Brown Creeper Nest

One afternoon I headed over to Mass Audubon's Rocky Hill sanctuary in Groton. I had read that because of some cliffs and ledges you can view Great Blue Heron nests at eye level. That sounded like it had the potential to make some pretty unique photographs.

It was probably a mile hike (or more) with tripod, camera, lens and supporting gear. The longer I walked the greater I figured my competitive advantage would be at camera club; after all many people wouldn't want to drive & walk this far. Getting to the view point it was everything I heard ... except the nests we just too far away.

Disappointed, I relaxed and started to observe the area around me. That's when I noticed it, a brown creeper. It was flitting from tree to tree, often returning to the same general area with material in its beak. Watching closer, I finally saw the nest.

For those of you not familiar with brown creepers, they are some what unusual. They build their nests as a hammock of sorts under a piece of loose bark on a tree. The Mass Audubon Breeding Bird Atlas site has some more good information about creeper nests. Here are some photos I took of the nest building process

Nest building in process


Portrait shot


Some of the pieces were quite big. You wondered how the bird was going to get them in there, especially only using its beak and feet.


But it pretty deftly maneuvered it in there


Next question, how was it going to fit in there


Cozy, but it looks like a tight fit


Leaving is also requires grace


After all if the bark pushes away from the tree


Gravity will grab the nest