This is our first day in the field with an opportunity to put all our hard-learned training to work in JACK nest search area. This involved a 45-minute drive south through Jackson, past the amazing Teton range and National Museum of Wildlife Art (complete with great statues of elk and other critters). Squeezing everyone into the van was a bit of a challenge with all 12 of us, and our capable, cheerful commander-in-chief, Jenifer (one "n" her dad couldn't spell!)
After a short briefing under the intriguing sandy bluff filled with swallow nest holes, we commenced the day's efforts with some orientation stops at failed/or last year's nest to get more experience with our targets for the day. There was also a stop at a particularly challenging Robin's nest that Jenifer had recently found. The JACK area is dominated by three ponds with pond border areas that provide ample habitat for our four target birds. Our teams were arrayed across the western edge of Otter Pond where we were given a couple hours to search for nests.
Team #4, composed of Ed and Natalie, focused on a mixed vegetation area accessible by a 2 x 12 board in the area of one of the snake boards (which we checked for fun but found nothing). While walking out to a point of land with water on both sides and a thicket of willow and other bushes, Natalie flushed a female song sparrow that began to chip furiously. As we watched, the female moved from bush to bush in a large circle around us while the male sang periodically from a nearby tree. Having flushed the female, and with her continued presence in the area, we were certain a nest was in the immediate vicinity. Try as we might, locating the nest seemed out of our reach, as we pushed deeper into the bushy area where we thought the nest was located.
We abandoned the search for awhile and we called Jenifer to assist us. When she approached the site, we saw the female who had returned, flushed again and Jenifer was able to located the site on the ground in some knee-high grass. The site appeared to be quite vulnerable to predator attack and could have easily been stepped on by careless researchers.
After a short briefing under the intriguing sandy bluff filled with swallow nest holes, we commenced the day's efforts with some orientation stops at failed/or last year's nest to get more experience with our targets for the day. There was also a stop at a particularly challenging Robin's nest that Jenifer had recently found. The JACK area is dominated by three ponds with pond border areas that provide ample habitat for our four target birds. Our teams were arrayed across the western edge of Otter Pond where we were given a couple hours to search for nests.
Team #4, composed of Ed and Natalie, focused on a mixed vegetation area accessible by a 2 x 12 board in the area of one of the snake boards (which we checked for fun but found nothing). While walking out to a point of land with water on both sides and a thicket of willow and other bushes, Natalie flushed a female song sparrow that began to chip furiously. As we watched, the female moved from bush to bush in a large circle around us while the male sang periodically from a nearby tree. Having flushed the female, and with her continued presence in the area, we were certain a nest was in the immediate vicinity. Try as we might, locating the nest seemed out of our reach, as we pushed deeper into the bushy area where we thought the nest was located.
We abandoned the search for awhile and we called Jenifer to assist us. When she approached the site, we saw the female who had returned, flushed again and Jenifer was able to located the site on the ground in some knee-high grass. The site appeared to be quite vulnerable to predator attack and could have easily been stepped on by careless researchers. 
Sonal and Ann of Team #1 documented an active nest. Sonal saw some purple and pink flowers in a hanging pot, so she walked closer to appreciate the splash of color within the green of the woods and then continued randomly checking trees, as there was close to no birds singing. The cottonwood behind had a twiggy nest! Looked a lot like a robin’s nest, which at first Sonal assumed would be abandoned, like the previous 2 (possibly yellow warbler) nests they’d found. However, Sonald could see 2 orange beaks resting against the edge of the nest with open eyes! They were so still, and it seemed like the chicks were dozing in and out while parents were away. Yet, no “chip” of the parents was heard, so perhaps they were further away. Sonal and Ann captured the position on the GPS unit, viewing it with the mirror, and completing the nest card and drawing. About 15-20 minutes later, they noticed they could hear the distress-chipping of a parent. They each spotted the parent with some food in its mouth. The adult bird’s silver band around its right leg was visible via binoculars! Jen gave feedback on the documentation about 20 minutes later. She was careful to stress the bird as little as possible by walking the long way around the nest and viewing the chicks through binoculars first, spending as little time as possible near the nest. Jen mentioned that the birds might’ve quieted down earlier while we were searching the field because there was a bird of prey flying above. With magpies, ravens, and crows, the birds will work together, chase the predator, and try to drive them away from their nests. However, with the birds of prey, they will grow quiet as a survival technique.
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