I spent a little time watching and shooting the BGGN nest this past Saturday. Here are a few notes: -Nest is in action. I believe there are likely eggs in the nest. Not yet hatched. One parent will stay on the nest continuously. Every 5-10 minutes the other parent would come by and give a few quick, low call notes. The parent on the nest will reply with a similar vocalization most, but not every time, and then leave to where the other parent is calling in nearby branch or tree. The new parent then takes its place on the eggs. The nest never stayed open for more than 45 seconds. Cowbirds were definitely in the area and I believe are probably aware of the nest. Migrant songbirds were everywhere. Here is a quick list of birds I had in the parking lot or at the nest. TEWA OVBI REVI BLWA COBI GCFL PEWE SWTH NOWA LOWA SCTA.
If I make it back there this weekend, there is a good chance I could see feeding of the chicks.
“BGGN Nest Update – May-11 2013”
A Thousand Acres of Silphiums 
It’s almost as if the bird has PAUSED for a moment, but we know this could never be true of BGGN 😉 At my parents’ home last week I saw a BGGN make two trips to the same bag worm nest for strands of silk, but lost sight of her in the foliage before spotting the nest. Then this past Tuesday at Shut-In Mtn Fens I saw a female Ruby-throat pulling down from cattail heads for nest building, but again lost her in the greenery before she got home. What an amazing shot for the fast-acting photographer of that tiny bird with a beak-full of fluffy white cattail down!