Date: 6/30/26 4:02 pm From: Alfred Maley <alfredmaley...> Subject: [NHBirds] Great Crested Flycatchers Fledge Successfully
A feisty bunch of young Great Crested Flycatcher teenagers has poured forth
from the Wood Duck nest box over the last few days, with the last one
yesterday on June 29. The nest itself was completed on May 24 and a typical
clutch would have 5-6 eggs. So now the woods resound with little Weeps.
Nest visits by the parents with food reached a peak of one every two
minutes and then dropped to one every 10 minutes as the young fledged, one
by one. Odonates numbers have plummeted, a great relief as now they don’t
need to be identified…
Nests in the predator-resistant duck nest boxes are quite successful, in
contrast with natural cavities that are accessible to squirrels, raccoons,
fishers and the like.
Two of the duck boxes in the yard were occupied successfully by Wood Ducks.
The Barred Owls are hanging about and have even taken to sunbathing by the
driveway, which is totally bizarre. Today I looked out from the open garage
door and there was Mr. Owl not 10 feet away, sprawled on a bit of grass by
the pavement. They seem to like the peace and quiet here.
