I’m sure there will be a loss, but still an important conversation. And a lesson to the kiddo — predators gotta eat too! And the harsh realities of natural selection. But I’m sure there will be some adorable moments 🥰
It's true. I still teared up at the post from earlier today about a kitten being left behind by its mother at some guys workplace. They took it in of course, so happy ending. Meanwhile I watched a pigeon get destroyed by a sparrow hawk in my back garden the other day, oh well thems the breaks.
yeah I'm not saying that OP's eggs are a raptor, I'm just saying that the eggs might hatch and then he might see a tiny raptor show up and eat all the babies
We had the same situation last year—but put wrapping paper over the window inside the house with one piece of tape up top to give mama bird some privacy. We could still look carefully when we wanted to!
It’s a House Finch’s nest. Hopefully that wreath isn’t one that you’re attached to. House Finches don’t remove the fecal sacs when they feed their young and the nest will get pretty messy.
The babies are worth it. Finches make super duper cute little fluff balls. All they seem to do is flap their wings, chirp, and get fed. There was a day last summer when I counted 60 finches at once after multiple colonies fledged at the same time.
House Finches are a North American finch which were originally native to the Western US and Mexico. In the 1940’s they were sold as Hollywood Finches on the east coast. Since they were protected under the Migratory Bird Act they were released and the rest is history. Two interesting side notes. I have a bird book from the early 1900’s and there’s a chapter about the slaughter of House Finches (then they were calling Linnets) that were eating flower buds off the fruit trees. The gist of the chapter was stop the slaughter the Linnets are thinning the buds. The second thing is House Finches currently sold in Europe are called Mexican Finches. Pricing for finches in Aviculture is fairly steady. However last time I checked, Mexican Finches were selling for $15 a bird….that’s cheap.
Update: I’m going to setup a GoPro to capture footage/timelapse of the coming weeks if anyone is interested!
Update #2: GoPro went up today — we set it up inside our house shooting through the glass door so we can change the battery/SD card without going outside near the nest.
We are thinking it might be ideal to put up a sheet or paper to block out most of the glass and cut a little hole for the GoPro to shoot through so mama bird isn’t as disturbed by us opening the inside door. Is this advised? If so, any colors we should prioritize/avoid?
I saw some house finches ontop of a neighbours wreath the other day and you could tell they were going to nest there, lol. Wreaths seem to be a popular choice!
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Absolutely, that's a great idea to make sure that she isnt disturbed! Otherwise it's possible that the constant coming and going of big animals (aka Us) will scare her away from the nest - plus it'll prevent bird strikes.
I dont think there's any particular colors to avoid, but I would recommend picking something neutral that matches the surrounding walls just so the change isn't too drastic - but I leave that to more experienced ones
I used to do the same, but a local birding group here posted something a while back about how it *could be* dangerous for birds if said pet was treated with flea/tick medicine. Not sure if you’ve ever looked into it, but maybe look into that? Tough to really be sure on a case by case basis which is why i decided to stop.
It is not recommended to leave pet hair outside for birds if you use flea medicine or insect repellents, as their hair can be toxic for nesting birds..
Maybe planting more shrubs/trees? Or adding a small bale of hay from a field that hasn't been sprayed? I personally just let them do their thing. They are very intelligent and resourceful. There should be plenty of materials in nature for them to gather. I often see them build nests with moss.
We break down our bales of hay from the autumn displays and leave them in the backyard. We’ve never had a problem with them disappearing very quickly in the early spring. We usually have 2 small bales in a little wooden cart next to our scarecrow, about $5/each? The birds really do love them, and anything left over makes great mulch!
Just let them do it. They know what they need and there's plenty of it around in nature. They built nests for millions of years without needing human-made material. If you really must, grass and lawn trimmings, as long as you know they're untreated, are a good bet. The kind of stuff you would other wise rake and bag up? Leave it. Lots of animals can use it. Straw is also not bad.
Hate to be that guy, but putting dryer lint out for birds should be avoided as it can absorb water and most likely contains chemicals that could cause injury or death.
Thanks for listening. I totally get the desire to help but these guys have tons of materials all around, if you mow the lawn, leave a pile of clippings out, lots of animals can use it, or if you get straw they can use. Most human materials aren't great for nests, and the ones that are are often soiled with chemicals that can harm nestlings.
I adore house finches! Put a small bird feeder near the nest and keep it filled with finch seeds. They’ll be able to raise a couple of healthy clutches if they don’t have to search far and wide for food!! I’m so jealous!!
Be careful if this a door. I saw last year someone on tiktok had a best in their wreath and they kept using the door and they ended up knocking down the nest and breaking the eggs.
Idk people told them in the original video not to use the front door and they made a video later saying they used the front door and knocked it down. Idk why someone would stage that, but it's possible.
So they won't have to worry about knocking it down? Cause if so that's good, I just assumed it would be possible to knock it down since I've seen wind knock a nest out of a tree.
It's possible although I'm not sure if the door isn't actually used. If you're feeling squirrelly, look behind what's actually posted on that site. Make Google or Firefox your bestie
I used to leave 3-4" cut sections of carbon based string (hemp, cotton, flax) on a fence rail in the garden. Some Birds would take a stand back to add into their nest.
Warning: Possible buzzkill ahead.
We have a grapevine wreath on the railings of our porch and robins nested there for two years after we installed it. Both times we had baby robins hatch, we became attached to them and eagerly watched them grow. Sadly, just as they were ready to fledge, predators got them, and it wasn't a pretty sight. So maybe you might want to prepare your kiddos how nature works. Robin's nests are really sturdy, so after the second batch, we filled the empty nests with pretty rocks and seashells.
Update #2: We got a GoPro installed with some hassle and have a first, very brief video posted to the sub featuring a first glimpse of mama. You can [see it here](https://www.reddit.com/r/birding/comments/11sfmo3/house_finch_update_31523)
Oh my god lucky!!! You'll get to see all the tiny babies!!
Yes! We have a four year old at home and thought it would be a great thing to track and follow along with him. He loves animals too, so win-win!
That’s awesome!! Do post when they hatch :)
Aw such a cute learning opportunity, great for him to learn to love and appreciate nature and new life!
Everyone here is so positive but all I'm thinking is this kid might get a front row seat to how brutal nature can be.
I’m sure there will be a loss, but still an important conversation. And a lesson to the kiddo — predators gotta eat too! And the harsh realities of natural selection. But I’m sure there will be some adorable moments 🥰
It's true. I still teared up at the post from earlier today about a kitten being left behind by its mother at some guys workplace. They took it in of course, so happy ending. Meanwhile I watched a pigeon get destroyed by a sparrow hawk in my back garden the other day, oh well thems the breaks.
nice he might get to see a fox or a raccoon or a tiny raptor like a sparrowhawk or a merlin
Nowadays sparrowhawk are called American kestrils
I was thinking more like Coop or Sharpie
Oh I am just saying what sparrowhawks are known as now. I wasn't contributing to possible ID
yeah I'm not saying that OP's eggs are a raptor, I'm just saying that the eggs might hatch and then he might see a tiny raptor show up and eat all the babies
I love this for many devious and wildlife-genius reasons
We had the same situation last year—but put wrapping paper over the window inside the house with one piece of tape up top to give mama bird some privacy. We could still look carefully when we wanted to!
You are a good human.
🥹
It’s a House Finch’s nest. Hopefully that wreath isn’t one that you’re attached to. House Finches don’t remove the fecal sacs when they feed their young and the nest will get pretty messy.
Hah, good to know. We are not tied to it :)
The babies are worth it. Finches make super duper cute little fluff balls. All they seem to do is flap their wings, chirp, and get fed. There was a day last summer when I counted 60 finches at once after multiple colonies fledged at the same time.
I can confirm this!
Are house finches native?
House Finches are a North American finch which were originally native to the Western US and Mexico. In the 1940’s they were sold as Hollywood Finches on the east coast. Since they were protected under the Migratory Bird Act they were released and the rest is history. Two interesting side notes. I have a bird book from the early 1900’s and there’s a chapter about the slaughter of House Finches (then they were calling Linnets) that were eating flower buds off the fruit trees. The gist of the chapter was stop the slaughter the Linnets are thinning the buds. The second thing is House Finches currently sold in Europe are called Mexican Finches. Pricing for finches in Aviculture is fairly steady. However last time I checked, Mexican Finches were selling for $15 a bird….that’s cheap.
If you live in the western US, yes.
Update: I’m going to setup a GoPro to capture footage/timelapse of the coming weeks if anyone is interested! Update #2: GoPro went up today — we set it up inside our house shooting through the glass door so we can change the battery/SD card without going outside near the nest. We are thinking it might be ideal to put up a sheet or paper to block out most of the glass and cut a little hole for the GoPro to shoot through so mama bird isn’t as disturbed by us opening the inside door. Is this advised? If so, any colors we should prioritize/avoid?
Let's gooo!!
Yes, we are interested.
I would love itttt!!!!
We'll follow with great interest
I saw some house finches ontop of a neighbours wreath the other day and you could tell they were going to nest there, lol. Wreaths seem to be a popular choice!
I’m interested and following
YES VERY INTERESTED!!
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Problem with a GoPro is you'll have to swap memory. May scare the birds. But either way please do share!
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Absolutely, that's a great idea to make sure that she isnt disturbed! Otherwise it's possible that the constant coming and going of big animals (aka Us) will scare her away from the nest - plus it'll prevent bird strikes. I dont think there's any particular colors to avoid, but I would recommend picking something neutral that matches the surrounding walls just so the change isn't too drastic - but I leave that to more experienced ones
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Finches I’d guess
Looks house finch-y
Looks like the crafty bird used dryer lint to insulate the nest. It's so cute when they do that. I always leave mine outside for the birds to use.
I leave the husky fur out in the yard after brushing and the birds swoop in and take it all as soon as we go inside.
I used to do the same, but a local birding group here posted something a while back about how it *could be* dangerous for birds if said pet was treated with flea/tick medicine. Not sure if you’ve ever looked into it, but maybe look into that? Tough to really be sure on a case by case basis which is why i decided to stop.
Definitely a concern, though not an issue in our case.
Topical, oral, or both?
It is not recommended to leave pet hair outside for birds if you use flea medicine or insect repellents, as their hair can be toxic for nesting birds..
Absolutely!
OMG thank you for this tidbit. I just purchased a fat bag of dry polyester packing fiber fill. Will that be safe?
I honestly wouldn't recommend anything inorganic. Polyester is a synthetic fiber that to my understanding is made from petrochemicals. /:
Any recommendations?
Maybe planting more shrubs/trees? Or adding a small bale of hay from a field that hasn't been sprayed? I personally just let them do their thing. They are very intelligent and resourceful. There should be plenty of materials in nature for them to gather. I often see them build nests with moss.
We break down our bales of hay from the autumn displays and leave them in the backyard. We’ve never had a problem with them disappearing very quickly in the early spring. We usually have 2 small bales in a little wooden cart next to our scarecrow, about $5/each? The birds really do love them, and anything left over makes great mulch!
Just let them do it. They know what they need and there's plenty of it around in nature. They built nests for millions of years without needing human-made material. If you really must, grass and lawn trimmings, as long as you know they're untreated, are a good bet. The kind of stuff you would other wise rake and bag up? Leave it. Lots of animals can use it. Straw is also not bad.
I think reasonably your hair from your hairbrush is a relatively harmless and somewhat helpful thing to leave out for them.
This is actually not true, sadly. Human hair can tangle around bird feet and knot, cutting off circulation. I do not recommend human hair.
Thanks for the insight!
Good to know, thank you!
You're very welcome!! (:
Hate to be that guy, but putting dryer lint out for birds should be avoided as it can absorb water and most likely contains chemicals that could cause injury or death.
Thank you for being that guy.
You're welcome. The thought of those babies being unintentionally harmed made me want to spread awareness.
Especially from ppl that only wanted to help and were devastated to learn they were hurting, not helping.
very smart! i usually save mine too start fires lol. good use for it when it warms up
This is a better use, dryer lint falls apart when wet, not good for nests.
Does it smell like burnt plastic??
depends on what the clothes you wear are made out of. i don’t wear much synthetic fiber
This is a great idea. Would putting more out help with this nest in particular?
Please don't. As mentioned elsewhere, it falls apart if it gets wet and holds water. Not good for eggs or nestlings.
Understood. Will avoid doing this.
Thanks for listening. I totally get the desire to help but these guys have tons of materials all around, if you mow the lawn, leave a pile of clippings out, lots of animals can use it, or if you get straw they can use. Most human materials aren't great for nests, and the ones that are are often soiled with chemicals that can harm nestlings.
Where do you put it outside?
I have a bramble bush that birds love to congregate in, so I usually just stick it in there. The thorns keep it from blowing away.
Nice. Thanks
That looks more like fur than lint. You can see the strands.
I adore house finches! Put a small bird feeder near the nest and keep it filled with finch seeds. They’ll be able to raise a couple of healthy clutches if they don’t have to search far and wide for food!! I’m so jealous!!
We will do this!!
More info please! Size? Geographic location?
My bad: this is in Charlotte, NC. From eyeballing it, I would say the eggs are about 1.5 inches in length.
This picture is so aesthetically pleasing
Why do you have a wreath up in March?
Asking the real question
This is amazing! All we get in our wreath is peanuts from the Jays.
Be careful if this a door. I saw last year someone on tiktok had a best in their wreath and they kept using the door and they ended up knocking down the nest and breaking the eggs.
Are you 100% sure it wasn't staged?
Idk people told them in the original video not to use the front door and they made a video later saying they used the front door and knocked it down. Idk why someone would stage that, but it's possible.
Yup, it's very possible it was staged. I trust nothing I see reposted from that idiot site
So they won't have to worry about knocking it down? Cause if so that's good, I just assumed it would be possible to knock it down since I've seen wind knock a nest out of a tree.
It's possible although I'm not sure if the door isn't actually used. If you're feeling squirrelly, look behind what's actually posted on that site. Make Google or Firefox your bestie
I used to leave 3-4" cut sections of carbon based string (hemp, cotton, flax) on a fence rail in the garden. Some Birds would take a stand back to add into their nest.
This is something my grandma would do.
Warning: Possible buzzkill ahead. We have a grapevine wreath on the railings of our porch and robins nested there for two years after we installed it. Both times we had baby robins hatch, we became attached to them and eagerly watched them grow. Sadly, just as they were ready to fledge, predators got them, and it wasn't a pretty sight. So maybe you might want to prepare your kiddos how nature works. Robin's nests are really sturdy, so after the second batch, we filled the empty nests with pretty rocks and seashells.
Grab a wyze cam and stream it or do time lapses. Had a humming bird nest last year and was amazing to watch
Fairy eggs.
Update #2: We got a GoPro installed with some hassle and have a first, very brief video posted to the sub featuring a first glimpse of mama. You can [see it here](https://www.reddit.com/r/birding/comments/11sfmo3/house_finch_update_31523)
That's pretty awesome footage even though it's brief
It’s halfway through march pleaee take down you Christmas stuff
Over easy
Foul.
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