The Tufted Titmouse family in one of my birdhouses is still busy. On July 17, 2023, I photographed an adult bringing food to the nest and removing waste from it.
Both moments showed how much work goes into raising young birds. They also gave me a clear sign that the nestlings were still inside and growing.
Tufted Titmouse Nesting Update From the Birdhouse
The first photo shows an adult Tufted Titmouse on top of the birdhouse with food in its bill. The pointed crest, gray body, pale underside, and alert posture made the bird easy to recognize.
This was in Lavaca, Arkansas, during the July nesting season. The adult was still making food deliveries, which told me the young were not ready to leave yet.
The second photo shows another important part of nest care. A Tufted Titmouse is at the birdhouse entrance carrying a fecal sac away from the nest.
A fecal sac is waste from a young bird wrapped in a small package. Adult birds remove these sacs to help keep the nest cleaner for the growing chicks.
These two photos tell the story well. One shows feeding. The other shows cleanup. Both are part of the daily work that keeps a nest active and healthy.
Earlier parts of this nesting story:
Tufted Titmouse’s Triumph Over House Sparrows
Tufted Titmouse Brings Food For Their Young
Photographing the Titmouse in Morning Light
I made the first photo early in the morning. The bird paused long enough on the birdhouse for a clean look at the food in its bill.
I kept the frame tight around the bird and the top of the birdhouse. That helped keep the attention on the nesting behavior instead of the surroundings.
The source post lists these details for the first photo:
- Camera: Canon EOS R5
- Lens: Canon RF 100-500 mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM
- Location: Lavaca, Arkansas
- Date and time: July 17, 2023, 07:14 A.M.
- Aperture: f/7.1
- Shutter speed: 1/640
- ISO: 10000, Auto
- Exposure compensation: +0.7
- Focal length: 500 mm
Why This Titmouse Family Held My Attention
I enjoy watching a nesting story unfold over several days. Each visit to the birdhouse can show something new.
This time, the food delivery and fecal sac removal stood out. They showed the steady care these adult Tufted Titmice were giving their young.
It should not be long before the young birds leave the nest. Until then, I will keep watching for the next small sign of progress.