Yesterday the 31st i chanced on a pr of yellow billed cuckoos constructing a
nest in Old mill park west toronto. I observed the birds from a public
footpath for some time. the nest was at the end of a horizontal branch about15
feet high. The assumed male was very busy providing nesting material to the
female who remained at the nest site shaping and organizing the good sized
twigs, leaves and catkins . He only ventured to a low nearby tree where he
found all he needed, gathering and delivering almost two items per minute. !
Given the flimsy nature of cuckoo nests and the rapidity of nest building it
would seem likely the birds only need a day or two to complete. Hopefully the
site will survive todays rain storm, but as the nest is rather exposed and
without a protective canapy it remains to be seen.
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