Normal breeding behavior for them, gee isn't it great what you can find on the net...easier than calling my daughter who works of Cape May Bird Observatory in southern New Jersey.

Sue

Here is a link that might be useful: Nuthatch Behavior

Thank you Sue!
That describes it just the way I saw it.
Very interesting!

Very interesting! I learned something new today!

I have lots of Nuthatches at my house - but I have never really watched them too closely.

Here is a picture from this winter:

I love the way those cute little birds walk vertically.

We have always had some Nuthatches around, but this is the first year we have ever seen where they were nesting. The birdhouse is right outside our big living room window, so we have a ring-side seat. It should be fun to see the little ones.

I've never noticed the sweeping behavior, but I'm going to ask some of my birding friends. We have several of both the white-breasted and the tinier red-breasted nuthatches. They are so precious; one little red-breasted often lands on the bucket I use to refill their black-oil sunflower feeders.

Sadly, if you have English house sparrows around, they will probably destroy the nuthatch eggs or kill the chicks. They may even kill the nesting adults. English House Sparrows, along with the even more vile European Starlings, are non-native birds that were introduced into this country in the late 1800s. They've taken over much of the nesting territory of our native cavity nesters and have caused the near extinction of native bluebirds, purple martins, and declines in other cavity nesters like nuthatches and chickadees. If you can trap the EHSs, your nuthatches, and any nearby bluebirds/martins will have a better chance of survival.

It took me nearly three years to rid my area of base housing of them, and you should have seen all the native birds, not to mention the thriving colony of native Purple Martins, that filled the void.

Caroline, I once got a warning from Spike, when I openly suggested getting rid of all the English House Sparrows you could, in order to have a safe nesting season for your Bluebirds, and Purple Martins (or any other native, cavity nesting song bird). But, Spike is gone now, so it is okay to say it now. I have some work to do at the cabin this summer I'm thinking. I once had them cleared out, but then DH died, and I have more yard work then I had back then. So, my House Sparrow trap has cooled off.
I do like those little Chipping Sparrows though. The evil ones, have a black bib on their chest. That's the male. I'm sure you know but just some FYI for others.
Leslie

Leslie, I find nest box traps work better in the early spring and summer; I run the bait traps durring the wnter, when I notice EHSs coming to the feeders. Of course, I safely release any native bird that wanders in. For some glorious reason I had only one male EHS this winter. I feed only black-oil sunflower seed; all the native birds love it and it's the least favorite of the EHSs. That's keeps them out of the area too. I bought my neighbor a 50# bag so she'd quit putting out the white and red millet that attracts nothing but vermin. She's delighted with all the song birds she's attracting now.

There are probably dozens of native sparrows that are wonderful creatures, to be protected in every way.

Like so many concerned blue bird and purple martin "landlaords", the sparrows that I trap (and the only ones that it is legal to trap) are the non-native, human-introduced, English house sparrow. Like so many introduced species, they are destroying our environment.

I love the Chipping Sparrows, Song Sparrows, White-Crowned Sparrows, White-Throated Sparrows, Harris Sparrows, Lincoln Sparrows, Fox Sparrows, etc. and try to bring new birders' attention to them and all their charms and benefits. I also try to point out the fact we call EHSs "sparrows" is a misnomer. They are actually a weaver with bill designed to kill other birds, which I have seen him do far too many times.

There's nothing like checking your martin colony and finding 14 hatchlings with their heads cracked open. After that, is was very easy for me to practice smart pest control.

Have your Purple Martins returned yet? I'm still waiting, but I'm having to form a new colony now, so it will take more patience.

I don't know if they've come back at the cabin yet, as I've not gotten up there to see. I plan to go up on Wednesday, temps to be in the high 70's, and raise the 2 units I have up there. One will be easy, as it has a crank on it. The other one is a bugger. I'd like to change it out to one like the other one I have there. $$ Hopefully soon. I have the same set up here, with the crank. I haven'seen or heard any PM yet, so I haven't raised it. I think I'll raise it anyway, and leave the entrance holes shut until I see or hear them.
The in box traps is what I use too, but only when I am there to monitor it. Sad to say, I forgot one time, that I'd set the trap, and left for the week. I was one upset/sad person when I came back the next week.
That's the only type seed I use too. Also the white safflower seed for the cardinals. Stupid starling found my blackoil sunflower seed feeder, so I've left it empty for about a week now.
Leslie