A Most Persistent Guest: Summer 2025

Western Flycatcher (Female)

We were faced with a dilemma. We had a tiny Western Flycatcher who insisted on building her nest on top of our garage door opener. Twice we removed the beginnings of her nest and placed it outside the garage in a plant. We then tried to keep the door closed as much as possible. The door was open for about 25 minutes back in June. During that brief opening, she brought the removed nest back. As soon as we came home she flew into our garage and began firming it up despite me standing nearby. Each time we removed the nest it was with hope that she will build elsewhere, but this Western Flycatcher refuses to live in the surrounding trees.

So, we gave up and on June 22 I removed a glass panel from our garage door to allow her free access. We left the light on for her to find her way when it was dawn or dusk and we left the empty nest in place.

On July 5, the nest had three beautiful eggs. She was a very good mother always on the nest. The female Western Flycatcher does all the nest building and incubating of the eggs.

The eggs hatched somewhere around July 13. The other photos were taken July 17 and July 22. Once hatched, it will be 15-18 days before the chicks fledge.

As the hatchlings grew, we saw more of the male Western Flycatcher. Both parents participate in feeding the chicks. They brought the chicks so many insects: moths, praying mantis, tomato hornworms, dragonflies, and others I couldn't identify. Each adult would pause on the sill of the opening before flying in to the nest.

With all the food coming their way, the chicks were growing fast.

Besides the garage door going up and down and cars coming and going, there was another hazard.

But they did grow and yesterday, July 26, they fledged. First one brave chick walked out onto the bar that covers the chain that opens the door. He/she flew and soon the others also tested their flying skills. It took several hours, false starts, and patient chirps and whistles of encouragement from their mother but they finally flew away.

Every morning, I enjoyed their song as they went about raising their chicks. Today, it was quiet. They are gone just in time. Tomorrow we are going to Greenland.