Be a nosy neighbor this nesting season

A piece of string here and there, clumps of hair fallen from the dog as it sheds its winter coat, threads of dry grass, dabs of mud — quietly they are taken to a place tucked discreetly away from view and carefully woven together in preparation.

Only one week into spring and the region is already bursting with activity as wild creatures work fervently to accomplish as much as possible during the warm months ahead.

Of course there’s a lot of eating going on by winter-weary wild things, as they revel in fresh sprouts and abundant prey brought out by the changed weather. Their true objective, however, is to replenish resources diminished by the sparsity of winter so they can bring the next generation into the world.

The race to take advantage of spring is fast-paced and intense, yet for the most part humans will hardly notice it’s taking place at all — that is unless they look carefully.

Diversity of wildlife in the region is vast, and there is no shortage of creatures on the ground, however some of the creatures whose lives are most closely intertwined with humans and easiest to spot are right above our heads.

Clumps of mud begin to appear high up on the wall of a porch, taking shape as it is plastered layer by layer.

While leaves thicken in the trees, a bundle of twigs and grass grows in the crook of a branch and on the ground, white droppings become noticeable, a sign that somewhere above a bird is spending significant time in one place.

Countless species of birds make their summer homes on the High Plains, from the birds of prey perched atop fence posts to the barn swallows that swoop and dive when humans near their nests.

And contrary to what you were told as a child, you should — carefully, of course — snoop, find their nests and spy on them regularly.

In an effort to monitor the nesting and reproduction trends of birds nationwide, NestWatch.org, a long-term citizen science project from The Cornell Lab of Ornithology, depends on data submitted by folks on the ground.

The contributions of nest watchers — such as species identifications, photos and observations including egg, hatchlings and survival numbers — are compiled and analyzed annually by researchers.

Through the data, researchers are able to gain insight into the effects of urban expansion, climate, habitat and migration changes and additional factors that impact breeding bird populations.

Complete with an app to aid in collecting and submitting data and troves of free resources, participants can become a “Certified Nestwatcher,” download plans to build birdhouses designed to attract specific species and learn about creating inviting environments to encourage nesting.

Area residents have a unique opportunity to contribute desirable data to the project because, though the project’s prior year data indicates a low level of participation from New Mexico, several species on the NestWatch top-wanted list are birds common in the region, such as barn swallows, house finches and wrens, mourning doves, American robins and others.

With nesting season just beginning, citizen science projects like NestWatch can provide families and nature-curious folks an opportunity to gain and contribute to a greater understanding of the world.

Next time an excited troop of children burst into the house to report a nest, instead of telling them to stay away, show them how to count eggs before (and after) they hatch, or better yet, make a family project out of building the perfect birdhouse — and enjoy being a nosy neighbor of the best kind.

Sharna Johnson is always searching for ponies. You can reach her at: [email protected]