Just a quick update on the status of the eastern bluebirds at Land Between the
Lakes National Recreation Area (LBLNRA) and Lake Barkley State Resort Park
(LBSRP):
This week, Judy and I monitored the bluebird nest boxes on these public lands
in western KY/TN, and as we suspected, the number of nesting pairs has been
reduced considerably. At this point in the nesting season, 50.5% of the 170
nest boxes at LBLNRA are occupied (containing nests with eggs or nestlings),
and 66.6% of the 60 boxes at LBSRP are occupied. Comparatively, in late April,
2013, 91.7% of the boxes were occupied at the LBLNRA, and 93.3% of the state
park boxes had eggs or nestlings in them. If there is any good news, perhaps
it is the fact that the empty nest boxes are providing nesting opportunities
for other species (Carolina chickadees, tufted titmice, and prothonotary
warblers).
I'll provide another update later in the nesting season.
Respectfully submitted,
Bob PeakCadiz, KY (Trigg County)
