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Post by kevinhhood on Jun 30, 2017 10:02:44 GMT -8
Hello everybody! It's been a while since I posted here. We have a bird nesting on top of our light just outside of our front door here in Nanaimo. I'm pretty sure that it's a Pacific-slope Flycatcher (please correct me if I'm wrong). I was curious whether anyone else has seen a PSFL nesting so close to people and/or their structures. We go in and out the front door several times a day which does not seem to phase the bird at all. I find this ironic given that the PSFL is usually only heard being quite difficult to find in its usual upper canopy habitat.  PSFL Nest by Kevin Hood, on Flickr |
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Post by bandj on Jul 1, 2017 6:04:02 GMT -8
Hi Kevin
Many years ago we were staying in Naramata and there was a Pacific-slope Flycatcher nesting on the side of the carport - in a similarly well traveled spot. It too seemed quite content there. I also have a vague memory of hearing of another similar nesting on a building near humans, but I can't remember any details of that one.
Bryan from Vancouver
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Post by butterfly on Jul 1, 2017 11:53:34 GMT -8
Very beautiful! Hope you are enjoying the Island. Happy Canada Day to you and your family, Kevin. Regards, Joanne and Bruce
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Post by kevinhhood on Jul 3, 2017 6:02:58 GMT -8
During one of the bird's forays away from the nest I took this with my iPhone:  Three eggs in PSFL nest. by Kevin Hood, on Flickr According to BNA-online this is probably the second nesting attempt. Average number of eggs for PSFL is 3 to 4 and they should hatch in 13 to 16 days so hopefully I'll have a happy update around Bastille Day (July 14). I'm hoping to set up a webcam before hatching because BNA-online also says that the adults will be making feeding trips back to the nest every minute or two until they fledge. Looks like we'll be using the garage entrance for a while. |
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Post by Gord on Jul 3, 2017 20:40:33 GMT -8
Very neat! And great to hear from you as well, Kevin.  Pacific-slope Flycatchers do like a variety of habitats but for nesting do so on cliff faces, the underside of uprooted trees and, as you've seen, on structures as well. Most of the other flycatchers in their genus nest in trees. I've never seen them nest on a structure before and enjoyed your photos. Look forward to seeing the webcam and hearing how they do. Below a photo of a nest I found up on Sumas Mountain a while back. They were using a blown down tree's root wad.   |
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Post by kevinhhood on Jul 19, 2017 7:04:48 GMT -8
July 19 Update on the Pacific-slope Flycatcher nest. Note that I have had difficulties setting up a webcam stream that does not stop periodically so I'm just recording the data locally and making videos. On July 11 I took another peak in the nest and found the eggs hatched:  PSFL Hatchlings by Kevin Hood, on Flickr A couple of days later on July 13, I made a 'short' video showing both male and female PSFL at the nest. The 2-day old nestlings are still mostly below the lip of the nest. I apologize for the schlocky stuff before and after the video footage. It's there for the entertainment of nieces and others. Yesterday I made a longer video showing, in just 5 minutes, all the events over an hour where adults are at the nest. The footage was recorded on July 17, 6 days after hatching. The nestlings are quite visible now. |
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Post by butterfly on Jul 19, 2017 8:09:08 GMT -8
Incredible documentation, Kevin. What a wonderful experience at your home! We enjoyed the videos and the intros are great! Bruce and Joanne
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Post by kevinhhood on Aug 6, 2017 19:15:53 GMT -8
Everybody,
A final update on the Pacific-slope Flycatcher nest. The nest suffered a large bird-mite infestation and the nest failed -- I don't think any of the nestlings survived to fledge. I wrote a blog article with a lot more details including pictures and lots of stuff on bird-mites for anyone interested.
Kevin
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