Chestnut-sided Warbler
Female Chestnut-sided Warbler
Last Saturday Jeremy and I followed a male Chestnut-sided Warbler over to this female gathering some nesting material. It was interesting watching her “carefully” selecting . . . . then reaching into the Tent Caterpillar nest without getting herself entangled. I am “assuming” that this material was being gathered for a nest that she is building!!
I never realized that you would get something good from a Tent Caterpillar nest!! Happy Memorial Day Everyone!
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Mon@rch's Nature Blog 
How interesting. I would love to see their nest. I bet it is very stong with that tent material used. Happy Memorial Day to you too Mon@rch.
26 May 2008 at 6:55 am
That is interesting Tom. Hmmm… wonder exactly where she’ll put it? Maybe at the base, like Lisa said, to make it strong? Wonderful photos!
26 May 2008 at 7:11 am
Our nature work constantly amazes me! Great photos..I am sure it was a treat for you to watch this going on!
26 May 2008 at 7:43 am
Very interesting! Birds are very creative with their nests sometimes, aren’t they? Happy Memorial Day!
26 May 2008 at 8:25 am
Wow, these pictures came out great! It always amazes me how many things you can see in a few hours of walking or even sitting in nature.
26 May 2008 at 8:44 am
I suppose it would be silk-like and used for lining the nest? To happen to see the warbler taking material from the tent caterpillar would be so rare but to get it in a photo is unreal! My finch actually had tattered cigarette butt filters lining her nest. She had broken them apart somewhat and it looked soft. I guess cigarette butts can be good for something.
26 May 2008 at 9:27 am
Cool, that’s very inventive of them! Reminds me of hummingbirds using spider webs for their nests.
26 May 2008 at 9:48 am
Now that *is* cool, Tom! I wish it would destroy the whole thing and eat the caterpillars, too.
26 May 2008 at 10:57 am
The industriousness of birds building nests always knocks me out. Their persistence and artfulness often create nests of simple beauty, and they do it all with their beaks. Amazing. Great series of shots, Tom.
26 May 2008 at 11:25 am
That certainly is an interesting nest. Is that just like cotton fiber? Still, nothing beats the swiftlets’ spit nests. Happy Memorial Day.
26 May 2008 at 2:06 pm
@ Lisa – thanks and I have a link to a picture I took of a Chestnut-sided Warbler about 10 years ago. I am not sure though how much of it they use but it was an interesting find for sure!
@ Jayne – thanks and she might use it on the outside somehow?? I am not really that sure!
@ Naturegirl – thanks and nature sure is amazing! It was a treat to watch.
@ Rondi – thanks and they are very creative!
@ Jeremy – Thanks and I was very pleased with the pictures that turned out! Thanks again for the great day!
@ Linda – I think maybe more the outside that lining! They use fine roots for the inside. I agree with you in Cigarette Butts are good for something but I bet the bird would find something else instead of those butts if they were not there.
@ Sherri – Thanks and I bet hummingbirds use this stuff.
@ Pam – thanks and I agree that it would be great if they destroyed the whole nest! You know Cuckoo’s are a species that will eat the hairy caterpillars !!
@ Robin – They are very creative for sure! Thanks
@ Scienceguy – Its could be like cotton and made from the tent caterpillars!
26 May 2008 at 2:21 pm
Wow, that’s cool!
26 May 2008 at 2:38 pm
I have seen birds getting into the tent caterpillar nests but I always thought they were eating the little caterpillars. Your photo though seems to show they are taking that sticky fiber–maybe to keep their nest together?
This year, we do not have any tent caterpillars for some reason although I have seen plenty along the county roads.
26 May 2008 at 4:11 pm
That is fascinating… and really gorgeous shots! I love watching the birds do things like this; make nests, fight with other birds, and etc. Me and the girls sit on the porch and watch the male swallows bring bugs to the females while they sit on the eggs. It’s really neat! It’s amazing how much you can learn just by watching.
26 May 2008 at 4:20 pm
Again great photo opportunities. Amazing.
26 May 2008 at 11:14 pm
Monarch – you did a great job capturing her in the middle of obtaining material for her nest. Did you see where she was taking the material? Thanks so much for sharing it with us.
27 May 2008 at 12:11 am
That would be great if it were for the nest. I saw some blue-gray gnatcatchers doing the same thing down in GA. Pretty amazing how selective they are.
28 May 2008 at 8:40 am
Great sequence of a skilled bird.
30 May 2008 at 11:29 am