat.
2019 - 18 pair, 74 eggs, 1 nest abandoned, all the rest successful.
2020 - 32 nests, unknown exact egg numbers, 1 death.

On my third year of Martins. Had two pairs last year. Just started seeing some around a couple days ago so I opened some of the gourds up. Found this neat this morning. I have never seen a nest like this. I have 4 bluebird houses that are usually occupied on my 10 acres. Is this a chickadee nest? Hmmm

Hope the picture comes through. This is my first post
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Last edited by jpp77 on Tue Apr 18, 2017 9:39 am, edited 1 time in total.
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jpp77
Posts: 175
Joined: Mon Apr 17, 2017 9:21 pm
Location: Lawrence, KS area
Martin Colony History: 2015 - 1 pair, not successful (Sparrows)
2016 - 1 pair, 4 young
2017 - 5 pair, 23 young
2018 - 8 pair, 40 young, two deaths most likely due to heat.
2019 - 18 pair, 74 eggs, 1 nest abandoned, all the rest successful.
2020 - 32 nests, unknown exact egg numbers, 1 death.

I can't seem to get the picture to load. It's a moss like material. No eggs or anything yet
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Tom Teague
Posts: 175
Joined: Sun Nov 30, 2003 12:39 pm
Location: Trophy Club, TX

I have seen wrens build a nest using this material.
Tom
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Emil Pampell-Tx
Posts: 6743
Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 1:26 pm
Location: Tx, Richmond (SW of Houston)
Martin Colony History: First started in Gretna, La in 1969 with a small homemade house, have had martins ever since at 2 different homes in Texas

wrens have a messy nest with a small hole where the eggs are laid.

A sparrow also has a messy nest, it often has pieces of cloth, plastic, long strands of grass, fills the entire cavity, with a deep hole for the eggs.
PMCA Member, 250 gourds, 6 poles, 2traps
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Ed Svetich-WI
Posts: 815
Joined: Tue Jan 13, 2004 10:05 pm
Location: Brooks, Wi (McGinnis Lake)
Martin Colony History: 24 Super and Excluder Gourds on two gourd racks, all SREH. Full occupancy. My philosophy is to maximize fledge % with existing cavities rather than adding gourds to grow colony, thus providing opportunities for new colony expansion. Fledge over 100 nestlings yearly from 24 gourds. Band nestlings in cooperation with state university. 2019 Adendum: Reduced colony size to 12 gourds to focus on more intensive management regimen.

I vote for the chickadee. I have them nest every year and they contain a base of moss. They finish then off with animal hair/ fur in a cup. I agree with Emil. House wren nests are mostly coarse sticks with a tunnel leading to the nest bowl. They will fill up the cavity rather than build a nest cup.

I would leave it to see what you have. Chickadees will not peck eggs like a wren.

Ed
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jpp77
Posts: 175
Joined: Mon Apr 17, 2017 9:21 pm
Location: Lawrence, KS area
Martin Colony History: 2015 - 1 pair, not successful (Sparrows)
2016 - 1 pair, 4 young
2017 - 5 pair, 23 young
2018 - 8 pair, 40 young, two deaths most likely due to heat.
2019 - 18 pair, 74 eggs, 1 nest abandoned, all the rest successful.
2020 - 32 nests, unknown exact egg numbers, 1 death.

I've dealt with sparrows and wrens. I have a wren on my place but they usually nests elsewhere. I was sure thinking chickadee. I was a little worried this would deter off my Martins since I'm really just getting my colony up and going, so wasn't sure what to so with it since it was just starting to get build.
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Dan G
Posts: 446
Joined: Thu Jun 12, 2014 7:52 pm
Location: PA/Bellefonte
Martin Colony History: Several colonies with in 6 mile radius.
Have had visitor every year 2014-24.
Two large trees removed in fall 2024 and moved T-14 to a more open location.
2025- 1 SY pair. Fledged 2.
2026- no pairs. One daily SYM here daily. Named him Riggs!

I have seen tufted titmouse start with a base of moss for a nest.
Bellefonte PA
2014, 1st year-a few lookers, no nests
2015-23. Visitors each year. But no pairs.
2024- most active year. 2-4 SY male’s hang out most days.
2025, 1 SY pair. 2 eggs, 2 fledged!! Other martins visited daily.
Still eliminating starlings and sparrows.
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Mitch Booth
Posts: 480
Joined: Tue Jun 03, 2008 6:23 am
Location: Akron, OH
Martin Colony History: 2012 - 0
2013 - 1 pair, 4 eggs, 2 fledged
2014 - 0
2015 - 1 pair, 5 died during week of rain
2016 - 0
2017 - 1 pair, 4 eggs, 4 fledged
2018 - 4 pair, 19 eggs, 19 fledged
2019 - 7 pair
2020 - 17 pair

I'd say it's a black capped chickadee. They nest every year in my yard and there nest always contains moss. Wrens at my house generally have small twigs.

Mitch
2020 - 17 pair 77 eggs 69 fledged
2019 - 7 pair
2018 - 4 pair 19 eggs, 19 fledged
2017 - 1 pair 4 eggs, 4 fledged
2016 - 0 only visits
2015 - 1 pair 5 eggs, 5 hatched, 5 dead on days 6-7
2014 - 0 only visits
2013 - 1 pair 3 eggs, 2 hatched, 2 fledged
2012 - 0
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DannyM
Posts: 30
Joined: Tue Mar 11, 2014 10:38 am
Location: Texas/Queen City

Black Capped Chickadee I believe. I have a nest right now in one of my Bluebird boxes with three eggs in it. The eggs are very small, off white with brown specks on them. They use a lot of the moss for their nests.
2014.....0 Pair
2015.....1 Pair.....5 Eggs.....3 Hatched
2016.....1 Pair.....5 Eggs.....5 Hatched and Fledged
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Courtney-NC
Posts: 592
Joined: Tue Jul 15, 2008 2:28 pm
Location: Holly Springs, NC
Martin Colony History: 2009-2015-Helped to manage Raleigh site, 36 cavities
2016- 33 pairs at Raleigh site, 1 pair at home site.
2017- 34 pairs at Raleigh site, 3 pairs + extra SYs at home site
2018- 33 pairs at Raleigh site, 5 pairs + extra SYs at home site
2019 - 32 pairs at Raleigh site, 7 pairs at home site, 2 pairs at new Holly Springs park site

It's most likely either a chickadee or a titmouse. I have both nesting in my yard now. Both use moss as a base. Earlier last month before martins had returned to my site, I had a pair of titmice trying to nest in the gourds. She put moss in every single gourd on the rack. :shock:
-Courtney
-------------------
NC Purple Martin Society (PMCA affiliate)
http://www.ncpurplemartin.org
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TheSmiths
Posts: 336
Joined: Mon May 12, 2014 1:02 pm
Location: Western KY
Martin Colony History: •
•
Tried to attract PMs 2004; began more earnest attempt in 2014.

Current home site consisting of 2 modified Trio M12Ks, 4 ChirpyNests, and assorted artificial gourds, all enclosed in owl/hawk cages.

2018 — 3 pairs
2019 — 6 pairs
2020 — 12 pairs; barred owls late in season
2021 — 17 pairs; enclosed housing
2022 – 14 pairs
2023 – 18 pairs
2024 – 18 pairs
2025 – 24 pairs
2026 –

Manage FILs colony & public park colony. Attempting to start a colony at a wildlife refuge.

~20 years of providing housing for cavity nesting birds including Bluebirds, Carolina Wrens, House Wrens, Carolina Chickadees, Tufted Titmice, Great-Crested Flycatchers, Northern Flickers, & Prothonotary Warblers.

Chickadee or Titmouse. (If you are in eastern Kansas, and near water, a much less likely candidate would be a Prothonotary Warbler).

Pic is a Carolina Chickadee nest in a Great Crested Flycatcher box. There are six hatchlings in that tiny cup... their heads are just slightly larger than a Tic Tac.
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jpp77
Posts: 175
Joined: Mon Apr 17, 2017 9:21 pm
Location: Lawrence, KS area
Martin Colony History: 2015 - 1 pair, not successful (Sparrows)
2016 - 1 pair, 4 young
2017 - 5 pair, 23 young
2018 - 8 pair, 40 young, two deaths most likely due to heat.
2019 - 18 pair, 74 eggs, 1 nest abandoned, all the rest successful.
2020 - 32 nests, unknown exact egg numbers, 1 death.

Whatever it was must have found a better place because they never came back. Two Purple Martin pairs here now. Weather crumby today (50 and breezy) but it was 70 yesterday and 62 tomorrow.
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Luv Ya Purple
Posts: 77
Joined: Thu Apr 26, 2012 12:44 pm
Location: SE Texas
Martin Colony History: 2012 - 2014 - 0 pair
2015 - 1 pair
2016 - 5 pairs

I had a tufted titmouse one year build a next similar to your pic in a horizontal troyer gourd under my martin house :lol:
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TheSmiths
Posts: 336
Joined: Mon May 12, 2014 1:02 pm
Location: Western KY
Martin Colony History: •
•
Tried to attract PMs 2004; began more earnest attempt in 2014.

Current home site consisting of 2 modified Trio M12Ks, 4 ChirpyNests, and assorted artificial gourds, all enclosed in owl/hawk cages.

2018 — 3 pairs
2019 — 6 pairs
2020 — 12 pairs; barred owls late in season
2021 — 17 pairs; enclosed housing
2022 – 14 pairs
2023 – 18 pairs
2024 – 18 pairs
2025 – 24 pairs
2026 –

Manage FILs colony & public park colony. Attempting to start a colony at a wildlife refuge.

~20 years of providing housing for cavity nesting birds including Bluebirds, Carolina Wrens, House Wrens, Carolina Chickadees, Tufted Titmice, Great-Crested Flycatchers, Northern Flickers, & Prothonotary Warblers.

jpp77 wrote:Whatever it was must have found a better place because they never came back. Two Purple Martin pairs here now. Weather crumby today (50 and breezy) but it was 70 yesterday and 62 tomorrow.
Congrats on the return of the martins. Weather here has been lousy as well.
Luv Ya Purple wrote:I had a tufted titmouse one year build a next similar to your pic in a horizontal troyer gourd under my martin house :lol:
Itty bitty bird mansions. The chickadees around here seem to choose whichever nest box has the largest entrance hole.
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