Backyard nest building - Arapahoe
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Jared Del Rosso
Apr 9, 2025, 7:32:15 PM4/9/25
to Colorado Birds
This week, I've noticed a female Spotted Towhee inspecting and collecting nesting material - mostly dry grasses and possibly wildflower stems -- in a corner of my suburban Centennial yard. The male either follows her around or sings from above her. I haven't seen where they're thinking about nesting, but there are any number of good spots, owing to the disorderly mess that is the chokecherry thicket in my yard.
I also spotted a female House Finch visiting a nearly or fully built nest in a medium-sized Blue Spruce that the previous homeowners planted. It's roughly 8 feet tall (maybe). The nest is in a rather secluded spot near the top of the spruce. I have a hard time seeing it and can't see the finch when she's on the nest, despite the relatively small size of the spruce. The male often sings from the mid-to-upper levels of a nearby honeylocust.
Other seasonal signs: Western Sand Cherries, Golden Currants, and our Eastern Redbud are blooming. My lonely American Plum has prominent buds. Small, metallic green solitary bees have been visiting Physaria blooms. Several penstemons are beginning to put up their flowering stalks; they're not close yet to putting out buds, though.
- Jared Del Rosso
Centennial, CO
Jared Del Rosso
Apr 12, 2025, 6:22:11 PM4/12/25
to Colorado Birds
Three days ago, I noted that a female House Finch was on a "nearly or fully built nest" in a relatively young and small Blue Spruce tree in my Centennial, CO yard. It's now clear that it was most certainly a fully built nest. Today (April 12), I spotted three nestling, gaping mouths held high, in the nest.
Jared Del Rosso
Apr 23, 2025, 9:42:26 AM4/23/25
to Colorado Birds
And for the House Finches, a tragic end: Black-billed Magpies discovered the nest this morning. A hard thing to see as I finished making my breakfast and pouring my tea.
I was reminded of an encounter -- and the dizzying emotions and thoughts that follow -- with a neighborhood magpie pair predating a robin fledgling. (I wrote about this for the Center for Humans & Nature. If you're interested, you can read it at my blog here.)
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