Toledo Talk "Ohio Nesting Red-breasted Nuthatches" id 14155

Last summer, the Atlas received 14 records (2 confirmed & 3 probable) of Red-breasted Nuthatch in Ohio. To date, OBBA2 has received 38 records of this fascinating species in 29 different Atlas blocks. During the first Atlas (1982-1987), Red-breasted Nuthatches were recorded from 21 Atlas blocks. (View stats for the species at http://bird.atlasing.org/Atlas/OH/Main?viewResults=1).

If anyone has Red-breasted Nuthatches coming to their feeders right now, I'd like to encourage everyone to keep track of these birds to see if they stay into the summer. This past fall was a huge invasion year for these nuthatches. A quick check of eBird data from 2005-2008 shows that Red-breasted Nuthatches were included on 31% of submitted checklists during the week of November 1, 2007. This same week in November 2005 and 2006 showed an 8% and 4% detection rate, respectively. Similarly, nuthatches seem to have been detected more frequently this winter than the previous 3 winters. As recently as last week, Red-breasted Nuthatches were included on 11% of submitted checklists. The Great Backyard Bird Count also helps to substantiate their increased presence in Ohio this winter with 235 individuals counted over 4 days in February 2007 and 1,208 individuals counted this February!

Will this be an indication of increased nesting presence for this species in Ohio during the coming Atlas season? My prediction will be 'Yes'. Their summering presence in Ohio seems to increase after these invasion years when many birds winter in the state. It certainly will be interesting to see how things unfold. Nesting in Ohio was first confirmed in Ashtabula County back in 1929 and the sparse breeding presence of this species in Northeast Ohio was continually noted from the 1950s through the 1970s. A statewide nesting distribution materialized during Ohio's first breeding bird atlas, and birds were noted mostly from the northeastern counties while birds were also detected in some northwestern counties (particularly the Oak Openings Region) and one nesting confirmation from Hamilton County (summering/nesting records from the Hocking Hills also were recorded before and after the Atlas period).

Spring movements of Red-breasted Nuthatches take place from mid-April to late-May. For this reason, OBBA2 set their safe dates to begin June 1st. However, nesting activities for the species can be initiated in mid-April (egg dates have been recorded during early May in Ontario) so keep a look out for breeding activities. If you continue to observe Red-breasted Nuthatches at your feeders or anywhere else starting in April, please pay close attention to what these birds are doing. Typical nesting habitat for this nuthatch is coniferous woods, hemlock forests, pine plantations, or ornamental conifers in urban settings. Some breeding behaviors to watch for would be the males "courtship song" (described as a repeated series of plaintive, nasal "waa-aa-n" notes) which is given incessantly from the tops of trees while exhibiting a unique upward-extended body posture. Other behaviors are courtship feeding and courtship flights. Nest cavities typically occur in dead trunks or limbs at heights of 10-30 ft. and pitch globules are applied around the entrance hole.monitor any cavities you find with this characteristic. Fledged young can appear in June and July.

Please keep us informed about your Red-breasted Nuthatch observations. These observations will be important to document for Ohio's second project. If you would like more information on the Ohio Breeding Bird Atlas II and how to participate, please contact me and I'll send you information right away. Good birding!

I believe Red-breasted Nuthatches are nesting in a willow tree at Rossford Island View Park (Wood County). My first visit to the park this year was in early April. On that day, I noticed two RBNUs, one on each side of the exercise trail across from each other. Each was working on a hole. I've made a few more visits to the park since, and I've observed one or both birds in the same general area on each visit. I wish I would have visited the park early in the year to see if the birds had wintered there.

The willow tree is near the entrance. At the start of the trail, by the two wooden stop signs next to the parking lot, there's a slight downgrade. At the bottom of this "hill" is the willow.

On Wednesday morning, May 19, I watched an RBNU, make several visits to the hole. Its visits were spaced at least five minutes apart. Each time, the bird was carrying an insect. When coming into the tree, the bird would first land on a branch about a foot or two from the hole, then it would move to the hole, stick its head inside, then leave. It was quick.

The hole is marked by a glob of goop hanging from the hole. Here are a couple attempts at taking pictures of the hole and the bird.

May 19.
[photo here]

I went back Thursday morning, trying to get a better picture of the bird. It's not much, but the bird appears to be carrying a bug.
[photo here]

I visited the park at lunch time on Tuesday, May 25, and both adults were carrying food to the nest. They were making quick trips. I watched them fly into a nearby tree, work the limbs for bugs, fly back to the willow, disappear into the hole for a couple of moments, then zip off again.

In the willow, a small limb broke or got twisted by the wind, because a twig and its leaves are almost covering the hole. It's harder to see the hole from the ground. The birds just fly through the leaves.