Nailed It!
Check out this nest! Jack Perreault found this House Wren nest in one of his nest boxes as he was cleaning them out this fall. House Wrens typically make nests out of small twigs, but Jack says he counted 102 nails of varying types incorporated into these nesting materials. A typical two-inch roofing nail weighs about three grams, which is about a quarter of the weight of an adult House Wren—an amazing feat indeed!
A Charming Bird That’s Hard to Spot
A Brown creeper might easily be mistaken for a piece of moving bark as it climbs up tree trunks. This well-camouflaged songbird zips up each tree from bottom to top as it hunts for insects, probing into crevices with a slender, down-curved bill. In spring, they nestle their hammock-shaped nests under loose sections of tree bark. Brown creepers are the only tree creeper species in North America, and they live over a wide range, from southern Alaska to Newfoundland to Nicaragua.
Though Brown creepers are widespread, they can be difficult to find. These birds are small and inconspicuous, with calls and songs that are high-pitched even among other songbirds. Listen carefully for their high, insistent call and look for movement. With fewer leaves in the way, winter can be a great opportunity to spot the Brown creeper.
