Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Surprise at the nest!

Remember this lovely photo of the Mourning Dove momma?

Check out the same nest, just photographed last Thursday!

What's all that red stuff?

Here's a closer look:

I found a huge colony of them on the tree and was blown away by the numbers and colors and clusters of them.  Box Elder Bugs Boisea trivitatta.  Thank goodness the nestling doves had fledged weeks before.  I don't know how they would have interacted.

Freaky, but cool!  I've seen Flickers eating these bugs, but I know that they stink terribly if you accidentally step on one, so I wonder how tasty they are to the birds.


  1. Oh my that is creepy ....but makes for a good colorful shot...: }


  2. Wow that's incredible, like you said fortunately the dove was gone already!