The Great, Great Crested Flycatcher

On a routine golf course inspection this morning, out of the corner of my eye I caught a glimpse of a bird peeking out of a previously unoccupied Screech Owl nesting box. With all but two of this years Screech Owl hatchlings fledged and moved away, I was curious who was inside the box. As I approached a Great Crested Flycatcher flew away. Upon inspection inside the box my identification was confirmed by the very unique nest inside. 

The Great Crested Flycatcher is easily identifiable by the unique nest construction and the eggs. Our ornithologist, Brain Beckner, Founder of Native Bird Boxes, Inc, had shown me a nest a few years ago. A very interesting aspect of the nest is that it usually includes a piece of snake skin lining. The snake skin lining is brought into the nest by the flycatcher as a natural predatory defense mechanism. 

A Great Crested Flycatcher nest at Olde Florida 

Both sexes help build the nest. They carry in large amounts of material, to bring the nests level close to the entrance.  The flycatcher nest seen in the picture was constructed on top of previously placed nesting material placed in the box by Beckner to encourage nesting by a Screech Owl. The flycatcher nest is made of grass, weeds, strips of bark, feathers, or other debris, lined with finer materials such as pine needles. 

The Great Crested Flycatcher usually lays five eggs that are creamy white and marked with brown, olive, lavender. Incubation is by female (13-15 days), but both parents bring food for nestlings. The age of the young at first flight is about 12-18 days. The male defends nesting territory with loud calls, sometimes by fighting with other males. Nest sites are usually in the hole of a tree, either natural cavity or old woodpecker hole, but the flycatcher will also nest in artificial sites. 

 
The species is known to forage by flying out from a perch to catch insects. They often hover momentarily while taking insects from foliage or twigs, or may catch them in mid-air. 

To see, and hear a Great Crested Flycatcher you can click this Link.

Screech Owl Box, 14 Green

Enhancing Nature at Olde Florida Golf Club

In 2013 Olde Florida Golf Club began a program to enhance nesting opportunities for Purple Martins, Screech Owls and Eastern Bluebirds. Working with an ornithologist, Olde Florida installed and monitors seven Screech Owl boxes, two Purple Martin nesting structures and two Eastern Blue Bird boxes. 

Ornithologist, Brian Beckner
Founder, Native Bird Boxes, Inc.

Screech Owl Box, 14 Green

Screech Owl’s are a robin-sized night bird. They are common in city parks and suburbs, where many human residents are often unaware they have an owl for a neighbor. The owl spends the day roosting in holes, nesting boxes or in dense cover and become active at dusk. 

This mother, affectionately named "Stink eye" once again returned to her nesting box behind 12 tee

"Stink eye" shortly after one of her two hatchlings emerged from the egg

"Sleepy" also returned to her nesting box in front of the clubhouse 

"Ginger" cuddling with one of her hatchlings
"Ginger" has utilized the nesting box behind 5 green for many years  

Of the seven Screech Owl "Native Bird Boxes" at Olde Florida, this year four are being utilized. Screech owls often return to the same nest each year. All four of this years mothers have previously utilized their nesting box and this year they have laid a combined seven eggs. 

"Sleepy's" two hatchlings will be leaving the nest soon

Olde Florida also installed and maintains two Purple Martin structures and once again both are being fully utilized. When inspected this week there were 19 nests with a combined 82 eggs/hatchlings. 

A few of this years Purple Martin hatchlings 

Purple Martins migrate each winter to South America. However, they remain incredibly faithful to their colony (nesting) sites each year, often returning to the United States about the same date.

Purple Martins are quite friendly and prefer to nest in close proximity to people, which make golf courses a perfect location for the bird. Interestingly, Purple Martins are the only bird species that is totally dependent on human supplied nest boxes. Qualities that make the martins desirable are they nest in colonies and have fascinating social behavior. Their vocalizations are also quite beautiful, they are extremely graceful in flight and they consume vast quantities of insects.