The Tale of Two Scissored-Tails and a Strange Ball-Shaped Thing in the Pecan Tree

I had noticed many more Scissored-tailed Flycatchers in the neighborhood than we had been seeing in recent years. They’re so beautiful and easy to recognize with their very long tail feathers.

Yesterday, when I walked across the yard to the mailbox, I noticed two on the highline wires next to the road. I got my mail, was walking back across the yard and noticed one seemed to be following me. Then it disappeared, I thought, until I saw it’s shadow in the grass. I looked up and it was there, working those scissors and making a loud song – something like a trill and twitter combined – then it flew up into a hackberry tree.

This morning, when I went out early with the dog, I noticed a strange thing hanging from the pecan tree. I went closer to investigate and the two Scissored-tailed Flycatchers were flying again, singing loudly and opening and closing their scissored-tails. I ignored them at first, intent upon trying to figure out what was hanging from the tree, but the closer I got to the tree, the harder it was to ignore them. Then it dawned on me: they don’t want me near that tree; they must have a nest. Is it this strange thing hanging from a branch?

I went to the house to get the camera and went back to the pecan tree. I photographed what I took to be the male scissored-tail and then I decided to back off a bit. I sat down on a chair on the back porch and stopped moving. Everyone quieted down after that and I soon saw one of them sitting on a nest in the crook of a branch. She’s been there all day and seems okay with my occasional visits. I haven’t seen her partner since this morning.

I still have no idea who built the other thing that’s hanging from the tree. It’s made out of thin strands of bailing twine into a round ball and woven over a tree branch.

I’ll be keeping my eye on the goings-on in the pecan tree!