We usually have had a pair of RB Nuthatches around for most of the year, but not for the last few months. Two days ago, one showed up as part of the "irruption." Looking back at my collection of emails (to the list and to ebird,) I see that I actually recorded one banded bird in 2004 that stayed from Dec to June and possibly was breeding in our yard (see emails copied below.)
Nari Mistry, Ellis Hollow Rd. ===copied From email dated 3/3/2004====== For several years we have had a pair of RedBreasted Nuthatches at our feeders throughout the year and sometimes a brood of young in the summer. We always wondered whether "our" winter nuthatches moved up north and the breeding pair were moving up from further south. Never found their nest, although they always fly with food directly into spruces in the backyard. Last December we found that one of the pair was banded with an alum (USFWS) band on the right leg. Now we had a chance to check whether the same pair stayed around to breed. This week the two have started exploring a wren nestbox hanging in our backyard, and we can see that the banded nuthatch is planning to stay around for the summer. They are trying to enlarge the small entrance hole sporadically while going in and out. Hope they decide to use the nestbox! Nari & Ginny Mistry Ellis Hollow Rd., Ithaca ===copied From email dated 6/25/2004================= Other breeding birds in our yard (Ellis Hollow Rd, Atlas Block #3769B) are : Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Cardinal, chipping sparrows, catbirds, chickadee, housewren, (nesting or fledglings observed) and suspected breeders *Red-breasted Nuthatch,* White-Breasted Nuthatch, red-bellied woodpecker. Rose-br grosbeaks are around but no fledglings observed yet. The *banded red-breasted nuthatch resident all winter is the one that appears to be nesting in the spruce trees--have heard babies but not seen them yet. * Nari Mistry Ellis Hollow Rd. -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --