![\"black-billed](\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/black-billed-magpie-nest-8026-ron-dudley.jpg\")
<\/p>\nDue to changing conditions I’m finally getting a better look at this interesting and complex nest.<\/p>\n
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I’ve been photographing Black-billed Magpies in the vicinity of this nest for about seven years but for most of that time I haven’t been able to see it well because when it’s active it’s been mostly buried in the greenery of the greasewood bush\u00a0the nest is built in. But that greasewood is dying\u00a0so each year I can see more of the nest. A few days ago I took some time to study it since it’s inactive now and most of the magpies in the area seem to have been chased off by the recent fire and smoke on Antelope Island.<\/p>\n
Some interesting facts about Black-billed Magpie nests:<\/p>\n
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Here’s another look at the nest from a different angle.<\/p>\n
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And a close-up to show details of construction. Over the years I’ve photographed many of these twigs as they’re being brought to the nest during construction (they refurbish the nest annually).<\/p>\n
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I’ve been curious about the primary entrance tunnel to the nest for years but until four days ago I never approached closely enough to see it. I looked inside and the mud cup and nest lining\u00a0are now gone, presumably washed away by rains.<\/p>\n
This image is misleading – it looks like\u00a0there’s a\u00a0straight, level shot to the nest interior but in order to even see the entrance I had to squat down and then look up. Even then it was hard to see.<\/p>\n
I have my doubts that this nest will be used again. So much of the large greasewood is now dead that the nest is quite exposed and much more vulnerable.\u00a0If that’s the case I’ll miss the activity here, partly because some of my favorite magpie images were taken at this location.<\/p>\n
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This is one of them. I took this shot 6 1\/2 years ago as the\u00a0magpie was taking off with a twig for the same nest I’ve\u00a0featured in this post\u00a0(I’ll bet\u00a0the twig is still in the nest somewhere).\u00a0Most regular readers have seen this image before but I couldn’t resist another look.<\/p>\n Ron<\/p>\n Note: As always, I never approached the nest closely during nesting season\u00a0to avoid disturbing the birds and I always photographed them from inside my pickup. <\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Due to changing conditions I’m finally getting a better look at this interesting and complex nest.<\/p>\n![\"black-billed](\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/black-billed-magpie-6445b-ron-dudley.jpg\")
1\/2000, f\/8, ISO 400, Canon 7D,<\/em> Canon EF 500mm f\/4L IS USM, not baited, set up or called in<\/strong><\/p>\n