Dick Tuttle Collecting Prothonatary Nesting Jars

E-mail & photo form Jim Martin:

Howdy:

The attached photo shows Dick Tuttle near the end the morning, on July 20, 2007, collecting some 19 Prothonatary nesting "Jars" for Winter keeping & maintenance. Dick slugged it out in the muds and bugs, and waters along Alum Creek in his canoe to bag the jars shown in the canoe. The jars are a personal design that makes for ease of deployment and periodic inspection during the breeding season.

Another reason for collecting the nesting jars at the end of the season is to discourage Wrens from taking-up housekeeping. Wrens are known to cause great harm to nesting Prothonatary and other species.



And to quote Dick Tuttle from a e-mail received at 6:56 PM Friday:

"Hello Everyone,

.... I can only evict sticks, or "starter," or "dummy" nests that
male wrens deposit to claim territories that includes their preferred nest site.

I removed the Prothonotary Warbler Nest Jars since their nesting season is over and I do not want to raise wrens. Also, I had to retrieve the jars before the stream and lake "ran out of navigable water" since the level has dropped over 1-1/2 feet in the last two weeks - so Columbus can survive.

I had to wade in lots of mud."

Warbler on, Dick Tuttle

Best Wishes,
Jim Martin.