MALE NORTHERN CARDINAL, ROSETTA McCLAIN GARDENS, SCARBOROUGH, ON

SQUIRREL EATING A NUT, ROSETTA McCLAIN GARDENS, SCARBOROUGH, ON

BALTIMORE ORIOLE PEEKING OUT OF ITS NEST, ROSETTA McCLAIN GARDENS, SCARBOROUGH, ON

   The Baltimore Oriole nest is hidden in the leaves, but we could see the orioles flying into and out of the nest.  This adult male Baltimore Oriole just peeked out for a minute and then wnt back inside.

   The Baltimore Oriole nest is built by the female.  It is a nightly woven pouch located on the end of a branch thats hanging down.

A YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER WAS HERE, COLONEL SAMUEL SMITH PARK, TORONTO, ON

   The small holes in lined up rows on this tree trunk are characteristic of the pecking of a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker.  The sapsucker feeds on the sap and the insects attracted to the sap.  The sapsucker is probably no longer around, having migrated through the area some time ago.

BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER NEST, COLONEL SAMUEL SMITH PARK, TORONTO, ON

   This is a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher nest from which the bird is long gone.  It was however seen here earlier in the spring.  The nests are made from spiderweb and lichens.  They sit on top of branches and look like tree knots.

GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER, COLONEL SAMUEL SMITH PARK, TORONTO, ON

MUTE SWAN IN NEST ROTATING EGGS, COLONEL SAMUEL SMITH PARK, TORONTO, ON

   The first two photos show the Mute Swan rotating its eggs so they can be evenly incubated.  This pair of Mute Swans have been sitting in the nest for quite some time.  It can take up to 2-3 weeks for the female Mute Swan to actually lay her eggs and then she and the male will alternate laying on them for up to about 6 weeks.  So the whole process can take up to  about 8 -9 weeks.