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Sadly, I’m coming to the conclusion that the three nesting Rednecked Grebes in our cove will not hatch eggs this summer. Every day I’ve faithfully watched the nests with binoculars, one was established in late May the others came later, and baby chicks have not appeared. It would be quite obvious if their were chicks, for after they hatch they ride on top of the mothers back. (more…)

We were away during the 4th of July weekend and now that we are home we have noticed the absence of any Tree Swallows flying in and out of the nest box. On closer observation we found that the nest is empty! Our assumption is that the babies were mature enough to “fly the coop” and did so over the weekend. We miss our busy little friends, but are happy that they have completed their work here and are continuing their journey. Next year we will have several more nesting boxes in the woods waiting for the annual return of the swallows.

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska Artist

July 2, 2006 at 9:45 AM the sound of a float plane engine seemed very loud, I looked out my window and saw a plane circling around and around in our quiet shallow cove. The plane was entirely too close to shore where three active Red necked Grebe nests are located, one floating 10′ or more from the waters edge. It seemed unusual and unnecessary for the plane to circle three or four times in the cove before applying full throttle. It created quite a commotion and a pretty good wake in its path. (more…)

The Tree Swallow activity level increased today, and both mates became aggressive whenever we came near the nesting box. The house painter working from the roof reported being dive bombed by swallows, and we had swallows flying at high speed straight toward our faces only to divert inches before hitting….. (more…)

Last evening two Rednecked Grebe strangers showed up in the cove noisily squawking and calling. The resident grebe stopped diving and with its neck stretched out flat in the water, headed quickly toward the strangers. He alternately charged them by flapping wings on top of the water or diving swiftly under water. Strangely, he never approached closer than a few feet, but the noise and activity were quite impressive. (more…)

Last evening we sat on the dock watching the nesting grebes with binoculars. Their is a rhythmic quality to their daily routine. While one grebe incubates the eggs, barely moving other than occasionally turning its head from side to side, the mate is swimming and diving nearby. (more…)

The Tree Swallows are taking turns sitting on eggs in the nest box. One flies in and the other flies out. The sky is full of swallows buzzing around, zapping insects on the fly. Oh, to be able to navigate with such precision….sharp turns, steep dives and climbs, they are aeronautical wonders. (more…)

As I quietly worked raking new topsoil along the edge of the lake yesterday, the mama Mallard swam out from under water lilies with a string of new ducklings lined up behind! The baby chicks are adorable, so fat and fuzzy. I stopped work and watched them for quite awhile as they floated in and out of the lilies and lake grasses until they were out of sight. What a pleasant interruption. The vision of those baby ducks stayed in my mind throughout the day as I continued my work raking the soil.

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska Artist

I did a little reading on the nesting habits of Tree Swallows and discovered that a swallow will stay on the nest even if the eggs have been destroyed. After the Magpie attack of last week I felt relieved to see the swallow back in the box sitting on the nest. But after reading this new information I’m beginning to wonder if their are any eggs in the nest box. (more…)

We have spotted many nesting waterfowl along the shores of our lake. It is such a joy to watch the birds and ducks as they go about the daily business of incubating eggs and feeding themselves. (more…)

We were having an ordinary day, I was working on an art project and my husband was in and out with some framing jobs. He frames my art. It was raining lightly and no one was on the lake, just a lovely quiet summer day in Alaska. (more…)

The Tree Swallows are happily building their home in our nesting box on the birch tree. We enjoy watching them from our patio. Sometimes one swallow will sit on a tree branch about 20′ away guarding the nest, and every once in awhile we will see a swallow’s head peeking out the entry hole. (more…)

Sunday evening, May 21, 2006, spotting waterfowl with my binoculars during a quiet evening on the lake I saw a young man exhibiting some unusual behavior. He was crouched down inside a boat pointing what looked like a short black pole, then he would stand up and look back at the shore, squat down again and point the pole again. The fact that he kept repeating this action, and looking back at the shore seemed strange. It was unnatural. (more…)

In the morning I noted a swallow bringing a single long blade of grass into the box nest that is attached to the Birch tree in our yard. The grass hung partially out of the box entry hole for quite awhile until it was finally pulled inside. No doubt about it, this nest box has been claimed and is being prepared for laying eggs and hatching a brood. This will be fun to watch!

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska Artist

May 22, 2006 dawned clear, calm, and sunny. We spent all morning in the boat and found more Red Necked Grebes, Common Loons, and located a pair of Barrow’s Goldeneye ducks. I am quite sure that a pair of Mallard ducks have built a nest in the swampy woods next to our house, and to our surprise we found a Grebe’s nest right out in the open seemingly unprotected, with one egg! Although, as we approached the nest quietly by boat the Grebes were out to meet us. We kept a respectable distance. (more…)

We have been watching the swallow nesting box in the Birch tree, and occasionally a bird will arrive and climb inside, then it will poke its head out and after awhile fly away. This is the third day of this type activity. I have to assume that the nest box is being considered for occupancy, or maybe already chosen. This is new to us, so we can only watch and wait. (more…)

Friday morning, May 19, 2006, the sky was swarming with Tree Swallows and they found the nesting box we placed in the Birch tree near the house! At the same time I noticed a pair of Common Loons on the lake. (more…)

As a test we moved the owl decoy from the dock today, and will keep it off the dock for awhile. Hopefully the Mallards will not take up residence on the dock again. The Mallards have been floating right by the dock several times a day, but haven’t been up on the dock since the arrival of the owl decoy. (more…)

This morning I spotted a huge group of new ducks on the lake, possibly sixty or seventy, but they are too far away for positive identification. A group of eight landed in our cove and they are definitely Surf Scoters. I’m guessing some of the others are White Winged Scoters and a few look like Scaups. A fishing boat showed up and scared most of the ducks away. I hope they return and land in my cove so that I can identify all of the species. I enjoy watching the waterfowl migrate through this area.

Alaska Artist, Gail Niebrugge

To keep the Mallard ducks from sunning on the dock and fouling the dock with duck droppings, we purchased a fake owl and placed it at the end of the dock. For the last three days the Mallard’s haven’t been on the dock, so it looks like the owl decoy is working. I have one problem with this, will this owl decoy keep birds from building nests on the property? Does anyone know about this? Please comment. I want swallows to build nests, and other birds as well. So, maybe I’ll have to put up with duck dung on the dock.

Thanks, Alaska Artist Gail Niebrugge