Their Home

The nest of the Kiskadees is located about 12 feet off the ground in a 25 foot tall Washingtonian Palm. The palm tree trunk is clean from the top down to the nest. From the nest down, the ends of the palm fronds are still attached to the trunk. It is here, in a shallow depression, that our Kiskadees have built their nest. During the year, we see them land on their old nest, look around, and fly off, as if they were just checking. Also, this pair of Kiskadees, even though they roam the entire yard, usually stay in the vicinity of their nest, even when not in use. A little longer than a football, the opening is on the side of the nest facing south, southwest. Reaching inside the nest, one can feel a tunnel-like area about 2 inches long before entering the oblong, main chamber, located slightly lower than the tunnel entrance. Composed mostly of dry Bermuda grass and small twigs, the nest is built loosely, but with a very defined opening that can be seen from across the yard. The attached palm frond ends help to support the nest and give it strength.         Click on bird to return to Main page In the early spring of 1997, a hard, wind blew down the nest landing it just 6 feet from the trunk of the palm. My husband examined it, found it intact, and finding no eggs, left it right where it had blown. We realized that the pair had just finished building it because it was complete but had no eggs. Later that day, the pair of Kiskadees were visibly perturbed as they went from the original location of their nest to the ground where their nest lay. Not knowing what the Kiskadee would do in a situation like this, we left the nest in the same location & position that it landed. All day long for a week, the Kiskadees took apart their nest on the ground and rebuilt it in the original crook of the dry palm frond ends. It was quite a sight to see. As the pair worked, they took time to catch insects to eat and kept rebuilding their nest as they called to each other.