Nest Check Data Sheet Page 2
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21 & 2 – Nest site LocatioN & site DescriptioN
Nest Site Name — Create a unique name or number for each
Habitat — From the lists below, enter habitat type within 1 arm
nest site.
length (approximately 1 m) of nest and dominant habitat type
within 1 football field (approximately 100 meters) of nest.
Address — Enter the closest street address and city (Nearest
Human modified
Agricultural area
address) or enter exact coordinates of nest in decimal degree
Woodland/Forest
Natural grassland and prairie
format (Latitude and Longitude)
Shrubland and chapparal
Desert
Nest Substrate — Which of the following substrates is the nest
Fresh water
Salt water
in, on, or under:
Beach
Tundra
Nest box/birdhouse
Building or dwelling
Other
Post/Pole or platform
Cavity in dead tree
Habitat Modified Description — If you chose “Human
Cavity in live tree
Live tree branch
Modified” for either habitat type, write in one of the
Dead tree branch
Bush or shrub
following:
Cliff or rock
Ground
Yard, residential area
Public park/green space
Floating vegetation
Other
Roadside
Golf course
Cavity Orientation — For cavity nests only, specify the
Landfill/gravel pit/strip mine
Cemetery
orientation that the entrance hole faces.
Industrial/commercial area
Airport
N - North S - South
NE - Northeast
SW - Southwest
Power/Utility Corridor
Campground
E - East
W - West
SE - Southeast NW - Northwest
Christmas tree farm
Orchard/vineyard
Cavity Opening Width — For cavity nests only, enter the width
Recently clear cut area
Recently burned area
Campus/school yard/church/hospital
of entrance hole; specify inches (in.) or centimeters (cm.)
Nest Height Above Ground — Specify feet (ft.) or meters (m.)
Preditor Guard — If present, specify stovepipe baffle, Noel
guard, metal cone, hole extender, other.
3 – breeDiNg Data
Date & Time — Record month, day, and time (to nearest
Young Status — Describe the appearance of young birds.
hour) of each nest visit.
NO = No young present at nest
HY = At least 1 chick hatching or just emerged from egg
Eggs* — Record the number of host eggs counted.
NY = Nestlings naked and pink, eyes typically closed
Live Young* — Enter the number of live young of host species in
PY = Wing feathers emerging, some skin still visible, eyes open
the nest.
FY = Body feathers completely cover skin, tail feathers stubby
Dead Young* — Enter the number of dead young of host
VY = Vocal young, heard only
species in the nest.
Management Activity — Describe any human
Nest Status — Describe the status of the nest at each visit.
management activities at the nest site for each visit.
NO = Cavity, nest box, or platform with no nest present, or
NO = No management activities conducted
use this code for species that do not build nests
AM = Avian competitor nest/eggs/young removed (House
IN = Nesting materials present, but nest incomplete
Sparrow & European Starling only)
CN = Nest structurally complete, with an obvious central cup
BM = Banded adults or young at nest (only to be done by a
DN = Damaged nest
permitted individual)
FN = Flattened nest with fecal matter
EM = Unhatched host eggs removed
AN = New avian nest found in same site (new attempt)
NM = Nest box management (cleaning, plugging,
NN = Non-avian nest found (describe in “NOTES”)
unplugging, or replacing boxes; removing old nesting
RN = Nest disappeared for unknown reason
material, etc.)
PM = pest management (wasps, ants, mice, etc.)
Adult Activity — Describe activity of adults seen or heard near
the nest for each visit.
**Cowbird Activity — Record evidence of cowbird
NO = No adults seen or heard
parasitism. Include number of cowbird eggs, and live and
BA = Building nest or carrying nest material
dead cowbird young. For information on how to identify
RA = Remained on the nest during check
cowbirds, please visit
AA = Left nest and flew from vicinity during check
general-bird-nest-info/brown-headed-cowbirds
VA = Remained in vicinity of the nest during check
Observer Initials — Record initials of nest monitor.
FA = Feeding young at nest, or seen carrying food
Notes below — Check box if comments are noted and record
DA = Dead adult(s) at or near nest site
them in the space provided at the bottom of the page.
* Enter “U” if eggs or young are present but exact number is unknown. Leave blank if you cannot determine if eggs or young are present.
** Enter Brown-headed Cowbird nesting data under the Cowbird Activity columns.
4 – NestiNg attempt summary (host species only)
IMPORTANT DATES – In the table provided record:
HOST SPECIES TOTALS – In the table provided record:
First egg date — Date the first egg was laid
Visits to nest — Total number of times this nest attempt was monitored
Hatch date – Date that the first egg hatched
Clutch size – Maximum clutch size (number of eggs)
Fledge date – Date that the first young fledged
Unhatched eggs – Total number of unhatched eggs
from the nest
Live Young – Total number of live young in the nest
Fledglings – Total number of young that fledged (left the nest)
NEST FATE: Record the outcome of the nesting attempt
Please enter data online at
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