João-de-barro (Red ovenbird) (Furnarius rufus) in Curitiba, Brasil | Project Noah

Photo by Sergio Monteiro

Published on Project Noah

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Field Notes

Notes:

The front wall of the nest is ready. Now, as expected, there is only a narrow passage allowing access to the interior. I waited for almost an hour for the birds, but they didn't show up, and finally the drizzle defeated me. All I spoted was a female saffron finch that stoped by to check out the nest. In this sad, clouded, cold day (60F), I think little John and his wife prefered to stay inside, cleaning and customizing the home.... (The pictures are in the reverse order of time, #6 is the oldest, #1 is the newest.) PS - You should see my human neighbours look, when they saw me on top of a ladder, in the drizzle, taking pictures of a light post...

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Comments (45)

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Great series of ovenbird nest building.

Sergio Monteiro

Ava, I just wanted to make sure that I wasn't upset, ok? And about animal stars, did you the red weevil I spoted? A real Liberace of bugs!

asergio, I wasn't complaining, I just wanted you to know how the change happened. I love your sentiment that the real stars are the animals.

Sergio Monteiro

Ava, when I started to photograph, a bit over one year ago, I choose to photograph nature, because I love the great diversity and beauty of it - specially in the place I live in. PN was a blessing, because now I have a site to show my pics to people that understand and enjoy that passion as I do. For me, it was never a question of competing, but of sharing and learning. Of course, to have a spot favorited is good for the ego, but I allways try to remember that the real stars are the animals and plants in the photo. So, I won't complain about this change, important is that a lot of people enjoyed my spot, and learned a few things about ovenbirds. Thank you Ava and all my friends in PN, you have been very kind to me, and I really apreciate it. See ya.

Well, actually I like more the new Mission logo, but I agree, if you are the mission creator you should have the right of choosing the logo you prefer.

Hi asergio, I just want you to know that I didn't change the mission picture; someone at PN must have. I still love this best, but the case moth case is wonderful too.

Sergio Monteiro

Ops... Sorry Ava, it is done now.

Your beautiful ovenbirds are the picture for the mission, but you haven't added to the mission yet! http://www.projectnoah.org/missions/8082378

asergio I've started a mission about animal architecture and have used your picture (I hope that's OK). I'm hoping they make it a worldwide mission. Would you like to join it? http://www.projectnoah.org/missions/8082378

Sergio Monteiro

Ava, I've been following the birds, but nothing new is happening, at least in the outside. Since the nest is completed, they just go in and out of it. I think they are working to enlarge the family. I am waiting to see the male with an insect in his beak - a sure signal of offsprings. Did you see my pictures of the guaxe? I think you'll like their nest too.

I'm looking forward to your next picture in this wonderful series.

Sergio Monteiro

My town, Curitiba, is known by having the greatest green area per inhabitant rate among the major brazilian cities. That, along with the enforcement of preservation measures, allows it to have a huge population of birds of several species. Safron finchs are common here, and it is nice to see them when the sun is shining, they are like flying nuggets.

Lovely finch!

Here's a beautiful spotting of a Saffron Finch that goes nicely with asergio's spotting: http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/7815859

Sergio Monteiro

Thank you, Craig. I am really happy to know that more people like this series as much as I do.

It just gets better and better! I love the prospective tenant Saffron Finch checking out a potential desirable residence. Thanks for enduring the drizzle and funny looks asergio, this is a classic!

Sergio Monteiro

Yes, Malcolm, you are right. The birds end up quite dirty when building the nest, and then spend long time cleaning themselves with their beaks. Females put 3 to 4 eggs every 4 months. Incubation takes 14 to 18 days, and the litter are nurtured for 23 to 26 days, when they are ready to fly.

Malcolm Wilton-Jones-- the dark "bib" must be mud.

Sergio Monteiro

Wellcome, Ava. And yes, they must be inside home. I am, for sure... weather is nasty outside... :-D

Malcolm Wilton-Jones

Is the bird on the Oct 10 picture with the black bib an ovenbird with a dirty throat or something else? An interesting series of pics, do they produce a large clutch of young?

Saffron Finches move in after the ovenbirds move out, so this yellow finch was looking at real estate for late next Spring! And the ovenbirds do a great deal of smoothing of the walls so they very well may be inside on a wet day, using their beaks to smooth the walls down. Thanks again asergio for this fantastic and on-going string of pictures.

Sergio Monteiro

They started in late july, but the construction went very slowly until late september. Maybe it was because we had a very wet winter, I don't know. Then, by early october, they speed up the building, and now it is almost complete.

Looks like a major construction project - how long has it taken them to complete their nest asergio?

Sergio Monteiro

Sorry, Emma, this is not the ovenbird. Please, read the notes.

It is known as a red oven bird.looks yellow!

Sergio Monteiro

Hi folks, here we go again... I uploaded a new picture of my feathered friends. Opening night seems to be close!

Sergio Monteiro

Ok, Emma, I will.

Sergio Monteiro

It is a beautiful nest, indeed. Thank you and wellcome Ava and Craig.

I think the Vogelkop Bowerbird bird might be up there with them effort wise: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPbWJPsBPdA Loving this series :) Thanks asergio!

Sergio Monteiro

I know that there are birds that make very elaborate nests, but I doubt any of them put so much time and effort to build them.

Here's a paragraph on the nests from Avian Architecture: According to ancient South American Myth, it was the Rufous Ovenbird (Furnarius rufus) that taught people to build houses. Found from Brazil to Argentina in open country, this elegant, brown bird builds spectacular nests. These structures are known in Spanish as hornos -- "ovens" -- because that is exactly what they resemble. The birds pair for life and build the nest together using mud pellets with added materials. The nest is long lasting but not usually used again by the original pair. It may seem extraordinary that the builders do not make more use of their creation. The unused nest is often taken over by the Saffron Finch (Sicalis flaveola), a tanager, which is a cavity nester. It also says that these nests weigh 10 pounds, built by a 2oz bird! It takes 2,000 mud pellets to make the nest, and the inside is smoothly polished by the bird using it's beak to smooth it out. Keep those pictures coming!!

Sergio Monteiro

Ava, I am a big fan of these birds, their effort is moving. Soon the nest will be complete, and they will start a family. I am looking forward to see the developments!

This is such a massive work for those birds. I like that you've caught them in the act of daubing mud on the nest, and that you've got a picture of them together.

Sergio Monteiro

Ok folks, I have news about Little Johnnie and his wife. Check out.

Sergio Monteiro

Thank you all, I am glad you liked it. Ovenbirds are cool, and there are several stories and tales about them. One tells that when the male discovers that he is beeing betrayed, he closes the door of the nest, and leaves the female locked inside to starve to death.

Muito legal!

Joni Evangelista

Now that's what you called spotting!! great shot!

Good job!

Wonderful series asergio!

Excelente sequência .... Muito bom mesmo !

asergio -- I'm reading a book called Avian Architecture about how different birds make their nests. It's really interesting! It's written by Goodfellow.

Sergio Monteiro

Thank you all for the praises. Ava, I am very curious about these birds, I want to know how this story ends. Stay tuned, more to come! :-D

This is such a great spotting! I'm glad you'll be adding to it too.

Aw2esome spotting!! Thanks so much for sharing!!

Smashing!

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