Of the 3 nests I observed this spring, two were in low hanging cottonwood branches and one in a large sagebrush. Two were about 5 feet off the ground and one was up about 20-25 feet.
Nest #1 in sagebrush about 5 feet off the ground. Last date I observed activity at the nest was 5-08. Lots of activity prior to that.
Nest #2 about 25 feet off ground in low hanging cottonwood branch. Birds left nest the morning of 5-16. I went back that same evening to see if the family returned to the nest, and did not see them. Have seen the family flock several times since in the general vicinity.
Nest #3 was about 5 feet off the ground in a low hanging cottonwood branch. Both birds were seen on May 1 working on nest after a period of time in which I had not see them. This nest suffered predation by a raccoon or another bird on May 4 or 5th. I saw both birds at the nest on the morning of May 4, and discovered the destroyed nest mid-day on May 5.
Several years ago I watched Bushtits build their nest in a Box Elder tree in Bear Creek Lake Park. As I recall, those birds were finished nesting sometime after the first week of May.
Probably more then you wanted to know, but they are fascinating little birds. Brought lots of caterpillars to their nests.
Mike Henwood
Grand Junction
On May 28, 2014, at 9:55 AM, 'Norm Lewis' via Colorado Birds <cobirds@googlegroups.com> wrote:
As of just a few years ago, I had a total of one Bushtit sighting in my Lakewood yard. Now they come around a couple times a week (and probably more that I am not aware of, considering the hit-and-run nature of their visits). My recent visits have been by 2-3 birds (menage a bushtit?) rather than the customary dozen, though I have yet to see any young. Definite range expansion.
Norm LewisLakewood, CO
-----Original Message-----
From: Ted Floyd <tedfloyd57@hotmail.com>
To: cobirds <cobirds@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Wed, May 28, 2014 8:58 am
Subject: [cobirds] Wow. That was fast.
Hello, Birders.--
Back on January 24, 2014, I saw about 15 Bushtits at Greenlee Preserve, Boulder County. Just a rare wandering flock, I figured. Then 5 Bushtits on March 24, and then only 2 on March 31, which got me thinking: Could this be a pair prospecting for a nest? Since that date, I've observed 1 or 2 adult Bushtits, and never more than 2, on at least 17 dates at Greenlee Preserve. Definitely suggestive of a breeding pair.
And now the big news. This morning, Wednesday, May 28, I saw and heard at least 6 recently fledged, dependent young at the preserve. They did it! Woohoo!
Amazing how fast and furious this species has colonized Boulder County in the barely 12 years I've lived here.
Ted Floyd
Lafayette, Boulder County, Colorado
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