WOOLWINE HOUSE BLUEBIRD TRAIL

To all my subscribers and those just checking in, I am presently seeking suggestions to improve this site.  MY GOALS HERE ARE as follows:

1.  Share my own bluebird monitor experiences and what I have learned on the Woolwine House Bluebird Trail, my own nestbox trail for bluebirds and other native cavity-nesting birds.

2.  To help others and speak in lay terms for those new to bluebirding.

3.  To cover anything that can happen on a trail…what is new and different…the problems and how I solved it.

4.  To have a website feel with blog capability.  I try to update this site once a week during the nesting season and less during the winter covering topics for our birds during this period of time.  Quality of material and graphics is priority.

5.  I am able to share it on networking sites, such as Facebook, and to encourage dialog and questions from all sources, including this one!  I ENCOURAGE comments and questions here–please do so.

PLEASE will you post here your suggestions for improvement?  One I have received is to create more videos and post them.  I am researching that now the easiest way to do so with the equipment I currently have.  One person suggested I post a video how I apply the Diatomaceous Earth to all of nests to keep blowfly infestation at bay and the “how-to” on that so the birds are safe during this process.  This will be my first video posting in the near future.  I may need a helper on this.

So, tell me your thoughts, suggestions, etc., here, please.  Your privacy will remain–your Email address will not appear public here.  Be sure to at least list your first name.  I thank you for your assistance in making this site better so that it can help others in bluebirding and proper nestbox monitoring and training the website way.  It is my hope you are enjoying it!  Thank you, all.

My next post is presently in the works–a rather large one on the plight of the Brown-headed Nuthatch (BHNU) in my locale.   Check back soon!

Christine

I wanted to share this neat picture I took on June 13, 2011 of these 5 baby chickadees that had a sibling that wasn’t developing as fast as the rest.  Good news!   They ALL (five of them) fledged between 3 PM Saturday and Noon on Sunday, June 19th.  It looks like the late bloomer just needed more time to catch up growing.  I never did find out the problem with this one baby.  I did inspect the nest, which had pine needles on the bottom originally built by the bluebirds and the chickadee materials on top after they won the territorial battle over this nestbox.  This is the box that bluebirds laid 3 eggs–then the eggs vanished!  The chickadees won the battle over using this nestbox and built a “dummy” nest in the other box nearby.   Could the chickadee parents have pierced the bluebird eggs so that they could have the nestbox?   I’m thinking yes.   I found no eggshells on the ground or in the used nest.  What I did find was chickadee nesting material and their laid eggs!  Perhaps the female chickadee either removed broken bluebird eggs or ate the eggshells for the calcium.  I’m still investigating this one.   Now that the box is cleaned out, I’m hoping the bluebirds will try again at this location.  Usually the chickadees have one brood.  The bluebirds two to three broods per season.  Last year, I had three broods in my boxes for bluebirds–first time I saw three broods on my bluebird trail.

As you can see, one is not as developed as the others. He (or she) caught up later, though, and they all fledged. Maybe he wasn't getting enough to eat. Blowfly larvae was minimal in this nest. You can see the original white pine needles put there by bluebirds, and then the chickadee added in her own nesting materials.

Stay tuned for two additional posts on this site about these two fantastic native cavity-nesting birds–the Tree Swallow and the Brown-headed Nuthatch.  I have received some great photos of these birds from monitors in my area, either using the nestboxes to raise a family, or the competition with the Eastern Bluebird to use a nestbox and how we can enjoy ALL our native birds by helping them thrive and survive using us as their “landlords”.  It’s not just the bluebird that needs our help.

This video has recently been sent to me from Floyd County.  These guys came out one after the other–bing, bang, boom!  Perhaps Bluebird Mom and Dad delayed coaxing them out due to the number of hard storms rolling through this spring.  This is fun to watch!   You’ll see how intent and focused the parents are to get those that flew down to the ground back up after first flight (swooping down and flushing them back up again), hopefully to a tree and out of harm’s way.  These youngsters are particularly vulnerable to predators after fledging.  It is best they stay hidden behind leaves in a tree until they are old enough to fend for themselves and have strengthened their wings.  This is one of the main reasons the babies are still grayish and spotted–for camouflage.  Their more colorful plumage will come later.  In the meantime, the parents feed them and teach them to hunt insects for about another month.  The male will pick up on the feeding and Mom Bluebird will start another nest, sometimes within the same week.  Now that’s what I call determination–do you agree?   The video is dated May 20, 2011, on YouTube.  Thanks for sharing this with me on my website, Sue!  Enjoy.

Some elements to this House Sparrow nest.

Good photo of the HOSP eggs. This is the nest removed from my Two-Hole Test Box on May 16, 2011. Note the variable spotting-type markings on the eggs.

It's a sure thing none of us need to be told what a cigarette butt looks like, but I'm always amazed at how much the House Sparrow likes them in their nests. This is a good example of a splayed cigarrette butt on the left bottom of this picture. Since the HOSP likes to hang out where humans are, often we see our trash in their nests!

I learned early in bluebirding how to ID nests of different cavity-nesting species.  Bluebirds are easy to ID.  They build tidy, clean nests (at least those I’ve seen on my trail, which is the Eastern Bluebird) of either soft grasses or pine needles, depending on habitat close to their chosen nesting site, and create a perfect cup for the egg laying.   Our other native birds have a variety of materials and nesting behaviors I have learned to look for to ID the species.  After having some experience, I know the species without seeing eggs.  For instance, our Carolina Chickadee (CACH) is easy to ID by using plenty of mosses first and then layering on top with more materials, including plenty of animal and plant hairs and fibers.   The Tufted Titmouse (TUTI) will also use mosses as well as the Carolina Wren which intertwines mud and dead leaves in the mosses.   If I’m not sure on a nest what the species is, I wait for the eggs to arrive to ID for sure, as the eggs are distinct in markings and color.

My two-hole test box (House Sparrows vs. Eastern Bluebirds for territory rights over a nestbox) has had the House Sparrow (HOSP) very persistent in building nest and laying eggs.  Between the dates of March 24 and May 24, I have removed six (6) HOSP nests.  Out of those six nests removed, three of them had laid eggs–so far a total of 12 eggs removed so far.  My last two box checks dated May 16 had 5 eggs in the nest.  My next box check after that was May 24 (due to storms, I could not monitor and check the boxes sooner than this, as I recommend monitoring about twice a week when it’s safe for the birds), There were 3 laid eggs in that nest.  When I remove these nests and eggs of this invasive species, I conserve them for educational purposes (such as displays and for photographs).  Remember, the House Sparrow is not protected by law so it is legal for me to remove those nests.

We should never allow this species to reproduce in our nestboxes designed for our native birds.  To help new bluebirders to know what to look for to ID the House Sparrow nest and eggs, I’ve included a few photos below of the two nests removed on May 16 and May 24.   Leave questions here for discussion on this Two-Hole Test nestbox (HOSP vs. EABL) or about House Sparrows in general.  This is the ONLY sparrow species that are causing havoc for our native birds.  This is the ONLY site on my trail I have the House Sparrow issue.   For this three-year test, I am not to trap them.  Last year, a bluebird family was successfully raised after I evicted the HOSP.  I am hoping to see this again this year for our native bluebirds.   If not for this test, I’d either move this nestbox away from the House Sparrow locale, or I would trap them and take them to a rehabber for our native raptors.

Two HOSP nests. Eggs laid. Nest dome not completed. Photo looking into nests from side view.Top side of the two nests; eggs barely visible.

I have some interesting new developments along my trail–first ever on the Woolwine House  Bluebird Trail that I’ve seen since I started my trail in Spring 2008:

1. Territorial Nestbox Wars between the Carolina Chickadee and the Eastern Bluebird — for a nestbox–back and forth–by our house–changing the nest material and reincorporating their materials and style of building over the other. The bluebird lays an egg; then the egg disappears two days later and chickadee nesting materials appears on top of the nest. The bluebird comes back and takes the chickadee material dropped in the nest, such as hairs and plant fibers the chickadee uses, and pushes all that into the nestcup sides again and lays two more eggs. The chickadee comes back with more nesting materials with two more bluebird eggs
found missing. Back and forth this went on for weeks. Today, I found 5 chickadee eggs in the nest. I believe the bluebird will leave the chickadee nest alone now. I’ve not known bluebirds to peck other birds’ eggs or kill other birds. The other box not far from this one appears to be a chickadee “dummy” nest of just moss materials. I have no idea what happened to the bluebird. I don’t hear them anymore singing and warbling away; perhaps they moved to natural woodsy habitat on the property such as an available woodpecker hole. I found this interesting, as this has happened at another location on my trail. It appears that the chickadee is winning the territorial wars over a nestbox. It has been my understanding that the bluebird is more assertive in winning those wars. I’m quite surprised the bluebird didn’t use the other box where the chickadee put some mosses.

2. Carpenter Bees — I stood one day and watched one spinning a hole outside a nestbox upside down and into the floor. I deterred him from continuing this by waving a cotton ball with some Hot Shot (a pyrethrin based insect killer) sprayed on it
around the spinning carpenter bee and then I backed away. He flew around and up and in some circles and acted a little confused. As soon as I felt I could, I took that same cotton ball and quickly wiped just the hole with it (again, this is OUTSIDE the box UNDERNEATH the floor and above the stovepipe baffle, not inside the nestbox), and it stopped him from continuing a hole on the nestbox. I sat in my car for a few minutes to see if he returned, and he did not. During my nest box check a few days later, still he did not return.

3. Bluebird Nest Building Materials Variances – usually it’s either soft grasses, neatly woven together, or pine needles. I have a nest with grasses and pine needles mixed together. This is the first I’ve seen this. It could possibly be more than one female bluebird attempted to build a nest, or the same female just used two sets of materials to build her nest. This is a first on my trail I’ve seen both materials together in one nest. It’s either one or the other. It will depend on the habitat and what’s available nearby the nestbox. Perhaps she found the pine needles later. I have found, if available, the pine needles seems to be Choice 1.

4. Finding Large Dead Uneaten Insects on Top of a Nest that Fledged Bluebirds — I’m not sure about this as I’ve never seen this before. Either a parent brought in the insect, but the babies fledged before eating the insect or the babies fledged and the parents were not aware of it until after they came with the food that the babies were gone already and then dropped the njured/dead insect in the nest and left the box to find their fledglings. I have found a full dead grasshopper and a large brown beetle on top of a nest. I can’t imagine why they would not take the insect with them, however, as those fledglings, if they made it to the trees as we can hope they did, would be hungry. Perhaps an expert bluebirder will read this and post a reply here. Please do so!

5.  Later Fledging Dates – in past several years, fledging dates averaged Day 15-17.  This year, it’s averaging 18-20 days.  Their development seem to be a little slower this year.  I also think all the prevailing and persistent rainy weather could delay fledging dates.  I’m thinking the parents are not encouraging their babies to make their maiden flight until the weather is more conducive to
the youngsters having safe travels the first time.  One other thought I have is a record of blowfly larvae infestation I’m finding on my trail—more than ever before.

6.  Bluebirds Taking Their Time To Lay Eggs — Perhaps one female wasn’t fertile and the male picked another femle or this couple just had a long romantic courting period.   This box is located at another residence along my trail.  They were observed moving around from location to location trying to decide where to build a nest.  This is the same location that chickadees took one of my nestboxes at that property.  The owner installed another bluebird nestbox on the back side of the property.  It took them a long time, but finally bluebird eggs were found, much later in the season for a first brood — not 4 eggs, not 5 eggs, but 6 eggs!   This same female is also extremely assertive.  She’s been observed constantly chasing a squirrel up the tree trunk over and over again.

7.  Strange Chickadee Nest (2 Cups) and Unhatched Eggs — This Carolina Chickadee built her nest but made TWO small cups in the one moss nest in one nestbox.  She laid 3 eggs in one cup and 2 eggs in the other cup–in the SAME nest in the nestbox.   Only 1 baby hatched and is developing quite slowly.   The only thing I can think of is either the female is slightly off on her judgement or perhaps (theory here) two female chickadees had been fighting over that use of that nestbox, both laying eggs in the same box–one female made a cup and laid and the competing female made a cup a laid a few eggs.  Also, perhaps because of two cups, the female chickadee could not incubate them properly; thus unhatched, unincubated eggs.  I’m hoping on my next trail checks, which is tomorrow and weather permitting….the baby chickadee will have developed and I’m seeing the color markings and feathers growing in.

"Are you our Mama and Papa?" I think these guys are ready for some big grubs! (Photo taken April 19, 2011 on the WHBBT)

It has been quite a while since my last post. I’ve been busy!

I do want to report in I’ve fledged my first brood of the season — bluebirds on Sunday, May 1st! It took them 19 days to fledge from the day of hatching. After I cleaned out the box, I inspected the nest. (I always do this.) Yes, I found blowfly larvae inside this nest–a heavy infestation. I did treat the nest prior to the 4 babies hatching with a few puffs of the organic Diatomaceous Earth, which helped them immensely survive! Since I started treating the nests with this organic DE (starting last year), I’ve never lost a brood to blowfly larvae causing the chicks to become so anemic, they have no strength to even take in food from their parents.  Just a few light puffs are all I need to do to each nest.  None of it gets close to the babies or their parents because I insert those puffs on the base of the nest by the wood floor and in the center of the nest. I am very careful how I do this, including how quickly I do so as not to worry Mr. and Mrs. Blue too much as they sit in the trees watching me. I first learned of DE from the NABS conference two years ago (thanks, Harry!) during a presentation called, The Fledging Experience. It was  excellent!  I was relieved then to learn there was a way to deal with the blowfly infestation I was experiencing on my trail.

I’m still going to make hardware cloth “screens” to put in the base of the boxes about one-half inch from the floors and not apply DE to see what happens. I’ve found in my area, blowflies have been a regular pest I need to deal with on the trail for every brood. Safety and Success for the nesting native birds — those are my two main goals as I manage my own bluebird trail. My third goal is to be a mentor in educating others and sharing experiences with other bluebirders…those who are new and those that are veterans. It helps to talk to others of their experiences so we can continue to learn from others.

I’ve been busy “managing” of my two computers. I’ve backed up all my programs and files and did a clean install of a new Operating System on both of them, so my time has been occupied working with software,  files, and the new op systems updates….and getting out on the trail, and training and sharing with others in my counties! I should be posting more
within the next two weeks. I have lots of material to share–more photos–more stories. You’ll be hearing from me again very soon.  In the meanwhile, do enjoy the birds. They bring us so much fascination, don’t they?  It’s never a dull moment learning about the bird world.  Are there any times you wish you had wings, too?  Wouldn’t it be fun to trade places with a bird for a day?

Here is a photo of my first laid eggs on the trail.  First egg laid was March 27th, 2011.   After I took this photo, I looked closely at the long “hair” on top of the nest.  So, take a good look yourself.  What does it look like to you in the photo (below)?  I realized right away I needed to return to double-check that is NOT monofilament line accidentally picked up with some of the grasses from our lady nest builder.   However, I could not return the next day due to the cold rainy weather.  It was a bit excruciating for me just wondering what it was.  That monofilament could tangle up her legs and cause injury; and if left there for the hatchlings, it could strangle them to death.  This concerned me greatly.  Upon my return and a closer look two days later, there were several long HUMAN hairs on the nest; frankly, they looked like mine!   I’ve had bluebirds in past use some of my chocolate Tibetan Terrier’s long hairs when I had groomed her.  I would save the hairs pulled out on the grooming brush for the birds.  I found some of her chocolate long hair and some undercoat of hers, a lighter mocha color, mixed in the nesting material in one of my nests in 2008.  Mostly, the bluebirds in my area either use all grasses or all pine needles.   To theorize my own hair was picked up (I had to ask myself:  would she see it and pick up the hairs purposely?) or were the hairs just entwined already in the grasses she used?  We may never know.  It may not be my hair, but it’s very likely it is.  I studied it closely.  It looks like my hair!

Additional note on laid eggs this Spring: Two neighboring counties to mine have had first eggs laid March 21 and March 22.   That is really early. The warmer weather this Spring may have started the bluebirds in nest building, mating, and laying.  However, some cold, rainy weather moved in as you’d expect in early Spring, and I’ve seen them delay or interrupt nest building and egg laying.   I will be back on my trail early this coming week to see what’s happening in my other boxes.  I have nests in most boxes–a few are Carolina Chickadee nests, which are mostly mosses.  The past two years, I had no chickadees in my boxes.   I expect to find completed nests and some eggs.

First 3 eggs on the Woolwine House Bluebird Trail. See the large light-colored, almost clear-looking long hair on top of the eggs? I'm happy to report it is not monofilament line--it is human hair, possibly mine.

“The birds richly repay you for the trouble you take in attracting them and looking out for their interests.”

- Joseph H. Dodson, Your Bird Friends and How to Win Them, 1928

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Here we go!  The WHBBT is ready for action!   Stovepipe guards are reinforced.  I have finished prep for all trail boxes to deter wasps, removed winterizing/roosting material, have cleaned the boxes, trimmed tall grasses and thorns near the base of the poles and — guess what — saw and heard the bluebird males out and about and telling me they know I am there.  While all this is going on, I am hearing them singing loudly and watching me work from the tree branches and nearby fence lines.  It gave me such a good feeling knowing they were around—it gave me such comfort.  It’s as if they were thanking me for helping them get their nesting site ready just for them!

On my next trail visit, which will be during the last week in March, I’ll be taking new photographs of my tweaked trail—a few boxes have been moved to new locations.  This will be updated on The Nestboxes tabbed page shortly.  While there, I’ll open the boxes looking for new nesting material.  I always note this on my new trail notes–my first notes of the season.  I look at the date, if the nest is completed, and what material the nesters used—soft grasses or pine needles.  It will depend on habitat near their nestbox of choice!  On my trail, if pine needles are nearby, those are their choice #1 if they can get them!

Of course, I check for species nesting.  It will either be the Eastern Bluebird, the Carolina Chickadee, the House Wren, or in one location (the “two-hole” test box near town), possibly a House Sparrow (HOSP).  That nest will be removed!  Today, I removed another HOSP nest from that box.  I saw the HOSP fly out of the box—the female.  I also noted bluebirds in the trees above, watching me, and singing their hearts out.  I can only hope the bluebird will try to win over that box on my next check.   It probably will be a battle for it this week.  I will know next week on my next stop at that location.  During 2009 and 2010, back-to-back years, the first egg laid on the WHBBT was the exact same date—April 8.  I wonder what will happen this year?  Seeing the first egg laid every year is my most exciting moment of all on my bluebird trail.  To me, it represents renewal and hope.   I feel so light and airy, as if I could fly myself.   Corny–yes–inspiring–oh YES!

I am working on my next presentation to the Patrick County 4-H Club teens at the PCHS.  This is a collaborative-effort with Primland Resort’s Golf Superintendent.   Primland, with my guidance, has commenced a small trail for this season on their grounds somewhat off the golf course using Virginia Bluebird Society’s nestbox plans and TWO predator guards—the stovepipe ground guard which hangs below the nestbox and the Noel hardware cloth guard over the entry hole.  I have seen them—they look terrific!  The trail will be monitored weekly and statistics forwarded to me at the end of the nesting season for coordination for the VBS state records (and for NABS).  This is such good news to get more monitors for bluebirds!  I’m looking forward to training Primland and the local 4-H teens–learning about proper protocol of monitoring bluebird nestboxes at Primland’s new trail sometime in the next month or two while there are baby birds growing inside the boxes.  Primland is working hard to create nature events and programs there for the 4-H teens.  There will be a live walk to the boxes as I show them “demonstration style” how fun it is to see our native cavity-nesting birds use the nestboxes to bring their young into the world through the nesting cycle.   I send out my thanks to Primland for their outstanding efforts for Eastern Bluebird conservation in their gorgeous habitat!  Good job!  Thank you for helping bluebirds!

For more information on this beautiful resort, here is their website:   http://primland.com/experience/land/

Happy Bluebirding, everyone!

While the female rests on the roof, the male is removing the fecal sac to help keep their young's nesting material clean. This couple seems to enjoy the Noel hardware cloth guard here over the entry hole. They use it as a "porch", rest inside while they guard their box. The Ron Kingston design stovepipe guard below the box is 7-8" wide, wobbles, and deters most ground predators from climbing to the babies and causing them harm. It is very effective on my trail from most Black Rat Snakes--indeed the expert climber of the snakes here! (Photo by Christine Boran on the WHBBT, 2010)

I want to thank photographer Dave Kinneer for letting me use one of my favorite pictures of a female Eastern Bluebird on the holly branch.  All of the header photos featured here are taken by Mr. Kinneer.   We can all wish the birds will easily find fruits this winter until the insects are back out in full force this coming spring!   Last winter was a harsh one.  Maybe this winter won’t be like the last.

Though my site quiets down a bit until next March, I am keeping busy networking in my two Counties for the bluebirds…educating, being available for questions, and seeing what I can do for outreach on the blues!  I am enjoying watching all the birds in my back yard enjoy the sunflower seeds I keep ready for them.    My plans this winter are to make a special bluebird suet which includes cut-up boiled raisins, dried cranberries, and other berries easily found at the store.  I will be freezing the suet blocks; as I pull one out, I will crumble it up in pieces for them to easily eat off a special feeder I plan to get specifically for bluebirds.   It has a cage around it in a platform-style open feeder to keep larger birds from getting all that yummy suet I’ll be making in that kitchen!  I am experimenting with different suet recipes.

Stay safe, warm, and happy travels if you are hitting the roads and airports during winter storms.

See you soon!

Christine