Nesting Structures

Bee tube with cardboard nesting straws for native bees

CWH uses martin houses with an entrance compartment that keeps the nestlings safer from predators and bad weather in a separate compartment.

CWH staff erecting an osprey platform in shallow water.

ENGLISH HOUSE SPARROW

Huge balls of grasses, weeds or trash, with the opening on the side of nest. Some include feathers, hair or string.  Nests are noticably messy.  Eggs are a white to greenish white with a slight gloss and dotted with grays and browns.  3-7 eggs, commonly 5.

REMOVE THIS NEST!

Picture Courtesy of Peterson Field Guide Eastern Birds’ Nests

CAROLINA WREN

Bulky mass of leaves, twigs, mosses, rootlets, weed stalks. Generally domed at top with side entrance, lined with feathers, leaves, moss, hair. Smooth eggs with little or no gloss are white to pale pink typically marked with brown spots, concentrated at one end. 4-8 eggs, commonly 5-6.

TUFTED TITMOUSE

Bottom of nest lined with bark strips, deciduous leaves, moss and grass. Nest “cupped” and lined with hair, fur or bits of string or cloth.  Eggs are creamy white, evenly speckled with small spots often concentrated at larger end. 4-8 eggs, commonly 5-6.
Picture Courtesy of Peterson Field Guide Eastern Birds’ Nests

TREE SWALLOW

Nest is accumulation of dry grass, hollowed in center or in corner, lined with feathers, often placed so tips curl over eggs.  Eggs are pure white and smooth with no gloss. 4-6 eggs.

EASTERN BLUEBIRD

Characterized by loosely arranged fine grasses and weed stalks.  The hollow in the middle for eggs is typically about 3 inches in diameter.  Eggs will be pale blue to bluish white with an occasional white egg. 3-6 eggs, commonly 4-5.