[wisb] Re: "Bluebird" Trail thus far
- From: "M Murphy" <memurphy@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <wisbirdn@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 19 Jun 2009 11:37:14 -0400
I have a 10 bluebird box trail, down from fifteen due to development.
This year I had a few early failures, but they seem to be rebounding
nicely with several bluebirds building and laying eggs. I also have
fledged chickadees, nuthatches, house wrens, and titmice.
I noticed over the years that house wrens have become an increasing
problem with many birds trying to keep the house wrens away from their
boxes. They are tenacious birds that have taken over our chickadee
boxes.
For three days, I watched the bluebirds trying to fight off an English
house sparrow pair. These bluebirds would not give up in the battle and
continually dive bombed the house sparrows when the house sparrows came
around their box or in the nearby trees.
The house sparrows took the dive bombing in stride and attempted to
enter the bluebird box several times only to be attacked by the
bluebirds. Finally the female house sparrow watched the female bluebird
enter her box with 4 eggs. That is when the house sparrow came down,
landed outside the hole and began pecking away.
I immediately chased the english house sparrow from the box and the
female bluebird was safe. The male bluebird was probably foraging as it
came back about 15 minutes later. The next day, I eliminated the house
sparrows while the bluebirds were able to take care of their eggs.
Bluebird eggs to fledging 18.
Total bluebird eggs laid 23.
Another nest box lost to house sparrows which were eliminated.
One tree swallow nest with six eggs-still in progress.
Second nesting for bluebirds occuring now..lets hope for better results
Martin Murphy
W. Crawford County
Mississippi River Bluffs
Quoting Jeffrey Bahls <jbahls@xxxxxxxxxxxx>:
> Tom and other nest box monitors
> I lost about 6 broods of tree swallows about 10-14 days ago due to cold
> weather. I now have several of those re-nesting. I had 2 broods of bluebirds
> fledge with 2 more nests started.( good for my area) several of my wood duck
> boxes are on a second nesting. The first being a hooded merganser followed a
> week later with a wood duck. Several boxes that I had given up on now have
> birds in them. After nearly 10 years I replaced box 13 (PVC box) with a
> wooden box and a week later I had tree swallows in it. I was beginning to
> think it was the number :)
> Also 5 new kestrels making a racket in the yard.
> Monitoring nest boxes is like Christmas... you never know what your going to
> get....
>
> Enjoying the "new" birds here at the "Buck & Duck Ranch"
> Jeff Bahls
> Lowell Wi
> Dodge county
> On Fri, Jun 19, 2009 at 8:58 AM, Tom Schaefer
> <schaefertrees@xxxxxxxxxxxx>wrote:
>
> > I could have easily changed the subject line to Tree swallow trail!
> >
> > Results are as follows (keeping in mind MANY boxes are still pending with
> > either young or eggs) :
> >
> > 57 boxes total
> >
> > Tree swallow: 271 eggs laid
> > 162 young (many eggs lost this year)
> > 29 fledged (fledging is currently going on so next
> > check will bolster this number)
> >
> > Eastern bluebird: 62 eggs
> > 42 young (4 lost to house sparrow)
> > 36 fledged (4 nests pending- ONLY)
> >
> > BC chickadee: 7 eggs, all lost
> >
> > House wren: 1 egg, laid in tree swallow nest!
> >
> >
> > Easily my worst numbers in 14 years. Bluebirds arrived and investigated
> > boxes in numbers and "on time" but for some reason flew on for greener
> > pastures. At this time last year my bluebirds fledged was over 100. I
> > would be surprised to have a year total approaching 50; a pretty poor ratio
> > for 57 boxes!
> >
> > Tom Schaefer
> > Hartford
> > Washington County
> >
> >
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--
Martin Murphy
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