Bird nests

One of the most uplifting signs of spring at the cabins are all the bird nests. Nearly every cabin has at least one. With all the convenient nooks and crannies on a log cabin, the birds have their choice of building locations, and I’m always surprised at their creativity and placement.

Robin nests are the most popular. Last year as I was in and out of the Viisi (No. 5) cabin doing spring cleaning, mama robin was very tolerant of me. She had built a nest above a front window just to the left of the door. She let me know I was disturbing her though as I got squawked at nearly every time I entered or exited the cabin, and she often flew from the nest to a nearby tree to keep a watchful eye on my movements.

Nest materials can be interesting and generally include mud, grass, twigs, and other fibers. The nest shapes and sizes vary:

🪺 bowl-shaped (robins, finches, thrushes)

🪺 cavities (chickadees, woodpeckers, bluebirds)

🪺 platforms (eagles, hawks, other raptors)

🪺 burrows (owls, kingfishers)

🪺 domes (wrens)

It’s important not to touch, move, or disturb a bird’s nest, especially if eggs or chicks are present. Once the eggs hatch, the baby birds are fed in the nest for several weeks until they are strong enough to take flight. That first exodus from the nest can be a loud fracas. Some baby birds are more ready to fly than others so it’s not uncommon for a couple to drop pretty close by and hop around a while before they officially take off for good.

Our feathered friends are one of our surest harbingers of spring. Listen. Observe. Let them raise your spirits as we welcome a new season.

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Photos courtesy: Gayle Kirby, Manninen archives.