Magpie high rise...

Two-storey magpie nest. Clistine Fisher photo

Spring has finally reached Naicam. The crows are back and water in running in the streets - and into our basement! And this morning for the first time, the juncoes were back under the feeders. What a welcome sight! Also for the first time since we moved to Naicam, we had a squirrel in the yard dining under the feeders and on the tray feeder.

Recently I had an interesting email from my friend Clistine: "I told you about the magpies building a nest in the trees beside our driveway. Much to my surprise they didn't stop with the nest at the lower part but continued to construct what I called a second storey... Do you know if this is unusual? I have seen large nest but not quite like this one..."

Yikes, Clistine, you're right. That is a really tall nest. Apparently the actual cup shaped nest is near the bottom of that pile of sticks and the rest is all protective covering. Alan Smith in Saskatchewan Birds (published by Lone Pine) describes the magpie as an "exceptional architect" whose huge elaborate constructions last for years in the trees and may become nest sites for birds who don't build their own like merlins and owls. The structure of sticks is held together with mud and the domed compartment conceals eggs and young from predators and harsh weather.

Your magpies have probably included more than one secret entrance hole in that towering nest. I guess it takes a thief to know a thief - magpies prey on songbird eggs and nestlings.