Blue-Gray Gnatcatchers Nest Building

I met some ladies out this morning who were kind enough to point out a  location where they spotted a pair of Gnatcatchers building a nest.  We agreed it seemed very late but there they were.  I suspect the extended period of cool weather we had during the spring is in part the reason for the late building.  In general it seems like with the migratory birds, activities are running about two weeks behind.

Both the male and female were involved in the nest building activities.  On several occasions we watched as the male would fly off and return to hand off a bit of lichen to the female.

















Off for more material.











Great care was being taken to the task at hand.  I am always amazed at the different nest building styles and choices of materials.  These nest are quite pretty with lichen being the material of choice.











Checking for size, no, not large enough yet.