Wild Flying Squirrel Sighting locations From the Guest Book

A Very Special Thanks to all who have responded by sending your Comments and sharing your own Critter experiences and for those who have asked about how to do this please visit my How I Do it Page

The fascination Nature holds for most of us is shared throughout our World and the observance of Nature's Sights and Sounds seem even to provide a universal language that transcends Racial, Political, Linguistic and Geographical Boundaries that can separate and isolate us.

The Wonderful thing about the Internet is the ability to make the whole world a neighborhood and in some measure find that we just might have more in common than the sum of our differences.

So a Robin's nest basically is the same in Kentucky as it is in Texas, New York or Montreal and Flying Squirrels really do exist and in so many places as evidenced by all of you who have related similar experiences.

Comments have come from many Locations. This page will be updated as new entries are received.

Note I do not include Email addresses in responses that I post here due to the spammers and opportunist on the internet that search for any address to abuse. If for any reason you would like to have your Email posted in your response, please indicate in your Guest Book Message. Thank You.

I will use this page to respond to any questions that I can answer from Our Guest Book Entries. For Web Security reasons, We do not respond or reply directly via Email addresses.

All of the States East of the Mississippi River, have now confirmed Flying Squirrel sightings via our Visitor comments. Thank You to all who have participated and to all of those who will with their sighting reports yet to be. Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas, Kansas California, Washington and Alaska as well as many Canadian Locations, have also reported Flying Squirrel sightings. Don't think we can possibly get all of the states represented as most likely not indigenous to the Southwest and Plains. Still, we will keep a light on and hope to add as many locations as we can.

Visitor comments are always welcome and will be added to our Guest Book Response link. Please send your comments by clicking on and include your general area, IE City and State or Country If you have a .jpg of the wildlife referred to in your comments and would like to have it posted just attach it to your comments.

I was just in the yard, rearranging some moonflower vines around what I thought was an empty birdhouse. when I stood in front of it to check out my handiwork, I noticed two big beautiful brown eyes peering at me. I was in shock, while we both just stared at each other. then he turned around and appeared to go back to sleep. made my day.

Thank you for your Flying Squirrel report from the Sunshine state. Sounds like it had found a nice dry place away from the recent storm rains which may have hit your area. Another Florida dot will be added to our sighting map.

Subject: Your site
Just want you to know how proud I am of you on your wonderful site and of your sharing the love of God’s creation with people all over the world. You rock, Dad!
Love, Deb
Louisville, KY

A most unexpected and treasured surprise in the MyComments mail this morning. Thank you dearest Daughter for visiting HowPeg.com and your much appreciated comments. Love you too Kid, now be careful out there.

Subject: flying squirrel - NJ
August 16, 2008 - Warren, NJ I am an avid bird watcher and enjoy observing the birds at our feeders. This afternoon, around 4:00 p.m., I noticed something unusual. I thought it was a baby squirrel, however, I think it was a flying squirrel. The tail was very small - not like the photos I've seen, but it was not the type of squirrels we have in the area. It's eyes were very large and it's body half the size of a squirrel. One squirrel touched it, and it immediately laid on it's back pretending to be dead. After a few minutes, it just got up and ran up the tree.

Thank you for visiting and your report from Warren. Interesting behavior you describe is not like any previously reported on this forum.. In all the years we have observed them here, we really have never seen any flyers except after darkness. So have never observed gray squirrel and flying squirrel contact reactions. The eyes you describe certainly sound like could be a flyer but the normal flyer tail is pretty distinctive. Perhaps an unfortunate birth defect or perhaps even a chipmunk. Many flyers have been reported from New Jersey, so very possibly a very unusual Flyer sighting. Thanks for sharing.

Subject: flying squirrels in my house!
We live in Michigan, just south of Flint on 10 acres. Lots of hardwood trees and the perfect place for flyers. My experience with flyers began about 5 years ago. I heard something in our attic that left every night at dark. I could never figure out what it was until I was cleaning out my winter bird roost boxes and found I was face to face with 3 flying squirrels. I have built 3 'flyer' apartments mounted in the trees for them in an effort to get them out of the attic. They have moved in but there are still some in the attic. Presently, we have one living in my computer room. How he got in I don't know. I have been trying to trap him with a havahart trap for about a week now. He loves sunflower seeds plus grapes, lettuce, and black cherries. I just want to catch him so he can go back outside but he has managed to trip the trap and escape every night. I have tried hanging the seed from a mesh net above the trip plate, wire tying a grape to the trip plate, etc. He is very clever. I may have to resort to a 2 stage trap I saw online. I love watching them and they are very entertaining-but outside!
Any suggestions would be appreciated! Thanks! Lori

Thanks for visiting and sharing your flying squirrel story. While we have had flying squirrels in the trees around our home for fifteen years that we know of, and in substantial numbers, we have never had a home invasion by the little guys. So sorry to say, cannot offer any tips to evict your computer room resident. Best of luck in your efforts and thanks again for your report from the Flint area and adding another location to our flying squirrel sighting map.

Blessings to you
Hello,
Yesterday August 06, 2008 at approximately 3:30pm I was traveling South on Rt79 (Pennsylvania).I was just North of the McKean exit (between the Edinboro, Pa and Kearsarge exits) The two lane freeway is parallel to trees/wooded areas on both sides.I have a BS degree in Biology and love to observe the birds as I drive...but on this day a peculiar tawny critter floated across the lanes and I saw the rodent body and instantly knew !!!
It was amazing, and thank goodness no one was behind me!!!! It originated from the trees in the "middle" (on my West side) and floated at an approximate 25-30 degree angle downward toward the trees that were below the other side (East side). It was not a bird (Ave), plane, or even underdog...just little ole flying squirrel. I never saw one in this area and my family has lived in this area for over 80 years...truly an amazing treat !!!
Thank you,
I found this site while trying to track the indigenous areas for this species.

Thank you for visiting and your FS sighting report from the Northern Pennsylvania area. Congratulations on seeing your first in that area, and especially by chance to see one in the daylight. Rarely are they seen until well after dusk. Another Pennsylvania dot will be added to our sighting map. Thanks again

Subject: Robin eggs hatched!
From western New York state. Thank you for this site - it has been very helpful. My front porch nest (too high to view the contents) has produced young birds. I have been careful not to disturb the parents. I was afraid, at first, that the young were not going to hatch - but I am able to seethe little bird heads. The chicks are surprisingly quiet, but definitely lively.

Thank you for the update and thank you also for your comments. Hopefully you will get to see them fledge within the next week or so. Takes about 14 -15 days after hatching.

Subject: robin nest
Thank you for sharing your robin story. I have a visiting pair nested on a column up under my front porch. I have tried to be careful and trying not disturb them, I haven't gotten a ladder to check the contents of their nest. It seems like they have been there for a very long time - nearly a month.
It's a relatively protected spot. So, I was wondering when or if the eggs would hatch. There are snakes in my yard but I can't imagine that they would make it up the front porch column, I certainly hope not. Thanks again, Alana F So .Western New York state

Thanks for visiting our Robin nest pages. As for when the eggs hatch the incubation period is usually from 12 to 14 days. So if the nest has been there for a month , then certainly the eggs should have hatched. If that were the case you should be seeing the parent birds making many trips a day to feed those hungry hatchlings. On the other hand if you still see occasional activity by the adult robins, then I suppose it is possible that you may be on the brink of hatching, assuming they perhaps delayed the start of the laying process, for a bit after the nest was completed. At any rate hatching should have already occurred or is imminent. Good luck and thanks again for visiting.

Subject: flying squirrel - Wheaton, Illinois
July 30, 2008
We found a baby flying squirrel lying on the sidewalk in front of our house, just under a big branch of a tree that is growing in our front yard. The baby squirrel was very young as he just barely had any hair, but he appeared alive and seemed unharmed.
Looking directly above where the baby was lying on the sidewalk to a branch that was perhaps 10 ft. in the air, we saw an adult flying squirrel (most likely the mother) in the leaves of the tree jumping around a bit and looking understandably upset. I got some fabric garden gloves (to minimize human scent contamination) and very carefully picked up the baby squirrel and set him in the crotch of the tree which was about 5 feet off the ground.
We then backed away and watched. The mother squirrel ran down the branch to the crotch of the tree, picked up the baby in her mouth and then scampered back up to her nest or hollow (whatever it was, the squirrels' home was well hidden from us).
Hopefully, mother and offspring are alive and well ...

Very nice story - Thanks for sharing and confirming yet another flying squirrel sighting in the general Chicago area. An area neighbor from St. Charles reported a sighting a few days ago. Hope you get a chance to see several more members of that litter after they have had a chancre to grow up a bit. Your sighting will be added to our tracking log and map.

Subject: Houston Texas - Flying Squirrels
Just saw a pair float across the backyard from tree to tree. Location:
Tanglewood Area Houston Texas - Near the bayou

Thank you for visiting and your Flying Squirrel sighting report from Tanglewood. Our FS sighting map will be updated with a dot for the Houston area.

Subject: flying squirrels
I spent two hours tonight watching a family of flying squirrels they were amazing! they were not at all skitterish and let me sit close by on the tree to photograph them while they ate and flew from tree to tree!! Medford, New Jersey

Great news from Medford. Hope you were able to get some great shots of the little guys. Their disposition to tolerate human kind is actually pretty amazing. They are certainly wild animals, but yet exhibit traits of domesticated pets, when it comes to going about their business with little regard for the two legged observers. Thanks for visiting and sharing your FS experience. The Sighting location report will be updated to include Medford. New Jersey is perhaps our most reported state and might not be able to discern the Medford dot. But it will be there.

Hi,
I didn’t know what it was at first. I was shocked when it flew through the air and then ran up a tree. We have been in unincorporated St. Charles Illinois for 13 years and live in a wooded area and have never seen a flying squirrel before. WOW!

Congratulations on seeing your first flyer and thanks for sharing it here. Always a fascinating experience when one first makes the discovery of these little guys . Another Illinois dot will be added to our sighting map. Thanks again.

Subject: possible flying squirrel sighting in Amherst OH?
This morning (around 9:30 am in July with sun shining and everything!) saw an unusually small squirrel scurrying up and down the trees in our back yard. It was more reddish than the one previous flying squirrel I have seen, but did have the black line running from front to back legs and very white tummy. It was too far away for me to see how big its eyes were. It was slightly bigger than a chipmunk but much smaller than our red fox squirrels. It was also much more energetic than our fox squirrels running up each big tulip tree then back down. I got the impression it was trying to find a route back to our woods without having to run across the ground, but tree branches were not close enough together for it to do so. Since it was not dark outside and it was not grey in color, could it have been a flying squirrel?

Thank you for visiting and your report from Amherst. While I have only rarely seen a flyer outside the dusk to dawn hours, several visitors have reported daylight encounters. The flyers I have seen have all been from reddish brown to gray, and even practically black in areas. From your description, I suspect it was a flyer, and possibly a northern one. There are only slight differences between the northern and southern flyers. To me the bottle brush type of tail is the definite clue to the identity . I have included a link to one of my flying squirrel picture pages. These were very recent pictures and may help you conclude if indeed your mystery squirrel was indeed a flyer. Thanks again for visiting.

Subject: flying squirrels
We have been in our house for 20 years and have been feeding squirrels for about 5. Usually I give them about 16 oz. of corn weekly. A couple of weeks ago, I discovered that the whole 16 oz. was being eaten in one night....over night. Weird. So I sat on my sunporch, and sure as heck, I thought bats were flying in to the tree, 9:30 on the dot. But by their profile, and what I could barely see of them, I thought then that they were chipmunks! After several nights, it dawned on me what they were, especially when I searched on the internet. There are at least four or five or more. They are so delightful! I can't believe how much they eat! I need to figure out how to take pictures of them. Anyway, I love love love this website! So there ARE such things as flying squirrels (gliding) and in Clio, Michigan! L. S

Thank you fro visiting and your comments. Great news on making the acquaintance of these night visitors. It is amazing how many report first arrivals at about 9:30 PM at this time of the year. They are indeed delightful to watch. Thanks for confirming their presence in Clio and adding another Michigan dot to our sighting map.

Subject: Northern Flying Squirrels, etc......
We have northern flying squirrels here in Malone and in Owls Head, New York only a dozen miles from the Canada border. I have photo evidence but would have to search for it. The first time we saw them we were at camp and thought the red squirrels were being particularly greedy as they were eating so late into dusk. Those big eyes were a clue, however, and we learned we were seeing out first flying squirrels. Later that summer we found flying squirrels at our back
porch feeder. This year my husband has had them refuse to leave the interior of the hanging feeder when he wants to refill it. They do love their sunflower seed!

On to the topic of bird predation: Two years ago we had barn swallows set up housekeeping in one of the bluebird boxes. The babies were a day or so from fledging when a bluebird would be user of the house sticked its head in to see how things were going when the swallow parents were out chasing food. By the time the swallows got home the four babies were dead. I saw the event but not what transpired inside the box. I believe that the bluebird pecked the swallow fledglings to
death. It changed my view of bluebirds a bit. This year the same box has its second clutch of bluebirds working now.

Thank you for your flying squirrel report from Northern New York state and, and sounds like determined ones at that. I have found that in many ways these wild critters seem to feel right at home with we human kind. Good to know the Northern flying squirrels are as keen on sunflower as their southern cousins. Thanks for the insight into the bluebird behavior. Was unaware of the killer instinct in that beautiful species . I have first hand knowledge of the destructive traits of cowbirds and crows in regard to other nestlings and now am educated on just how widespread that trait might be. Thanks again for visiting and sharing your wildlife experiences.

Subject: flying squirrel
In early December 2007 my dad knocked down a tree when he was digging the pond. the tree was dead so my dad put it in the pond for like a place for the fish to hide. There was already a little bit of water that came out of the ground and it was cold so when a rat/ squirrel looking thing swim from the log towards the bank I ran and caught it. I wrapped it up in rags and made a cage for it and put a hollowed log in it for the animal to sleep in. I went to school and found out it was a flying squirrel. when I came home and checked on it and fount three little pink babies. when they where old enough I let them and their mom go except for one that was to much of a pet to make it in the wild. I live in Shreveport, Louisiana. one more dot on the map

Quite a story and a very unusual way get acquainted with the flying squirrel. No doubt you generated a lot of interest with your story at school. Thanks for visiting and sharing your experience and adding another Louisiana dot to our sighting map.

Subject: flying squirrel sighting
I live in Stow Creek Township, Bridgeton NJ. I have just discovered a flying squirrel living in one of my bird houses. I actually had to go online to figure out what it was. Christine

Congratulations on identifying your bird house free loader and thank you for your report. Another New Jersey dot will be added to our flying squirrel sighting map. Thanks for visiting.

I live in Southport, North Carolina USA.
We have just discovered a flying squirrel nesting in one of our bird boxes. We have only seen one, but since seeing him/her we will keep watch for more. My husband was just talking about how he wished we had some in our yard.--Donna F

Congratulations on wishes that come true and in a most pleasant form like up close flying squirrels. Hope you discover many more , they are most interesting and fun to watch. Thanks for visiting and your report from the North Carolina Coastal area. We'll add another North Carolina dot to our flying squirrel sighting map.

Subject: Flying Squirrel!
We have a flying squirrel(s?) that visits our clear plexi-glass bird feeder that is mounted on our sunroom door. It appears at 9:30 pm and doesn’t seem to be the least bit intimidated by us (or our housecat). We live in Raleigh, Wake County, NC. Dennis and Dani

9:30 pm seems like the magic time for the these little guys. That is when ours seem to appear as well. Thank you for your report form Raleigh and thank you for visiting.

Subject: sighting
we have a large family of flying squirrels, about 5-10 that have lived around us for about 10 years now! IN MONMOUTH JUNCTION NEW JERSEY

Thank you for your Flying Squirrel report from Monmouth Junction and adding another New Jersey dot to our sighting map.

Subject: Southern Flying Squirrel
I have lived in Florida for 40 years and I just had my first spotting of a flying squirrel in Valrico, FL. In fact, I didn’t even know they existed. We were outside grilling last night and I noticed movement on the squirrel feeders. At first, I thought it was bat, then a chip monk. Florida does not have chip monk and I know it was a grey squirrel. And there wasn’t just one, but maybe 5 of them. I had no idea what they were so I went into the internet.
I think this is so cool. None of my friends are believing me so I am going to try and get photos this evening weather permitting.

Congratulations on seeing your first Flying Squirrels and especially on seeing them in numbers. It is amazing that the first sighting of these little guys is a shared excitement , and disbelief that most of us have experienced. It was so for us , now 15 years ago and many of our visitors have expressed similar feelings. As common as they are it still it is amazing to me, how so many have never seen them and probably never will, and many are not sure they even exist. Thanks for visiting and sharing your FS story . Another dot will be added to our sighting map for the Sunshine State. Good luck with the pictures.

Subject: birds
just saying hello from a bird watcher in Spencer NC . I love your site --Billy

And Hello to you. Thank you for visiting and your comment - Very much appreciated.

Subject: Flying squirrels in Nashville, TN -- defeating raccoons
We just discovered our flying squirrels about 5 years ago. We feed many native local birds (woodpeckers of all types, wrens, titmice, nuthatches, cardinals) as well as those passing through in summer (scarlet tanagers, rose breasted grosbeaks) and noticed a critter coming to a hanging tray feeder with peanuts one evening.
We began watching and now each summer we greatly enjoy as many as 15 little flying squirrels glide in and take turns jumping onto the tray.
Raccoons: we also had raccoons arrive last summer and came up with a great method to keep them away. We wrapped the tree trunk with sheets of tin, screwing the two 3x3 ft pieces so that the entire circumference is covered with tin. We put it about 4 feet up from the ground and when the raccoons try to jump to grasp the trunk they just slide down the tin. They circled and examined the tree and finally gave up. This spring we decided to take down the tin, and sure enough a couple of nights ago we had the masked visitors back. One sat in the tray and broke out the bottom screen. So, last night I got out the tin pieces and screwed them back onto the tree; also repaired the screen on the tray. Around 9 pm the raccoon family (3 young ones and the mom) showed up but finally gave up. This method would probably not work if there were other large trees near this one. But, the closest tree is about 10 feet away.
My Mom is 76 years old and she simply delights in watching these tiny flying creatures every evening. The squirrels seem to especially enjoy coming when we have several folks on the patio with a lot of human “chatter”.
We also have a pileated woodpecker who comes to our suet feeders on a regular basis. He is quite shy, however, and will not come if we are outside.
I’ve attached a photo of our backyard; the bird feeders and the peanut tray are just beyond on up the path behind the pond.
Thanks for sharing your photos on the website – I will show my Mom. Carolyn

Thanks for visiting and sharing your flying squirrel and other wildlife report from Nashville. Sounds like you have quite a colony of the flyers . Thanks also for sharing your method to outsmart the raccoons. The Pileated Woodpecker is also a treat to observe and like you we have found them to be quite cautious and are usually only observed from a distance or from an inside window.

Subject: American Robin
Thank you for answering all our questions about the American Robin in your web site. (Very sad about the serpent) Did not watch the video.
We have a nest on our pergola under the roof. We have to guard it constantly because the crows and ravens are after it.
We are in South Vancouver Island in BC Canada and the temperature is very hot right now and the mother is out the nest often.
We are looking forwards to see the babies.
Thank you. Cheers. Loretta.

Thank you for visiting and sending your comments. Glad our Robin Nest pages were of interest to you. Your mention of the harassment by the ravens and crows certainly rings true around here as well. This year two Robin nest starts were destroyed by crows, and a third was ravaged by a hawk. This is the first year we have not had at least one successful robin nest since the 2004 serpent incident you mention. Best of luck to your nest in progress and thanks again for visiting.

Thanks for visiting, your comment and sharing your Robin nest pictures from Long Island. My guess for fledge is six July but hope for the fourth. Then they could be the Yankee Doodle or Star Spangled fledglings. Good luck and thanks again.

Before I left on a 5 day vacation I noticed what I thought was a cardinal flying in and out of one of my hanging planters on the front porch. I soon discovered that there were some brownish eggs in there and then we left for a five day vacation. We returned at about midnight on the fifth day to fine a robin had been building a nest in the wreath on the front door, She continue this activity for two more days and then we saw the first egg. We have stopped using the front door, although the mail-person is still delivery mail( need to talk to them in the morning). Today we have two eggs and Mama flies away every time we walk anywhere near the door (glass windows).
Back to the cardinals nest, I peek into the planter the day after we were back and saw some feathers but no movement so I figured the cardinals had left. Not true, there's a baby in there that I can not see moving, but no sign of Mom or Dad. Did the Robin scare the cardinals away from taking care of their baby( and what can I possibly do to help if its not all ready too late) and what about the Robin. Hanging on my front door is not the best place for babies to be. I know this is long and this is probably not your intended purpose for this page but I could use some help. . Many Thanks Sandy

Thank you for visiting and sharing your Cardinal and Robin nest happenings. First let me qualify any advice I will give with a disclaimer that I am not an expert on the subject except from my own personal observations of several nesting attempts. With that said, I can with confidence say that if the mother robin is in the process of laying eggs with perhaps a third or fourth to go , then you are in for about a month of non front door use. 12 to 14 days of incubation and up to 15 days before fledging. (The eggs and nest are protected by law) A bit of inconvenience but tempered with a great close observation and learning experience opportunity. If by now you have not seen the parent cardinals, and no movement of the only bird in the nest, then perhaps the little one died as in the cardinal nest followed here in 2005. (see Robin's Nest Blog 2005 ) In that one the little bird was attacked by a cowbird and finally expired after appearing to be choking. Another possibility is that the cardinal eggs were replaced by cowbird eggs, and the parent cardinals may have discovered the fraudulent hatchling was not their own. At any rate if no activity on that cardinal nest and confirmation of the death of the chick, I would certainly remove the nest from your planter, then bury or otherwise dispose of the nest and contents. If the hatchling is still alive, and the parents never come back, I would not recommend attempting to become the surrogate parent, although others have tried to do this , it becomes a full time activity. In this case best to contact your New York Department of natural resources for advice, or local bird rehabilitation group. Best of luck and thanks again for visiting.

Subject: robin's
Really enjoyed reading about your robin's. We just watched a family of robin's miracle right outside our back door this spring. Last spring they were not successful due to some major renos going on. Now my (I feel they are my own little children) are fledglings and I hope they make it to come back around next year. Do you know if the parents abandon the weakest? It seems the runt is getting no attention from papa and I almost want to dig some worms myself for the little guy. Any suggestions? Enjoy your summer. Angela from Calgary Canada

Thank you for visiting and your comments. I have not seen any Robin behavior where any of the fledglings were ignored . I certainly have seen the fledges kind of scattered around though during the time that the male parent is working with them after they have left the nest. IE they would be close but not all together . Hopefully the one you describe as the runt, is getting fed and hopefully being taught how to find the worms for itself. Would be a shame to be ignored because you are small and are the weaker. I would not attempt the feeding of one as a surrogate parent. I think most experiences of that nature are doomed to failure one way or another. Best of luck and thanks again for your comments from Calgary.

Thanks for visiting and your report from Prairieville. Another dot will be added to our Louisiana flying squirrel location map.

Subject: Flying Squirrel
We live in the Town of Livingston, in the Parish of Livingston, Louisiana.
This morning my dogs were sniffing all over the deck post at the end of the deck, and when I sat down to have my coffee I noticed something up by the roof of the deck sitting on the roof support rail. I got up closer and realized it was a little animal.
He was scared and sitting ever so still. When my husband got a glove to try and remove him so the dogs wouldn't get him he ran to the other side of the post and Joe knocked on the board and he flew (actually glided) to the deck, ran across the garden up onto the fence and then flew down to the ground over by a tree and ran up the tree.
What a wonderful sight and surprise for us to have seen. We have bird feeders with sunflower seeds and stuff like that in them and I guess that is why he came into the fenced yard. We thought he was a baby squirrel, but not sure, don't know how big flying squirrels get. Hope you enjoy the pictures I took.

Thank you for visiting and sharing your first encounter with the Southern Flying Squirrel. I would say from your pictures, the Flyer is pretty much adult size although it does appear to be a young one. There is just something unique and special about this little rodent, that provides wonder and excitement, especially at the first encounter. It has been 15 years since we first encountered them here and I still feed them nightly a handful of sunflower hearts, and they usually oblige by taking them from their feeder and allow me to get within just a couple of feet to watch. Best of luck in many more opportunities to watch them . Another Louisiana dot will be added to our sighting map.

Subject: general comment about web site LOVED IT
WOW what a wonderful place to start, I have a robins nest just outside my living room approximately 10 feet up and wanted to do some research to see what I could expect over the next few weeks and stumbled upon your web site. I loved it....Thank You for all the education and laughs, I look forward to coming back to see how things progress.
Sincerely Kimberlee

Thank you for visiting and your much appreciated comments. Best of luck for a happy ending to your Robin nest adventure .

Subject: My lost robin fledglings story
Last year I moved into a house in Eliot, Maine. In my entry way, up in the portico was an existing nest. I left it there and a few weeks ago this summer, to my delight, a robin used it to lay her eggs. For days my family and I watched all the activity with great joy. We were anxiously waiting for the three little fledglings to take flight which seemed like it would be any day. They would raise up out of the nest and flap their wings.
One night recently I heard a noise and went to investigate. I shined a flashlight out my dining room window to see a raccoon eating one of the baby birds. My stomach dropped! I ran over to turn on my outside front light to see the nest on the ground and no other birds to be seen.
I totally understand the animal "survival of the fittest" bit but I was very upset. Can't get that picture out of my mind. Now the robin has already built another nest in the same spot. I'm trying to figure out how to rig up something to protect them so it won't happen again.

Thank you for visiting and sharing your Robin nest story. Although not a happy one , in reality probably 60% of Robin nest starts never make it to fledge. So now in addition to snakes, crows, hawks, all personally witnessed here, will add raccoons to the list of confirmed robin nest predators. There are lots of them, including cats, gray squirrels, and chipmunks . Even the flying squirrels are reputed to be nest enemies. Still they prevail as evidenced by the increasing numbers of Robins, at least around here. Perhaps so also in Maine. Hope you are successful in predator proofing the nest area. Best of luck.

Subject: Thank you!
Thank you for your sensitive and beautifully written comments. My kids and I have a Robins less than 2 yards outside our window. We've been rooting for them through the glass since we spotted the nest 2 or 3 weeks ago, when we say a beautiful blue in the nest. Can't tell how many babies now, maybe one or two. Judging by your videos, they are perhaps 7 days old. The two busy, fussy parents seem to be a highly collaborative team. We learned a lot from reading your blog and now have all fingers crossed for a successful transition to independence!

Thank you very much for visiting and your comments. Sounds like a real learning opportunity to be able to watch the whole thing unfold right outside your window. Hope it is a happy fledging time probably within the next seven days or so. Good Luck

Subject: robin videos
Great site! We have a robin caring for her 4 eggs up in our gazebo right now. Since it is too high up for our young children to look down into the nest, your videos are just what we needed! Thank you!

Thank you for visiting and your comments. Hope your Robin clutch is successful and in a few days your children will get to see the nestlings become fledglings. It seems to me that Robin nest being the most accessible and plentiful provide excellent teaching material about life and the wonders of it for our children. Good luck - probably a gazebo is a good place for a nest as it may be more predator free.

Subject: Robins
Hi I found your site while searching for info on Robin Fledglings. I have been watching two near our house for a few weeks now and have taken a couple pictures but don't do this often as it upsets the watchful parents nearby. Well yesterday I was going to take one last picture before they leave the nest which I assumed would be soon. ( I haven't paid attention to how many days its been since they hatched). Well needless to say I spooked them and they flew from the nest. I had it seems like 4 or 5 birds (robins) flying around very upset with me! Usually its only mama and dad so I was surprised to see the other birds joined in. Anyway the two that flew out of the nest ended up in different areas in the woods. I could still hear one late last night after dark after every other bird had quieted. I feel so bad and feel responsible if any harm has come to them. Today I see the parents in the trees, one had a worm, do you think they know where the babies are and are feeding them? They flew quite well for their first time. Do they stay on the ground or will they fly up into the trees? Also I would like to add that I was surprised by a flying squirrel on our porch late one night I turned on the light opened the door and walked out to find it staring up at me. Gave me quite a scare as I had never seen one until then. Thank you for the wonderful pictures and videos on your site I have learned a lot and thank you for your time, Susan. Sugar Grove, NC. I will attach a couple of the pictures I have taken.

Thank you for visiting and sharing your Robin nest story. Congratulations on seeing your first Flying Squirrel as well. I believe for the most part that if fledglings fly from the nest even on being spooked that they were probably very close to the time they would have departed anyway. From the close up picture, they certainly appear to be so. They will most likely make it to some lower branches and perch there through the night. The parents will find them and my guess is you will see them again following one of the parents around on the ground being fed and taught how to feed themselves. Hope so anyway. Thank you for your comments and good luck. I will add another dot for Sugar Grove on our flying squirrel sighting map.

Subject: Sparrow Update :-)
Hi again from Otis Orchards WA!!
Just wanted to update you on the Song Sparrow nest – all four eggs have hatched and not a cowbird in sight!! (Photo attached)
I also have a question for you. Remember I sent you pictures of the Robin’s nest I had with the four babies? Well, the last baby left the nest on May 31 – I got a picture right before he flew away! (Photo attached) Well, I noticed a Robin sitting on the same nest today – just 10 days after the last baby left! There are again eggs in the nest! Is it possible that these are the same birds – does this happen often? This particular nest has been used for three years in a row now, but for there to be eggs so soon after the last ones hasn’t happened before. Any insights would be welcomed

Thank you for your update on the Robins and the song sparrows. Sounds like a very busy and so far successful nesting season for you. Hope the good luck continues. Most Robin documents I have read indicate that the Robin parents, can have up to three broods a year. I have also read that the female may start a new nest very soon after a fledging has occurred and even while the male parent may still be feeding the fledglings for up to two weeks. While I have never witnessed any renesting activity on any of the nest I have followed, it certainly sounds like that may well be the case with your robin nest redux

In response to October 25, 2007 Comments from a visitor in Julington Creek Plantation , St. Johns, Florida
“Flying Squirrels in my woodpecker box. I live in St. Johns, Florida and have enjoyed flying squirrels in my back yard for the past two years. We currently have them living in our woodpecker box.”

I don’t want to burst your bubble, but the little heads sticking out of the woodpecker box in the picture are roof rats, Rattus rattus.
Dr. William H. Kern, Jr.
Associate Professor
Entomology & Nematology
Ft. Lauderdale Research and Education Center

Thank you Dr. Kern for your input. I assume that our visitors in Julington creek Plantation, would have made that realization as the roof rats you describe look very much like all the rats this novice has ever seen, IE the long rat tail, where as the flying squirrel has a tail I would describe as a bottle brush type. No doubt if the complete animal were observed there could be no confusion especially since the visitors indicated they have enjoyed flying squirrels in their yard for over two years. At any rate I have included here a roof rat picture and a flying squirrel picture I snapped last night for our visitors to compare. The Roof rat picture is linked from the AAA Insect Pest Control site. Thanks again for your visit and comments.

I found your site while searching to learn about this. I discovered a nest on ledge above front door of my house with a large picture window, and made a decision to leave it there to "learn" and to show my 3 yr old granddaughter the process. I have to crawl up a ladder inside to see into the nest - and did so 2 days ago - found 3 blue eggs. Mother is now sitting on nest almost constantly. How awesome! I originally was disgusted when I first saw the nest being built and went into the house to get a broom to remove it. Suddenly, I thought, why? Everyday now, I watch with wonder and awe. Your site has made this event so much more meaningful. Thank You so much! Joyce. g

Thank you for visiting and your comments. Depending on how long the eggs have been laid you could have the learning lesson for up to 25 to 27 more days. Incubation is about 12 to 14 days and fledging is another 15. So good luck with your Robin clutch classroom and good luck to them. Sounds like a place that will be safe from most predators.

Subject: Flying Squirrel sighting
Saw a flying squirrel in Inverness, Alabama for the first time the evening of 6/3/08. The dogs were barking and we went outside to check what they might be barking at. It was a flying squirrel hanging almost upside down eating suet from our feeder! It did not seem bothered by our presence, but continued to feed on the suet for several minutes while we stood only feet away. Unfortunately it left before we could get the camera to take a picture. Carol W

Thank you for your report from Inverness and congratulations on seeing your first little flyer. Where there is one there are sure to be more, so hopefully you will see them again. Thanks for visiting and adding another Alabama dot to our sighting map.

I was looking at your web page and I wanted to let you know that we have about six flying squirrels in a big walnut tree in our front yard. We have lived at our house for about 8 years and this is the first time we have ever seen them. It was amazing. These are our little friends that we found in our big walnut tree in our front yard Rachael L.

Thank you for your report from Springfield and congratulations on seeing them for the first time. They are indeed fascinating to watch and pretty much the friendliest of the wild animals I have encountered. Hope you can enjoy them for a long time. Thanks for visiting and the pictures. Also another dot will be added to our sighting map for flying squirrels.

Subject: Birds Nests
Greetings from Otis Orchards Washington!
I found your site while researching birds. For the last 3 years, I have had families of Robins nesting on an archway just feet from our front door – using the same nest each year! I also have some small bushes right beneath that archway, and to my delight I found a tiny nest in one of them. I took photos of the nest and parent bird, and searched online to try to find out what kind of bird it is. From viewing photos on your site, I think the tiny nest is that of a song sparrow. I have truly enjoyed your website, and I have attached photos of my nests for you to see. Thank you again! Trish N, Otis Orchards, Washington

Thank you for visiting and your report on your Robin nest and the song sparrow nest. I agree that is certainly what the little guy appears to be. Hope your sparrow nest has a better outcome than the two I have tried to follow. Thanks for the pictures. Thanks also for your comments.

Subject: Just wanted to share!
I live in Virginia Beach, VA and work at an elementary school as a teacher in Norfolk, VA. I have a classroom that is in a trailer outdoors. There is a covered boardwalk between the outdoor trailers with emergency lighting. After trying to build it's nest on my classroom door, a robin finally decided to build it's nest on top of the light. My first graders and I watched in awe through the entire life cycle of the robins. We used a mirror to look in the nest and watch the changes that were happening. I also took some photos of the birds as they changed. It was so exciting when the bird finally fledged on Tuesday.
Unfortunately, today, my students and I also got a glimpse of how cruel nature can be. We were outside at recess when a large black crow flew overhead. It was being attacked by four other birds, and it landed behind the trailers out of my vision. My heart sunk as soon as I saw it. I ran to where the crow was in an attempt to save the robin fledgling, but the crow hand already done his damage. The robin died in my hands. My students and I were heart-broken. I buried the robin next to our trailer and made a grave marker for it.
We are hoping that the other three are still out there. I haven't seen any since Tuesday, but I have seen a pair of robins out in the front of the school building. I am hoping that it is the mother and father still caring for a fledgling.
Anyway, I wanted to share my story with you, and thank you for your wonderful site. It is very informative and interesting. Thank you for sharing your wonderful videos! Carrie :)

Thank you for visiting and sharing your story. I had witnessed the destruction of nestlings and un-hatched eggs by a crow but did not realize they would also go after fledglings. The nature world is both glorious and horrendous but always a good teacher about life to the children. Best of luck to you , your students and to the remaining fledglings. Thanks again

Subject: Robin Question
I just read your entire 2006 Robin blog and found it very insightful. Thanks!
The reason I found it is because I have a small tree in my front yard that is slated to come out in a few days. But, yesterday I noticed a couple baby robins in a nest. I looked online to find photos so I can find out how old they are and estimate when they will leave the nest. Comparing them to your pictures and other pictures I've seen on the web, these little guys look like they will fly today or tomorrow. My question is, after they leave the nest, do they need to come back? Once they're gone can I take the tree down? Thanks for your help!-graham

Thanks for visiting and your comments. Normally when fledging occurs and the full term nestlings leave the nest, the nest function is over and they will not return. Rather they will begin the process of being taught how to find food on their own, under the supervision of the male parent. While I have seen in the fledging process a few hatchlings take a step or two out of the nest and then return to the safety of the familiar, once they actually flutter out and fly even a short distance, they will not return. So if the nest is empty and no chicks around, then I would say no problem with the tree removal. Good luck and thanks again for visiting.

In your commentary, you indicated that you were not watching the video or you would have interceded. How is that you have a full length picture of the snake from head to tail prior to its arrival at the nest?
We have been monitoring a robin nesting in our front doorway on a wreath. She it seems has picked a much safer spot than the robin you were able to monitor.

Thank you for visiting and good luck with your doorway robin nest. Timing is everything and while in 2004 the snake found the nest on the day of the hatching and the results are documented in that Eden Lost video, that same Holly has been home to at least two successful nesting ventures in 2005 and 2006 with the snake being no player at all. As for the shot of the snake prior to the nest invasion I reprint the following answer to that question first asked in 2006.

We have lived in this wooded location near a fairly large creek for the last 25 years and have seen many of these Black snakes on occasion in our yard. Over the years I have video taped them many times. The segment of the video showing the Black Snake in a tree prior to the nest attack, was in fact taped about 10 years prior by me and in our side yard. I included it in the video to give a sense of the size of these snakes, their tree climbing ability, and to prepare the viewer on what was about to happen. (Perhaps a bit of Poetic or in this case video license). I never even saw the actual marauding snake, until I reviewed the video which was taping the nest as per usual. Had I been monitoring the taping and had a chance to intervene, I would have done so without even thinking , that I should just let nature take it's course. But as Nature would have it, I was not available for such interference with the divine scheme. Most of the Black Snakes I have seen here have all been about that size, roughly 5 to 7 feet. Not sure of your location, but the Black Snake, sometimes identified as the Black Rat Snake is common throughout The Eastern United States and as far west as Minnesota and South into Texas.. The exact location of the 2004 nest that was devoured by the snake was in the Holly as shown on the 2004 page. A cardinal nest located in the same Holly also became a disaster, in 2005, but not because of a snake this time. See Robin's Nest Blog 2005. Because of the 2004 and 2005 nest disasters, I had begun to refer to that Shrubbery as the Holly of Ill Repute. Luckily this year the Robin Nest in the tree redeemed the curse as can be seen at 2006 Wildlife Diary.

Hi,
LOVE your stuff! We are homeschoolers who have just discovered a Robin's nest with 4 eggs in a tree just outside and below our window. I would love to learn how to film it and others. It seemed that you fed it to a tv to watch it even as it unfolded. I would appreciate any direction or leads. And thanks again for sharing! We are going to plant some more trees! S.J. Logan, UT

Thank you for visiting and your comments. The remote cameras I use are from X10 and you can find their website by just searching for X10 wireless cameras on any search engine such as Google or Yahoo or MSN . The cameras are relatively inexpensive and together with their Audio Video receiver you can plug into a TV or DVD recorder to watch and record the action . also suggest you visit my How I Do it page. Thanks again for visiting and good luck with your robin nest.

Subject: question about robins
We're in Oakland, ca....loved reading your robin diary while we watched a robin's nest outside the kitchen window....we saw everything from four eggs
to four hatchings to day twelve (of the first one)...then one afternoon when we weren't watching, everyone disappeared (mom, dad, all four chicks)...there were no signs of any untoward activity or struggles, just an empty nest....our question: was this a normal, natural departure?...I guess we had assumed they would leave with dad over a period of a few days, the oldest first. thanks again for the diary.

First , thank you very much for visiting and your comments. I would like to give you better news than I am about to give, but of course this by no means is written in stone. In response to your question on the normalcy of 12 day or less fledge, I researched all of my previous nest observations and found the following. 2003 took 15 days to fledge and even then were startled out of the nest by the falling tree limbs. The 2004 nest ended tragically long before fledging time so no data. Two Robin nest in 2005 with fledge times of 16 days and 15 days. Two nest in 2006 fledge time of 12 days (hooray) and 15 days and then in 2007 a normal fledge of 14 days. This year in the 2008 journal, one nest ends on the day of the hatching and another at first thought was a good fledge on the 11th day. This one was similar to what you describe in that something happened when the camera was not recording. I later decided that a hawk invaded the nest on that day. Given my experience, I would doubt that with the oldest being only 12 days and the others certainly no older than 12 days, then I speculate something happened unexpectedly. Now maybe they were attacked by a predator or maybe something spooked them all out of the nest and they scattered. If they did fledge and I hope they did, then they will be around nearby in the next few days and you will spot them being fed by the male parent , initially perched on a limb and later hopping along behind him on the ground . If you don't spot them then my guess is for a traumatic event of some kind. Thanks again for visiting and good luck with the final outcome.

loved the robin diary as we have a robin’s nest in our tree that we can see thru the window so I will read the diary to the grandchn. Are there any other diaries with words telling about the life of the cardinal , finch, etc, the nest style, and where they like to nest. We live by Lake Michigan in Indiana. Thank you for this site. It is fascinating. BG

Thank you for visiting and your comments. While I have attempted to monitor any nesting activity close enough to get a camera on, and have pages for every year since 2003, that one A Robin's Diary is the only Diary narrative from a Robin hatchlings point of view ,that I have attempted. The 2004 Robin's Nest story is perhaps more educational but does not have a happy ending. The Robin's Nest Blog 2005 follows two complete Robin nest and both ended quite happily. A Northern Cardinal nest story did not end as well. The Robin's Nest Blog 2006 follows a successful fledging nest as does the 2007 Wildlife Journal. The other story from 2006 did not end so well Song Sparrow Nest Blog 2006. Finally the 2008 Journal has followed two Robin nest which also did not have a happy ending. Thanks again for visiting and best of luck to your own Robin nest story.

Subject: Thank you
I just wanted to thank you for video taping the robins. I'm a stay at home Mom in the western suburbs of Chicago. Today, my 4 year old son and I watched a fledging robin and it's Mom in our bushes outside the picture window in our dining room.
It was great to find your site and get more of a handle on what we were watching. Talk about sweet, the little bird took a 2 hour nap.... so sweet.
Your narrative was so delightful to read.... thanks for sharing these videos. Sincerely, Kris G

Thank you for your comments and visiting our web pages. The Robin nesting and raising of their young cycle can be a great learning tool for all of us and especially our children , about the life we all share on this amazing planet. These birds are for the most part perfect examples of what parenting is all about. And the whole cycle is all done in a period of a month or so. In all likelihood the parent robin feeding a fledgling out of the nest is most likely the male. At least that is what I have read in several places. The Male usually is the after fledge feeder and teacher while the female may well start another nest. At any rate glad that your 4 year old son can see them so closely. Best of luck and thanks again for your visit.

Just saw my first flying squirrel this afternoon. He/she has taken residence in one of my bird boxes. That's how I came across your web site - I was looking for more info about him. Can you point me to where you obtain your video cameras? I am using a large wireless WEB camera (D-Link) right now for streaming video, but I am looking for something smaller with audio. Thanks Mark

Thanks for visiting and congratulations on spotting your first flying squirrel and adding another sighting dot to our flying squirrel location map. I think the best way to answer your question is to suggest that you visit my How I Do it page. I simply use the X10 remote cameras which capture both video and sound if you have also the X10 audio/ video receiver. Now these are not HD cameras by any means but for the purpose I have used them for, they are more than adequate. They also are fairly easy to set up and use. If you are interested just type in X10 video into a search engine and it should not be difficult to find. Thanks again for visiting.

Subject: Just wanted to say thank you!
I recently stumbled across your webpage and I have enjoyed your site so much! My family moved from downtown to the suburbs of Indianapolis this past winter. This has been my first Spring with trees and bushes and all the wonderful things that come with them. We have had two nests of baby robins so far. My kids have enjoyed watching the entire process and you have inspired me to document this second nest ("our babies" just hatched Friday). For Mother's Day, we are going out and buying some things to make a little bird paradise in our yard (bird bath, feeder, etc). I just wanted to share my excitement with you all, since it was your site that got me going! Thank you again! MB

Thank you for visiting and your very gratifying comments. A wonderful world of close up nature observances has opened up for you and your children, it seems, with your recent move. With the Mother's day nature acquisitions ,you plan, you will have much delight in store, observing and noting the vast variety of wildlife they will attract. Thank you very much for visiting and best of luck with all your projects.

Subject: FS spotted in my back yard
Thank you for your wonderful website. We were cutting a dead limb today from a big silver maple (I believe the tree has had carpenter ants in it.) The ladder was near a crotch in the tree and this creature ran out and around the tree trunk, where it appeared to "hug" the tree. My son, on the ladder, recognized it as a flying squirrel. Neither of us had ever seen one in our yard. I tried to photograph it, and have one poor shot, but it will be enough to identify it.
We have a huge( red) oak tree in the corner of our yard, and couple of water oaks, and many very tall pine trees on a half acre in suburbia.
Yesterday, I was surprised to see a peregrine falcon glide into my back yard right over the wooden fence. Now I am concerned it was hunting the flying squirrel we didn't know was there. I had never seen a peregrine falcon in my yard either! Such times!
We live in the Memphis, TN vicinity, in the 38002 zip code.
Two pictures attached. Best wishes, B. S. M.

Thank you for visiting and your report from the Memphis area. Thanks also for including the pictures and confirming your FS discovery . Sounds like a bonanza of wildlife discoveries for you and I hope the falcon did not get the little guy. Best of luck

I wanted to thank you for blogging the life of the Robins (and other birds) in your backyard. In the last 2 days I have found 2 partial robin's eggshells and was worried there was a problem with the birds that have taken up in the trees around my yard. My search for answers brought me to your page, where one of the video's clearly showed a parent robin neatly removing the eggshells after hatching. I was so relieved! Thanks again

And Thank you for visiting and your comments. Best of luck with your hatchlings .

Good Morning
I enjoyed your video of the incubation period for the robin. I was looking online for information regarding the robin's nesting time as I have a sweet little robin right outside my backdoor and I'm trying not to use it for that period. I realize that she won't be happy with me once the eggs hatch so that will be a trying time for both of us!
Thank you for your informative site. Elizabeth

Thank you for visiting and your comments. Sounds like you will not be using your back door for at least two weeks and up to four depending on how long those eggs have been laid. At any rate you should have a front row seat to a most wonderful nature story. Hope so anyway. Best of luck and thanks again.

Subject: house sparrows feeding juvenile robins (Reading, Berkshire, United Kingdom Hi there
Hi there --what a lovely web site you have
I found it by pure accident when investigating whether or not I was right in thinking that I saw grown up house sparrows feeding juvenile robins at my bird feeding station. The little robins were picking on seeds in the ground feeder, but stopped from time to time to beg the sparrows to feed them 'baby style'. And the sparrows happily complied! I wish I had a camera handy!
Anyway, thanks for the fantastic site and please keep up the good work.
Greetings from England, Barbara

Thank you for visiting and your much appreciated comments. I have seen similar cross species feeding especially under the bird feeders although not with young robins . I believe the American Robin differs in size and appearance from your English Robins. The American Robin is actually a member of the Thrush family and as such is related more to the Mockingbird and Blackbird than to the English Robin. Your Robin Redbreast are smaller and perhaps not very much different in size from the sparrows that were feeding them. If you snap a picture of your robins and send it to us , We would be happy to post it here .Thanks again for visiting.

I was so thrilled to finally see that you’ve located a robin’s nest. I was beginning to worry that we were going to miss a year! How interesting to see the robin just sit and watch while you adjust the camera so we can get a better view of the nest. Maybe this robin is a previous resident of your yard and is a “seasoned” actor for the camera! I’ll look forward to watching the robin’s family progress. By the way, just out of curiosity….what is an adult robin’s lifespan? I read something recently that it was just a year and a half or so and that seemed surprising

Thank you for your comments and your interest in our wildlife stories. It was indeed great to find the nest with the four eggs just two days ago. I am afraid a lot can happen in a very short time and unfortunately this year's Robin nest adventure will be a very short one. Once again the reality of nature with all of its glory and beauty can sometimes be mitigated by the stark cold facts of survival . Most articles report that the longest known life span of a robin is about 14 years. For most the lifespan is more like 2 years. The survival rate of any new hatchling is only 25 to 40 % and this years unfortunate experience is proof once again as to why that is so. Thanks again for visiting . The short Robin adventure can be seen on the April page of the

Our garden club continues to go well, only two meeting left until school is out. We are planning for each child to plant in a dish garden at our next meeting and during our last meeting we will be planting flowers outside around their school. Our friend has been watching a pair of nesting eagle the past few years. These are photos he took last night. I know you will enjoy seeing them. Additional photos are on his website Our garden club continues to go well, only two meeting left until school is out. We are planning for each child to plant in a dish garden at our next meeting and during our last meeting we will be planting flowers outside around their school. Our friend has been watching a pair of nesting eagle the past few years. These are photos he took last night. I know you will enjoy seeing them. Additional photos are on his website Eagles Nest 2008 - Updated April 20 2008

Thank you for keeping us in the loop on your garden club progress. Thanks again for using some of our pictures in your program. The Eagle nest pictures are outstanding and I have included the link above for our visitors to enjoy. I did not include the pictures you sent in your Email as I did not want to abuse his copyrights. I do recommend to our visitors however to check it to watch these young Eagles grow. Also I did not include your website address since you also have other categories represented there and I did not want to assume it was OK. I would be happy to however if you OK it. Thanks again for the good work you and your garden club members do for the children.

Thank you for your robin site! The information about the bird has been very helpful. Our robin returned this year to the same spot in a pine tree outside our kitchen window. My husband has Alzheimer's and so enjoys watching Mama bird. We have to whisper while we are near the sink so we will not frighten her!
Last year we had three babies but the second set of eggs and the nest was torn up by a robin (mama?).
We live north of Seattle, Washington and our daily temperature this year has been hovering in the high 40's. She just started sitting on the nest yesterday. Excitement! Thank you again!

Thank you for visiting and your comments. Sounds like you have another front row seat to the miracle once again and congratulations on having it underway. We have not yet discovered a nest anywhere on the premises but we continue to watch and wait. If somehow we fail to find one it will be the first time since 2003 that we have not had an opportunity to chronicle the daily events of the nesting birds. Best of luck to you and your Robin family

Hello again from one of your loyal website visitors. I think this is my 4th year of watching your website. I look forward each year to the robin nesting season and check in on a regular basis each spring. I wanted to let you know that I am enjoying your new format for your 2008 Journal…love the pictures and all the updates on the backyard activities. I know that you’ve had an extra long winter this year so I’m sure you also are looking forward to the better weather. I’ll cross my fingers that a robin or cardinal pair will choose a site real soon. Take care and thank you again for your dedication to your website for our enjoyment! Dianne S. from San Clemente, CA

Thank you so much for your continued interest in our web pages and also for your personal and much appreciated note regarding Peggy's health status. It is somewhat puzzling to me that while there are plenty of candidates in the Robin, Cardinal and also the many other avian representatives frequenting the grounds , I have yet to date not discovered a nest in the making. In the previous years, I had already started nest observations by this time in April. At any rate I am still waiting for the next opportunity to perhaps chronicle another nature adventure. Last years Robin nest story was bittersweet especially in May when Peggy's illness resulted in a weeks nightmarish stay in the hospital. While at the time the outcome was very much in doubt, Devine Providence smiled favorably on us and to date no relapses have occurred. Now Spring is at last here, to stay for a while I think, and I will continue to update the 2008 Journal and hope for only pleasant surprises. Thanks again

I thought a chipmunk was nesting in by Bluebird box, but upon further inspection it was a flying squirrel with 2 babies. I live in Sparta, NJ and have lived in northern New Jersey all my life. This is the first time I have seen flying squirrels. I did not realize they were so tiny. Hopefully they will get use to my husband & I being in the yard and stick around... Diane D.

Congratulations on your Flying Squirrel discovery and especially on the baby find. You are the second visitor reporting the Flyers in Sparta. Refer to the June 26, 2007 entry on this page. Anthony reported seeing one near the Lake Mohawk golf course. Perhaps your flyers in your Bluebird box are in that general area. Would not have to be though as Flying Squirrels are very much more abundant than most folks realize. Thanks very much for your report and visiting our web pages.

Hi,
I have a curious question regarding a Robin. For the past 2 weeks a Robin has been pecking at our windows.
We first saw it sitting on the rear view mirror of my Jeep. We watched as it pecked at the window on the drivers side. It would peck and fall to the ground, get up and peck again. I had to clean the window of peck marks which covered the entire window.
Later it began pecking at the back window of the house.
One day it pecked at windows all around the house continually for about an hour and a half. In the morning when my daughter or I use the office, it comes to the window and pecks again. This is becoming a concern and also starting to scratch the windows. Have you ever heard of this happening? Do you have any ideas or suggestions that might be of help? We are not sure who to ask. Thank You

Thank you for visiting. This is a common trait for many birds, especially in the mating season. The birds are attacking their own reflection in an attempt to protect their territory. Sounds like your Robin is fast becoming a nuisance. Some web sites offer some suggestions on how to remedy this problem Links below.

Subject: Flying Squirrel Sighting in East Texas
We live in a densely wooded area of East Texas (west of Tyler). Today we discovered a mother flying squirrel and her babies nesting in one of our bluebird boxes. I was delighted to find your website so that we can learn more about these little fascinating critters.
Judy & Milton K Lindale, TX

Thank you for sharing your bluebird box discovery. If it is your first experience with and sighting of the Flyers, then congratulations are in order. Especially with a chance to observe the little ones too. Another Texas dot will be added to our sighting map.

Dear How and Peg,
I really just love your nature videos. I wish I had time to do this. Where does one get a "critter cam?' I am absolutely obsessed with birds so I really enjoy
your bird videos, exc. the one with the snake. I couldn't watch that one. Keep up the videos! Maybe one day when I have some time on my hands I could do something like this. God Bless! Sue T

Thank you for visiting and your much appreciated comments regarding our nature videos. Something is always going on in nature and with luck right outside you door. In answer to your critter cam question, I use the relatively inexpensive X10 cameras for remote nest shots. They are versatile with color, sound and are weather proof. They also transmit the signals for the picture and sound to a receiver inside connected to any recording device or TV. Additionally I simply use digital video and digital cameras which I try to keep always handy for when some unexpected opportunity presents itself. I have a page which describes pretty much how I put the videos together which may be of interest to you. Thanks again for Visiting.

HI I live in Rochester NH and I saw a flying squirrel for the first time about a month ago. it kinda freaked me out because I have sugar gliders and I thought that someone elses escaped it looked just like them this one was grey I think it was a southern flying squirrel since then i have seen red ones. northerns? thanks Jim m.

Congratulations on seeing your first wild Flyer and thank you for sharing your find with our visitors. I would guess that most of the Flyers in your area would be the Northern, but glad to here the Southern is also resident in NH. I will add another New Hampshire dot to our sighting map. Thanks again.

A couple of weeks ago, my son came running into the house yelling that our cat was chasing a chipmunk and it went up the tree. I told him that there were no chipmunks around here and that it must have been a mouse. He said it was too big to be a mouse. I told him that it must have been a rat. I assumed he was a little confused about it going up the tree, but we all went out and shook the tree. We didn't find anything.
This morning, I took the dog out to potty and under my patio was a flying squirrel. So, we do not have a mouse, a rat, or a chipmunk! We have a flying squirrel. Maybe, it comes under the patio to eat the cat food. Anyway, I'm glad to know she is around! Kim R. New Iberia, LA

Thanks for visiting and your report from New Iberia. Must be a good location for Flying Squirrels . A previous report of a similar nature, from New Iberia is also included on this page. The date of the entry was January 23, 2007. Hope your visitor stays around and out of danger. Thanks again.

Subject: flying squirrel in Collingwood NJ
I saw a flying squirrel fly across the street from the top of a fire station to a tree across the street in Collingswood NJ. Is this common to see in such an area and in such a heavily populated area?

Thank you for your report from Collingwood and congratulations on your discovery. It is actually much more common to see flyers in metropolitan areas, that most folks would imagine. If there are trees in some numbers in an area pretty much any where west of the Mississippi River, you can find flying squirrels as evidenced by the reports from hundreds of visitors to our pages reporting their sightings. Most remain undetected because they are nocturnal and usually stick very close to the trees making them for the most part unperceived by the masses. Check out the Flying Squirrel Sighting Report Location Index page. Go to the New Jersey section to see the locations of other New Jersey reports from your neighbors in the state. Thanks again for visiting.

Hi, I have been watching a pair of flying squirrels in the oak tree right outside my back door for about a month. It is a very large water oak and it looks over my backyard. I always see them when I let the dogs in and out that door at night. There are at least two in the tree. I was wondering if there is anything I can put out to feed them? The drought was pretty bad here last year and there isn't a whole lot around for them to eat. I think they are fantastic little guys and really hope they stick around. -Rebecca T.

Thank you for your report from Gainesville. Another Georgia dot will be added to our sighting map. I can certainly verify that they have been very fond of Sunflower hearts. We have fed them hearts for 15 years and they have always returned. Give it a try with perhaps a small platform feeder on the trunk of the Oak about 5 ft or so off the ground. Hope it works for you and they stay around for you.

Hi, I'm Martin from Logansport, Indiana. Actually I'm located between Logansport and Lake Ciccott, anyway we were cutting down a large maple tree in our back yard when we noticed a family of five Flying Squirrels come out of a hollowed section of the tree.
Two of the Squirrels glided to a black walnut tree and the other three took refuge in the smaller branches, we called the local DNR and all they said was "Their Protected" .. Gee like we didn't know that.
What can we do to keep these Squirrels here, is there a squirrel house we can build ?? any help would be welcome.

Thank you for visiting and sharing your Flying Squirrel discovery. My advice to try to keep them around is to perhaps put up a feeder tray on one of the trees in your backyard and try putting sunflower hearts or some other type of feed. Perhaps a squirrel house might work to keep them around. Many of our visitors have reported finding them camped out in bird houses and there are some web sites that discuss how to build a flyer house.

The below site has plans and much information on how to attract them. Best of Luck and thanks again for visiting.

I have been a fan of your site for the past couple of years. I just thought this may interest you (if you haven’t seen it already).
Here is a link to a sight that tracks hummingbird migration. You can check it to know when to start putting out your feeders, and also report your first hummingbird sightings. . http://www.hummingbirds.net/map.html
I am looking forward to your website this spring and summer. Maybe this year you will have a successful Cardinal nest. That would be very exciting!

Thank you for visiting and sharing the Hummer page link . Thank you also for your continuing interest in our wildlife pages and in what has been an annual nest following journal. If I could find a Cardinal nest to follow or some other unique and heretofore chronicled bird type , I surely would be tempted to have a go at it. I never know if and or when an opportunity will present itself. This year I have started a 2008 journal with a slightly different format. Hopefully this will be a page for each month and if a nest following attempt is made it will be chronicled on the appropriate month.

Subject: Southern Flying Squirrel in Magnolia Texas
Date seen March 8th 2008 about 6pm, rather early for these little critters. Glided about 30 feet from my ole oak tree to the tree in picture (Elm).
Magnolia Texas is about 40 miles North by North West of Houston Texas. In my 43 years I have never seen one in nature until yesterday.

Thanks for visiting and sharing your first and close encounter with a wild Flying Squirrel. Seems like sightings in Texas are on the increase lately and you are the second visitor who has spotted them in Magnolia.

Just went to clean out a bluebird house and got scared when it flew out at me, I have decided it can keep the house as long as it wants !!
bj

Thanks for your report from Yantis. Sounds like your discovery was an exciting one for sure. Another Texas dot will be added to our sighting map. Thanks again for visiting.

Subject: southern flying squirrel
On February 18, 2008 observed a southern flying squirrel, Saw something white go around the tree as I was feeding the cats late. On February 20, 2008 we saw two of the them. I am located in Texarkana, Arkansas.

Thank you for your report from Texarkana and adding another Arkansas dot to our Flying Squirrel sighting map.

Late at night on February 18, 2008 I caught a flying squirrel that got into our home through our attic. The cat was trying to catch it, however it was able to loose the cat. It took a while to find a way to catch our friend. After several trips from the 1st floor to 2nd and vice verse. It jumping from the top of the curtains and flying over my head and disappearing. I found it in our bath room and was able to coax it into the trash can with a broom then cover it with a folder. We took it outside and released it on the porch. It took it a minute to scamper off into the darkness. We so enjoyed our late night visitor. Afterwards I realized I forgot to take any pictures of the beautiful creature. If it returns I will forward a picture

Sounds like quite a late night critter adventure. Great news that you were able to successfully catch and release it. Now you are aware that they are in your area, perhaps you may get an opportunity to get your picture on the outside . Thanks for visiting and sharing your story . Another Mississippi dot will be added to our Flying Squirrel sighting map.

Subject: Flying Squirrel Sighting in Tullahoma TN
Just saw a pair of small Southern Flying Squirrels tonight. 17 Feb 2008 7pm to 9pm. They are taking up residence in an old bird house just outside our living room window. Hope to see more of them. PJ B

Thank you for your visit and report from Tullahoma. Sounds like you could have many opportunities to observe these fascinating little critters. Hope so anyway. Another Tennessee dot will be added to our sighting map.

Subject: Flying squirrel South Bend IN
I just happened on your website after seeing our first flying squirrel tonight around 7:30 pm. We have bird feeders outside our kitchen window. We thought we had a bird fly into the window and I went out to check if it was hurt. What I found was this tiny squirrel on the brick of our house. My wife and I took a closer look when it "flew" to the bird feeder and realized what it was.
John T

Thank you for visiting and your flying squirrel sighting report from South Bend. Congratulations also on seeing your first. For most it is an exciting discovery, and well just neat. It is a surprisingly exclusive club, since most folks never get that opportunity as these critters are elusive nocturnal creatures. From the number of Flying Squirrel reported sighting by our web visitors, however, it is apparent they are much more plentiful and accessible than most realize. Thanks again for your comments and adding another Northern Indiana location to our sighting map.

In August of 2007 my cat brought in a new dinner. He took it right to his dish and set it down. I noticed that it was still alive and immediately took it and put it out side again. I told my husband I thought it was a flying squirrel and he was surprised. We noticed it again a couple of time and then winter came. Last night Feb. 2, 2008 my dog wanted to go out. He seemed to be smelling all around and I noticed to flying squirrel in the corner of the porch. We took several pictures and the squirrel didn't seem to mind. Later when we looked out there were 2 of them eating on the ground under out bird feeder. We will now make sure that there is food in the feeder at night so they can eat. We live in the UP of Michigan. Billie P

Thank you for your flying squirrel report from upper Michigan. It certainly seems as if Flying squirrel reports are on the increase and especially during the Winter months. Another Michigan dot will be added to our sighting map. Thanks for visiting.

What an absolutely beautiful tale. A Real tear jerker. We live in North Henderson, Mercer County, Illinois. Some years ago my husband had an encounter with these amazing creatures, but didn't have camcorder at the time. Most say we don't have them here, We know, different.:) What a pleasant experience most don't get to encounter. Diane M.

Thank you for visiting, your much appreciated comments and your flying squirrel report from Illinois. They are indeed a treat to behold and most folks never get the opportunity .

Bloomington Minnesota, I have lived her for about two years and see the flying squirrel for the first time last winter. To night 1 February 2008, I came home from work and could hear something running on the tree. I was putting out food for the animals, so they would have something in the morning.

Thanks for visiting and your report from Bloomington. Congratulations on seeing them for the first time and adding another Minnesota dot to our sighting map.

Subject: Possible Flying Squirrel Spotting...
Not sure if this is legit or not... but...I may have a possible flying squirrel sighting from here in Griffith, Indiana here in the last month. I did get
some photographs of this creature.
I hope that whomever this is will take a look at the photos and leave some feedback to either definitely identify the creature as a flying squirrel or identify
it as something else.

The critter is definitely a Flying Squirrel. Thanks for visiting and adding another Indiana dot to our Flying squirrel sighting map.

Sioux City, IA
I love your photos! Thank you for posting for all to see. A fellow master gardener and kindergarten teacher and myself are leading a garden club for kindergarden, first, and second grade children. We plan to include a section about the most common birds of our area. We are thinking of putting together a small booklet with photos these birds that they could use as a chart to record when and where they were able to see them. With your permission, I would like to make a handout which would include a reference to your web site for more information and use a few of your photos.

Thank you for visiting , your comments, and your interest in using some of our photos. A response granting permission to use our material for only non commercial and educational endeavors has been sent via separate Email. As stated in the response, we appreciate credits and references to our web pages included in your publication. Sounds like a fun project and wishing you and the children much success and rewards in the always fascinating

FLYING SQUIRREL PAGE	A Robin's Diary	Critter Cam	Wildlife Video Clips

Robin's Nest Blog 2005	HowpPeg Nature Page	2004 Robin's Nest	Backyard Wildlife Directory

Flying Squirrel Broad Band	Nature Streaming Videos	NATURE - Mini MOVIES	More Streaming Videos

Howpeg Hummingbird page	2006 Wildlife Diary	Robin's Nest Blog 2006	Song Sparrow Nest Blog 2006
	2007 Wildlife Journal	2008 Journal