WOOLWINE HOUSE BLUEBIRD TRAIL » Blogroll

GORGEOUS ACTION PHOTOGRAPHY OF A BLUEBIRD.

Woolwine House Bluebird Trail — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 14:45:06 +0000

Kung Fu Bluebird? Beautiful action shot–many thanks to Dave Kinneer for capturing this exciting action from behind the lens. What confidence, grace, and pure beauty this female has. I would love to ride the back of a bluebird and carry the sky with along me. How about you?

“The bluebird carries the sky on its back.” - Henry David Thoreau

Is this not beautiful?

Filed under: Birds, Blogroll, Bluebirds, Nature, Photography, Random, Virginia Bluebirds

GENTLE REMOVAL OF AN UNHATCHED EGG.

Woolwine House Bluebird Trail — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 18:27:32 +0000

I successfully removed (v e r y CAREFULLY, may I add!) one of the two unhatched eggs in week-old bludbird nestlings’ nest on April 3, 2012. I use a clean plastic spoon to do so. This photo represents size of egg to the spoon and my hand. Through the Virginia Bluebird Society (VBS) and the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VA DGIF), I have my name on the Federal Fish and Wildlife Permit for VBS County Coordinators (Wildlife Salvage Permit) to collect eggs and nests for certain protected cavity-nesting birds for displays for educational purposes and presentations. Permits are required for all possession of migratory bird specimens. I can’t tell you enough how helpful this is during my talks about bluebirds to be able to display these. It is fascinating for people to see the eggs close up–their size and color and relation to the nest size. If you’d like to read more about removing unhatched eggs, may I suggest the Sialis site, an outstanding website loaded with helpful information about cavity-nesting birds (thank you, Bet!): http://www.sialis.org/eggsunhatched.htm

So delicate. There are various reasons why the eggs don't hatch. It is always best to leave the nest alone if you cannot remove unhatched eggs without disturbing the growing babies. Thanks to the Sialis site, I studied up before attempting this. I will use this egg for educational displays.

Here they are after I removed that egg. There is one more unhatched egg underneath these three. I'm not comfortable attempting to remove the non-visible unhatched egg. They are one week old--we have several days of colder, rainy weather going on; they are getting to an older age now that I might spook them; thus making it unsafe for the three. In other words, the risk is greater for these three at this point to try to remove the other unhatched egg than not removing it!

Filed under: Blogroll, Bluebird Trail, Bluebirding and Bluebirds, Bluebirds, Nature, Personal, Photography, Random, Virginia Bluebirds

“THE EARLY BIRDS!” – FIRST BLUEBIRD CHICKS OF 2012 – 7 DAYS OLD

Woolwine House Bluebird Trail — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 03:14:12 +0000

First egg was laid March 8. They hatched March 26th. Here they are — they are 7 days old today. Three of the five eggs hatched. We’ve had very windy days, and I’ve been waiting for calmer days to attempt to remove the unhatched eggs. Sometimes Mama Bluebird will try to remove them or bury them deeper in the nest. Since the eggs are still on top of the nest, it is better for the chicks to get the eggs out of there. Now that the chicks are older and not as fragile and have some soft feathers developing, tomorrow I will go back to the box and use a small plastic spoon to remove CAREFULLY (gently!) what unhatched eggs I can reach without disturbing the babies and creating nervousness with Ma and Pa Bluebird. I saw both of them in the trees above me today, so I know both parents are caring for these little guys. I have a Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries permit to salvage (collect) nests and eggs. I will use the unhatched eggs for educational displays.

Filed under: Birds, Blogroll, Bluebird Trail, Bluebirding and Bluebirds, Bluebirds, Nature, Personal, Photography, Random, Virginia Bluebirds

MEALWORM FEEDERS ANY TIME OF YEAR.

Woolwine House Bluebird Trail — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 16:18:50 +0000

I use three different mealworm feeders–not all at the same time and not at the same time of year–it will vary. The photo below is a metal “jailhouse” style feeder with a glass cup in the center. This is my favorite feeder because it keeps out larger birds that can dominate getting the goodies (jays, crows, etc.). It does take some training for the bluebirds to find this, but when live mealworms are in this cup and placed not far from their nestbox (not too close!), they usually find this because they perch in the pine trees above it. Carolina Wrens consistently feed out of this. My other feeders are an adjustable Droll Yankees domed feeder that I can move around on a shepherd’s hook, and the other is just an open glass cup on a stake. I like the domed feeder to train bluebirds to use it and then I can lower the dome to keep larger birds out later. It is also one I can put out in the open–rain will stay out and keep the mealworms dry. In the winter, sometimes I mix bluebird suet nuggets with soaked currants and freeze-dried mealworms to create a mixed “banquet”. Live mealworms work the best if you are willing to pay for them and keep them in your refrigerator (not as complicated or squeamish as some might think it is) or just learn to manage raising your own. That’s another topic another time. I have no interest in raising my own at this point. If you want to learn about growing your own mealworms, do check out the page on the Sialis site about doing so (Class 101–Raising Mealworms!):

http://www.sialis.org/raisingmealworms.htm

My next goal is to set up my camera on my existing tripod (needs some repairs and I need a bigger one to support another heavier camera and lens) and take photos of birds taking some good food at this jailhouse feeder! I have already staked out where to do that so the birds can’t see me.

Bottom line, to keep bluebirds near you all year, do the following:

1. Plant NATIVE ornamental (not invasive species) berry-producing trees and shrubs so the bluebirds have winter food sources

2. Put out a nestbox or two and monitor them so the birds can successfully use them season after season

3. Display and maintain a clean bird bath (water source) year-round

4. Offer mealworms to entice them and keep them close (good for taking photos of the adults and fledglings which they feed for another month)

Additional important note about feeding mealworms: I am a firm believer in letting the birds do most of the work in finding food, particularly for the nesting babies. It is important that the growing nestlings get a VARIETY of food. We don’t want the bluebird parents to be spoiled by having mealworms offered 24/7. I look at mealworms as supplemental feeding. A few in the morning and a few in the evening is about right in my opinion. I whistle a tune when I fill up the cup. That trains them fast you’re bringing them some treats. I also enjoy watching the Chipping Sparrows hang loose on the outskirts of the feeder watching for any mealworms that drop on the ground!

Suggestion on this feeder: It is rather lightweight. If you put freeze-dried mealworms in this, take it down in high winds as all the dried mealworms will fly out. This feeder will rock back and forth in winds. You also have the option to pole-mount this feeder which keeps it more stable. Since I have other stake-type feeders, I keep this as a hanging feeder. I like to move it around from tree to tree using a very large decorative S-style hook designed for tree branches. These are easily found at garden centers and hardware stores. If a raccoon knocks this down, more than likely, it cannot drag it off due to the size. Also the metal top keeps the glass cup of food dry and is somewhat difficult for a raccoon to pry it open. I hear crows quite a bit coming and going by our house, so I know they can't get inside this.

Filed under: Birds, Blogroll, Bluebird Trail, Bluebirding and Bluebirds, Bluebirds, Nature, Photography, Random, Virginia Bluebirds

DIFFERENT LOOKING BLUEBIRD EGG CLUTCHES – MARCH 2012

Woolwine House Bluebird Trail — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 02:28:41 +0000

It’s fun to see how the egg clutches look on my nestbox visits. Also, I watch to see how the female turns the eggs with her feet and how they change configuration for even incubation during those 14 days or so. Some eggs have white marks in them; others with spots of dried blood. When the eggs pass through the female’s oviduct, that’s when they are colored blue on the outer eggshell, through the pigmentation cells she has to allow this. Occasionally, white eggs will be laid in bluebird clutches. This means the pigmentation gene is missing during the egg-laying process. Here are some recent photos I’ve taken within the past two weeks of the clutches I’ve seen this year. You’ll see one photo (bottom right) required a mirror so I could see the set of eggs. This can be challenging to do it quickly and get the picture before the adults get too nervous that I’m at their nest. I try to make my nest visits as fast as possible and still get some good details! This nest was built quite high and she placed more grasses inside the pine needle nest. This is one of the reasons I enjoy other species using the boxes, not just bluebirds. It’s really entertaining, as well as educational, to see how the species differ in their nesting habits. I will be seeing the Carolina Chickadee and I’m hoping to see some Tree Swallows on my trail this year. They are marvelous birds. I wish I could spy on many different species nesting. The live cams on eagles, red-tailed hawks, and others are fascinating. The Cornell Lab of Ornithology has several cams going presently. The hummingbird live cams are truly my favorite of all.

Filed under: Birds, Blogroll, Bluebird Trail, Bluebirding and Bluebirds, Bluebirds, Nature, Photography, Random, Virginia Bluebirds

HERE THEY COME! FIRST HATCHING 2012 on the WHBBT.

Woolwine House Bluebird Trail — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 16:20:16 +0000

Photos below represents the first clutch–first egg laid March 8-EARLY LAYING–possibly first egg and first hatching for all of Virgina reported in to the Virginia Bluebird Society on monitored nestboxes during 2012; and also the hatching photo–hatched, Monday, March 26. The photos are true color (no flash). I do not use flash photography after the chicks are 6-7 days old. They open their eyes in full on the 8th day–I would not want someone photographing me closeup in my nest when my eyes just opened!

Hope you’re having an exciting spring so far — enjoy the photos!

If you can take photos of eggs and nesting material in bright light and not use flash, you can get true colors on the eggs! Sure looks like an Easter basket to me! I visit my boxes twice a week. Mother Bluebird turns the eggs with her feet, so each time I visit, the eggs are situated inside the nest differently each time I look at the nest. If eggs are missing, it's time to troubleshoot what happened.

Here they come! 3 out of 5 eggs hatched so far. Hatching date is March 26, 2012 in Patrick County, Virginia.

Filed under: Birds, Blogroll, Bluebird Trail, Bluebirding and Bluebirds, Bluebirds, Nature, Photography, Random, Virginia Bluebirds

WOW! EARLY BLUEBIRD EGG on MARCH 8, 2012!

Woolwine House Bluebird Trail — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 16:40:52 +0000

How do I say with jubilation: WELCOME BACK, SPRING? How about a very early egg laid by a bluebird?

What a way to start the season for the WHBBT! The nestbox that had the earliest laid egg last year on my own bluebird trail has again been the first nestbox for this nesting season–EARLY EGG LAID–On March 8, 2012, I found my first laid bluebird egg! THIS IS VERY EARLY, even for Southwest Virginia and North Carolina. Could this be the earliest in the state since VBS has kept records? We are presently finding out. The Virginia Bluebird Society is canvassing the County Coordinators for ALL cavity-nesting species earliest egg laid for this year. T he warmer weather tells the birds to get movin’ and groovin’, and this couple sure did. I expect hatching on or around March 26th. My first bluebird egg laid last year was March 27th. What a difference. Are we on a global warming trend, or is it the same couple just likes to get a jump start on claiming this box at this particular location? This is all part of why we keep records. More to come soon on those findings! So, with Spring now here (officially it’s March 21st), we can welcome everyone back to this site for updates. I have some changes to make on my nestboxes section—a couple of moves and additions. More boxes have been built in the local workshop (many thanks, Carl)—the complete nestbox setups include the boxes, the hardware, the conduit, and two predator guards. I have a new program on all this–all funds and costs for these goes back to the needy in our community. More to come on what that program is about. Also, many thanks to Wills Ridge Supply, Inc., in Floyd, VA, for helping me with the wood and supplies for the Woolwine House Bluebird Trail! The staff there is fantastic! It makes shopping for everything I need pleasant!

I am still hoping to get some nesting Tree Swallows. If so, it will be the first on the WHBBT. The Tree Swallow is a lovely native cavity-nesting bird. Did you know they catch all their insects ON THE FLY (in the air)? Bluebirds will perch and watch for ground insects most of the time, and then forage to the ground for them, which is why they are part of the THRUSH family of birds. More interesting information on Tree Swallows here: http://www.treeswallowprojects.com/basics.html

I should mention I have two new photos of the first clutch 2012 nesting season. See them below–I took one with flash and one without flash. Note the differences in egg colors. The photo with flash makes the eggs have more of a turquoise color. The photo without flash makes the eggs look bluer. You’ll also notice a difference in the grass color. The photo without the flash has the proper color of the grasses, dried ones, picked up by the female during the nest building.

Thanks for visiting again. I’m still in disbelief this passion for bluebirding (for me) started March 2006. Here I am still loving it–even more than ever! All the best to you this year — happy nestbox monitoring and happy bluebirding! Feel free to share your nestbox stories with me. Just write to me here on this blog and request to have your story posted here. I’m happy to share it.

Stay tuned for more updates and stories along the trail. See you soon!

Christine

Here is the picture of the nest–first clutch for 2012–WITHOUT FLASH:

Same clutch of eggs. Note the bluer color in the eggs and less tan in the grass color. This is the true color of nest and eggs to the naked eye.

Here is the picture of the same nest–same first clutch for 2012– WITH FLASH:

Look how the flash in the camera makes these eggs look lighter in a turquoise-type color and the grasses tannish-brown.

Filed under: Birds, Blogroll, Bluebird Trail, Bluebirding and Bluebirds, Bluebirds, Nature, Photography, Virginia Bluebirds

PRIMLAND RESORT’S NEW BLUEBIRD TRAIL – PATRICK COUNTY, VA

Woolwine House Bluebird Trail — Sun, 29 May 2011 17:49:53 +0000

Primland Resort is doing an outstanding job in their newly installed bluebird trail. Here are two photos I’ve just received. Many thanks to Barry Towe Photography for giving me permission to post these photos. Also, I would like to thank Primland’s Golf Superintendent, Brian Kearns, who has been overseeing the planning, installing, monitoring, and managing the new trail. Mr. Kearns recently reported to me that all boxes are occupied by our Eastern Bluebirds. After our nesting season is completed for 2011, his first set of statistics for Primland’s bluebird trail which will be forwarded to me for compilation to the Virginia Bluebird Society’s (VBS) state records. See VBS site for more info: http://www.virginiabluebirds.org/aboutus.html

As you can see from this picture, this sturdy hardware cloth Noel Guard over the 1.5″ entry hole is no problem for the bluebirds–as a matter of fact, they actually like them and use them to guard their nestbox and also as a “porch”. VBS highly recommends the use of these guards for ground predators that may get past the stovepipe ground guard on the pole and underneath the nestbox and also for any avian predators. As County Coordinator for VBS, I encourage the use of them to others who want to install a nestbox; I use them on my own trail, as well, since most of my boxes are installed in rural Patrick County habitat.

For more info about this gorgeous Blue Ridge Mountains resort location in Patrick County, Virginia–a beautiful retreat, spa, and vacation spot with something special for everyone, see their website: http://primland.com/

This is a full VBS recommended nestbox installation, including the two predator guards. The nestboxes were made in Primland's workshop. The wood is Western Red Cedar (not aromatic cedar!)

The female Eastern Bluebird with food for her brood--it appears to be a grasshopper!

Filed under: Birds, Blogroll, Bluebird Trail, Bluebirding and Bluebirds, Bluebirds, Nature, Photography, Random, Virginia Bluebirds

FIRST BLUEBIRD NEST FOR the WHBBT 2011!

Woolwine House Bluebird Trail — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 17:40:03 +0000

A man’s interest in a single bluebird is worth more than a complete but dry list of the fauna and flora of a town. - Letter, November 22, 1858, from Henry D. Thoreau to Daniel Ricketson, in The Writings of Henry David Thoreau, 1906

Bluebirds have commenced nesting for first brood. Photo taken today–March 23, 2011. This is Day 4 of nest building! Nest is not quite finished (a bit lopsided now) – my prediction is approximately 2 more days to finish and create the perfectly shaped cup–this building is earlier for first brood 2011 than past 2 years. White Pine needles (choice one for bluebirds if available). The scoring seen on left side of picture is a “fledging ladder” or toe-hold used by baby birds to use at fledging time (maiden flight) as assistance to help them stay at entry hole. However, bluebirds’ feet don’t need this as much as Tree Swallows do, but I like the scoring on all of my boxes. Last two years, first egg laid was April 8 (one of those years was on Easter morning! I remember it distinctly as I visited a few of my boxes late afternoon on the holiday.) If this warmer weather continues, she may start laying any day. If we have a sudden cold snap during egg laying (usually one per day in the morning), she’ll delay incubation until the warmer weather returns again. Her mate will bring her food as she lays her clutch, usually in the mornings. In the afternoons, she most likely will leave the box for a break, exercise her wings, and to hunt for her own food. On my trail, generally I get 5 eggs per clutch. I rarely have seen 6 eggs in my boxes.

Filed under: Birds, Blogroll, Bluebird Trail, Bluebirding and Bluebirds, Bluebirds, Nature, Virginia Bluebirds

“WARBLE” IT OUT FOR BLUEBIRDS: ANTICIPATION OF THE NESTING SEASON OF 2011

Woolwine House Bluebird Trail — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 19:54:26 +0000

Greetings from the Woolwine House Bluebird Trail. The photo seen above on my site’s header, which will remain through the month of March 2011, is a photo taken by Dave Kinneer of the male bluebird courting his lady love. He is wing-waving to her, telling her how wonderful he is. It makes me feel all fuzzy inside how romantic the male bluebird is. April will soon be here—a very significant month for me as I prepare for the nesting season once again. Last year, 2010, and interestingly in 2009– my first egg laid on my trail was April 8–both years the exact same date!

This will be my 6^th year of my interest in bluebirds and my 4^th year of having a bluebird trail of my own. I want to be sure I don’t have more boxes installed that I can be a responsible “landlord” to and that I’m able to monitor what I have at least once a week. Sometimes I do it twice a week, depending on activity or if I’m fixing a particular issue or problem along my trail, or if bad weather delays me to monitor on a fixed schedule. I have to drive to all my boxes—they are spread out. To install more boxes than I can physically monitor is not recommended—really, it’s a bad idea all around. Too many things can go wrong for the bluebirds. I will add more boxes to my trail as I think I can handle the responsibility of taking care of those boxes. I am finding a box that isn’t getting any activity within a two-year period needs to be moved to different habitat. I make this determination each autumn after I summarize my trail results for that season. I like November as a good time to tweak my trail—at the same time I winterize my boxes for roosting for the cold winter months. The Virginia Bluebird Society gets my trail results and incorporates them with other monitors’ records from other counties for all of Virginia combined. This is how we can see how the birds are doing year after year. Thanks to installed nestboxes and monitoring, the birds are increased in numbers in the past decade. You can go to the VBS website to see the records—go take a look: http://www.virginiabluebirds.org/trailstatistics.html As a monitor, accurate records, such as the date of the first egg laid (exciting to see that first blue egg) and when incubation by Mama Bluebird begins is really important to me. She delays incubation until she’s finished laying her clutch. Once I have those dates secured, I can better anticipate the date of that first hatching—by far the most thrilling experience for me every season!

I have found it helps to have people networking in support of someone like me on behalf of the bluebirds. Many thanks to The Floyd Press for getting this article released in Floyd County and beyond of my efforts to get the word out about my availability to assist in education about bluebirding and how to properly install one box or a trail of boxes using a properly made nestbox and predator guards: http://www.swvatoday.com/news/article/peoples_efforts_have_bluebirds_rallying/9260/

It’s paying off. I’ve had many inquiries about bluebirds this past week. Primland Resort in Meadows of Dan has started a trail with many thanks to the Golf Superintendent who contacted me for information. I will be training him on monitoring the boxes installed on their grounds. Primland Resort built Virginia Bluebird Society recommended nestboxes from their nestbox plan….and ….with TWO predator guards. We are making a joint-effort presentation to the local Patrick County 4-H Club in mid-March at the Patrick County High School. There is a particular joy I feel when I can successfully tell others what the bluebirds. Many thanks to all who continue to support the bluebirds in my two Counties–Floyd and Patrick. I can’t tell you enough how inspirational you are to me and, just so you know, you will be to others when they see what you’re doing to help these birds. I believe people I talk to feel the energy behind why we can get hooked on helping the bluebirds.

I will be starting my weekly list of findings of the Test Site on my trail of the Two-Hole Mansion, Year 2. As of February 18 this year, 2011, the (English) House Sparrow has started nest building in that box already. This is the earliest I’ve seen yet. I removed the nest and will return this weekend to see if another has started; frankly, I’m expecting one. If you refer to my tabbed page of this test site, you’ll see the bluebirds were able to move in last summer after weeks of removing the House Sparrow nests and successfully fledge bluebird babies. You’ll read what this test site is about and why I’m NOT trapping the sparrows for this test. It should be noted over and over again: The (English) House Sparrow, which is NOT native to our country and is an aggressive bird taking cavities from our native birds, should not be allowed to use and breed in our nestboxes installed for bluebirds and our other native cavity-nesting birds!

So, with this update above, I’ll be seeing you again soon, as the nesting season is just around the corner; my posts here will start to increase as bluebird activity increases along my trail. I’m busy answering inquiries about bluebirds and helping others to prepare for monitoring bluebird nestboxes for the VBS. The males are out now establishing their breeding territory. For those who have boxes now, make sure they are ready for nesting. Early March is a good time to soap the ceilings of your boxes to deter wasps, which always start showing up in warmer weather. I’ve seen some out already in our area. I create a soap paste mixture by taking Ivory soap bars and let them sit in a plastic container in water. Once the soap paste is the right consistency, I use a pastry brush to “paint” the soap mixture on the ceiling of the boxes and slightly down the sides and underneath the eaves of the larger roof of my boxes. I do it early enough to allow it to dry so it is before the female starts entering the boxes to build the nests so the damp soap paste does not get on her wings. The boxes should dry first before the birds investigate nesting in them.

If you don’t know yet what the bluebird sounds like, check out the Cornell’s Lab of Ornithology’s All About Birds page on the Eastern Bluebird’s warble-song-call. For me, this is a sweet sound of Spring when I hear this: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Eastern_Bluebird/sounds

Filed under: Birds, Blogroll, Bluebird Trail, Bluebirding and Bluebirds, Bluebirds, Nature, Virginia Bluebirds

WINTER THOUGHTS FOR BLUEBIRDS

Woolwine House Bluebird Trail — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 19:44:17 +0000

Resident bluebirds are in mixed flocks here with bluebirds migrated from the North. During snowstorms, ice storms, and frigid snaps in Southwest Virginia, I am feeding bluebirds on my property with bluebird suet and live mealworms. They eat fruits and berries this time of year. This food can be hard to find during harsh weather. All of my nextboxes have been winterized so that the roosting cavity-nesting birds have a warm bed and no cold drafts and wet snow or rains get inside the ventilation gaps. I use pine needles about two-inches thick and bat it down with my fist to break down the scratchy points of the needles. If water gets onto a bed of needles, which hopefully won’t happen, that moisture seeps to the bottom and out of the drainage areas on the box floor. This way the topside needles dry out. Grasses can stay wet and absorb water and then freeze. Many bluebirds will pile inside a nestbox for roosting together and use each others’ body warmth during the cold nights. Never remove a nestbox during winter months–the birds love them for roosting. I think that’s marvelous!

One additional thought to share during the time we all are thinking of installing new bluebird boxes by February 2011: …………. please install your bluebird box on a 3/4-to-one-inch size EMT (conduit metal) pole with at LEAST the ground (stovepipe is best!) predator guard below the box so that we landlords are not setting up the birds for failure during the upcoming nesting cycle. Ground predators I have to deter are snakes, raccoons, ants, mice, squirrels, roaming housecats, and feral cats. Nestboxes installed on a fence line, tree trunk, 4×4 wood post, and utility pole are dangerous to the birds. Please don’t do it! Simply put, to lure bluebirds into our boxes and not help them stay safe from ground predators is like playing a practical joke on them.

Before we know it, the males will be leaving the mixed flocks and looking to establish territories for mate hunting and then “house hunting”. Have the boxes ready by February 1st. Please contact me for advice on getting it done. Let me train you to monitor just one box. You won’t regret it as soon as you discover the joys of bluebirding!

I hope everyone has safe…. and warm….holidays to come.

Filed under: Birds, Blogroll, Bluebird Trail, Bluebirding and Bluebirds, Bluebirds, Nature, Virginia Bluebirds

WHY INSTALL A BLUEBIRD NESTBOX ON A POLE? WHY TWO PREDATOR GUARDS?

Woolwine House Bluebird Trail — Sat, 06 Nov 2010 22:51:59 +0000

There are reasons–important ones from those who have learned from experience of losing bluebirds to predators. Once you’ve lost them and see it firsthand, you never want to see it again. Take a look at this box and read the text below the box. This is one of my displays when I give a presentation. The VBS recently talked about this in one of their newsletters, particularly the use of the Noel hardware cloth guard over the entry hole. See diagrams below. I am happy to answer any questions. More bluebirds fledge successfully with a monitored box with predator guards. It’s been proven by the VBS statistics.

Per the VBS at their website: www.virginiabluebirds.org:

Predator Guard Designs

We utilize two types of predator guards to help limit predation of our bluebird nest boxes. One we call the Cat/Raccoon Guard is made of a heavy wire mesh and goes on the front of the nest box to help fend off raccoons, cats, opossums, large birds, etc. This works by backing the critters off so it is too far of a reach into the box to get the eggs or babies. The pattern for the Raccoon Guard now posted on this site is slightly different from our original version. We have changed it to make it easier to cut out and lace together. The other guard, Snake Guard, is made of round metal ducting material and is installed on the mounting pole for the nest box. This guard is primarily to inhibit access by snakes which just love to dine on little birds and eggs. This guard can also fend off climbing cats, squirrels, raccoons, etc. (It also provides a bit of a challenge for squirrels when used on pole-mounted bird feeders.)

This snake is fed by bluebird nestlings. This is a wonderful nestbox; however, it has no predator guards on it....because no ground guard (particularly to ward snakes away), this snake made it to the nest. Note: The Black Rat Snake is a good snake. We must not kill them. Let's keep them off of our installed manmade nestboxes, though, and be good landlords of our nestboxes so the bluebirds can succeed in raising their family to healthy fledglings to healthy bluebird adults.

Cute little guy isn't he? He's very good getting to bluebird nestboxes. Use predator guards to help the cavity-nesting birds.

Recommendations below from the VBS for box mounting and guards below:

This is what I use on my trail. It's 99% effective for me.

Avian predators, raccoons, feral and housecats are predators. The entry hole guard has helped Virginia bluebirds succeed!

This is a modified North American Bluebird Society nestbox with the mounting diagram suggested by the Virginia Bluebird Society. It has the Kingston Stovepipe Ground Guard and the hardware cloth Noel guard over the entry hole.

A better PDF printout file can be found at: www.virginiabluebirds.org

This is a typical box on my trail.

Filed under: Birds, Blogroll, Bluebird Trail, Bluebirding and Bluebirds, Bluebirds, Nature, Random, Virginia Bluebirds

TRAIL RESULTS ARE IN–REPORT FOR 2010!

Woolwine House Bluebird Trail — Sat, 06 Nov 2010 20:31:30 +0000

NOVEMBER 6, 2010

TRAIL SUMMARY RESULTS FOR 2010

(This is also duplicated on the gray tabbed page, Trail Results.)

Each year, with the same number of nest locations, I have noticed from my trail notes that I fledge 20 more bluebirds each nesting season. This season I fledged 20 more bluebirds than last year. I continue to deal with problems and I think each year as I learn how to better be a good trail monitor and keep good statistics, I can see how every year is a little better than the last.

***

This was Year 1 of the 3-year test for the larger “Mansion” designed by Linda Violett in California for the Western Bluebird (with the two entry holes) for testing how bluebirds do against the non-native House Sparrow. Please see the gray tabbed page for those results. I fledged bluebirds successfully, one brood, after House Sparrows attempted to nest in that box. It’s the only box that has a House Sparrow problem. See Linda’s website on all of the tests going on throughout the USA on how the bluebirds are doing in this box design which gives the bluebirds a chance to survive attacks inside a nestbox by providing an extra hole on the front as an “escape route”. Additionally, the box is deeper, both holes have the standard Eastern Bluebird 1.5″ size, which keeps larger avian predators from reaching inside the box to remove nestlings. I would say I had success on this test for this year with no bluebird casualties. Though trapping the House Sparrow to control them in bluebird territory is generally recommended, this test requires not to trap. The reasons for this is explained on my page about the test as well as on Linda’s website. On her main page here, she explains the test sites: http://home.earthlink.net/~lviolett

***

This was a bad year for ticks. Since one box is in field grasses, my plan is to move that box to a “garden and back yard” location, which is attractive to bluebirds and will be easier for me to monitor so I don’t have to walk through hayfields. I do have another box on that field, but I don’t have to walk far to monitor it nor is it surrounded by the grasses. Now I use lots of clothing to cover myself up and also a non-deet spray to put on my clothes and my skin to keep the ticks off. Note: This field is cut several times a year. When the boxes were installed, the grasses were short. Lesson learned: install a box that is easy to monitor and excellent for the birds to stay close and guard their nestbox and not have to fly far for food. About 2 acres is about right for a pair of nesting bluebirds. They are territorial, and they like their space.

***

I did have ants at several boxes, which I took care of right away. The blowfly problem was taken care of this year by using the Diatomaceous Earth carefully before bluebird eggs hatched. The predator guards on both the entry hole and the ground guard proved worthy again for this season. Only one very large black rat snake made it past a stovepipe ground guard, much to my dismay! It will happen; however, not using a ground guard for sure causes more predation and unsuccessful fledgings. I have a 99% success rate using the stovepipe ground guard!

***

Weather was interesting this season. Because of the harsher winter we had for 2009 and into early 2010, my bluebirds started to nest later in the spring than prior seasons. However, I had three broods on my trail this year, the first I’ve ever had THREE broods nesting. The last of the bluebirds fledged late August.

***

I have contacted both Floyd and Patrick County Chamber offices to let them know who I am! Patrick County was kind enough to put up a page up for me to get the word out how to contact me (thank you, Mr. Tom Bishop)….http://www.patrickchamber.com/news.cfm?newsID=2549:

Additionally, both the Floyd Press (Floyd County) and The Enterprise (Patrick County) submitted articles in late winter 2010 to contact me about installing nestboxes before the male bluebirds start establishing their territories and female Eastern Bluebird picks her mate to start nest building.

***

I am seeking bluebird enthusiasts to contact me so that I can train how to monitor bluebird boxes and collect statistics. Please help me get those valuable statistics in! I coordinate that for the two counties. All this helps the Virginia Bluebird Society and the North American Bluebird Society to see how the bluebirds are doing year after year. The Virginai Bluebird Society posts those records. It’s a great website…do take a look: http://www.virginiabluebirds.org/

Those statistics we Coordinators collect eventually go to the Transcontinental Bluebird Trail (all of North America, including Canada). It’s easy to monitor a box when installed properly and in a nestbox designed for easy monitoring and cleanout and …. this is the fun part ….. you get to watch the birds close up. You’ll find it to be fascinating, and you’ll love it! Please get in touch with me via this website so I can help you get started … just leave a comment (it stays private) and give me your phone number and let me call you back. Or call my voice number and leave a message (703) 919-4302. I want to help make bluebirding fun for you! Let’s get the statistics in to the VBS. I train new monitors and also assist in looking at your habitat for the best success for you. I enjoy doing that! I also enjoy meeting new people who love birds.

***

I enjoyed presenting twice this year, May and October, at Virginia Tech’s Reynolds Homestead, in Critz, VA. I thank them for allowing me to present there–I had such wonderful staff assistance, a beautiful room to present my displays and the PowerPoint slideshow in the Continuing Education Center, and all the working behind the scenes to get the word out via the press:

http://www.reynoldshomestead.vt.edu

***

Again, as always, many thanks to my neighbor, Carl, who always is there to help me with workshop details for moving and repairing boxes as needed. Thank you, Carl! An article about Carl recognizing his efforts is in the Fall 2010 issue of the Bird Box, the VBS newsletter. It can be found online here on Page 2 (Adobe Acrobat Reader is necessary to see this page in PDF format):

http://www.virginiabluebirds.org/newsletters/birdboxfall2010.pdf

Before we know it, 2011 nesting season will be upon us! I hope everyone has a blessed holiday season! Thank you for your support of this site and the Woolwine House Bluebird Trail.

All the best…………Christine

“Woo-Hoo for Blue!”

I hope to hear from you...leave a message at my mobile device: (703) 919-4302

Filed under: Birds, Blogroll, Bluebird Trail, Bluebirding and Bluebirds, Bluebirds, Nature, Random, Virginia Bluebirds

October 24, 2010 – VIRGINIA TECH’s REYNOLDS HOMESTEAD PRESENTATION REPORT

Woolwine House Bluebird Trail — Sat, 06 Nov 2010 19:46:33 +0000

Everything went well for the Sunday, October 24, 2010, “Dessert and Coffee Series” presentation, which took place at 3 PM.

Here are a few photos from the presentation below. There were many displays and handouts for the attendees. A Q&A period followed after the PowerPoint slideshow. There were many questions afterwards. That, for me, is the most enjoyable–talking about bluebirds and what I’ve learned these past 5 years and how best we can help them succeed….as human landlords…to make sure the bluebirds fledge successfully and why we install nestboxes on poles and use predator guards. I really enjoyed meeting everyone. I have the Virginia Bluebird Society, the North American Bluebird Society, and all of the bluebird experts I’ve learned from to thank that have helped me understand more what bluebirding is all about and the joys we get from monitoring the boxes so that we can get statistics of how they are doing and see how the bluebirds have “come back” in numbers in the past decade, thanks to installing nestboxes. Other than for educating others on this, to see the birds closeup is the biggest thrill of all, especially when I can share that excitement and pass it on!

This was such a nice room for the group. Coffee, tea, bottled waters, and desserts were served. This was the beginning of the PowerPoint slide show. We are discussing the three different species of bluebirds in North America and the ranges they can be found. In Virginia, we have only the Eastern Bluebird. We are too far East for the Mountain Bluebird.

Display Tables and three easels with prepared posterboard displays.

There are a variety of good books and pamphlets available to help new bluebirders get started out right.

Lots of interesting free materials (handouts), mostly from the Virginia Bluebird Society and the North American Bluebird Society. VBS is an affiliate club to NABS. Included were handouts about what type of shrubs and trees bear fruits for the birds to eat in the winter as well as info about mealworms and VBS nestbox building plans, VBS recommended predator guard plans, and VBS recommended installation instructions (on a 1" conduit).

Many thanks goes to the Reynolds Homestead staff for assisting me in a successful presentation. Since this was an afternoon show, we had to close the blinds in the rooms to see the projected PowerPoint slideshow. The end of the show had a surprise 3-minute musical ending to a series of gorgeous professional photos of young bluebirds fledging and being raised outside the nestbox in the trees by their adoring bluebird parents!

Filed under: Birds, Blogroll, Bluebird Trail, Bluebirding and Bluebirds, Bluebirds, Nature, Random, Virginia Bluebirds

WINTERIZING NESTBOXES for 2010-2011!

Woolwine House Bluebird Trail — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 22:30:35 +0000

I will be out on my trail next week to winterize all the boxes so that the bluebirds and other cavity nesters can roost in the boxes. What is winterizing?

The ventilation areas of each box will be plugged to keep cold drafts and rain and snow out of the boxes while the birds keep warm in them. The only sections NOT plugged will be the drainage holes in the box floors and the entry holes, of course!

See a series of pictures below of winterized boxes on my trail. You’ll see how the materials help keep the boxes warm!

Also next week, two of my boxes will be moved to new locations. My criteria for changing is the current box locations were not used by cavity nesters this past season. It’s good to tweak the trail each year for best use of all nestboxes available for the birds! The Virginia Bluebird Society’s website helped me when I went to Lowe’s Home Improvement to get the supplies… cost was $14 for everything and all the materials can be recycled again for the next winter season! CLICK ON LINK below: http://www.virginiabluebirds.org/winterizingnestboxes.html

: Tack Box and Tools for Winterizing: Foam-tubing weatherstripping, foam air-conditioning strips, old and newly fallen pine needles, gloves, and scissors.

About an inch of grasses or pine needles for the floor should be placed.

: Photo of foam tubing on narrower ventilation areas (top of box).

: I run across this during winterizing….mud dauber wasp nests. There are pupae inside these mud tunnels. Remove with scraper.

Filed under: Blogroll, Bluebird Trail, Bluebirding and Bluebirds, Bluebirds, Nature, Personal, Random, Virginia Bluebirds

LAST BLUEBIRD BOX FLEDGED 3 BABIES ON AUGUST 26th!

Woolwine House Bluebird Trail — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 20:17:26 +0000

The last of the bluebirds on my trail fledged on August 26, 2010, at my most successful bluebird nestbox–4 eggs laid in the nest–only three hatched. All three babies did well but fledged on Day 18…they really took their time, which is good, as they should fledge when they are ready and not forced to do so earlier (unless they feel threatened by a predator). There were three broods at this box this year. I also had a few other boxes that had a third brood. There has only been one year in my 5 years of bluebirding of having more than two broods, and it was only at one box location during those 5 years. The bluebirds love the habitat at this location. This fledging is one month later this year than last year. Wow! What a bluebird season this has been! Stay tuned to some summary notes to be added here to update and finish my site for 2010′s bluebird season.

I’m now officially feeling empty nest syndrome. I go through this every year. It’s a good time to reflect on how the birds did in comparison to years prior and to gather and summarize my statistics for the Virginia Bluebird Society and then to the North American Bluebird Society. I hope this website has been beneficial and enjoyable to you in some way this season. Thanks for all the inquiries and support, folks! Again, many thanks to my neighbor, Carl, for his help on my trail this year in movement of some of the boxes and repairs needed before the season started.

Christine

Filed under: Birds, Blogroll, Bluebirds, Nature, Random, Virginia Bluebirds

A FEW BOXES: THIRD BROODS FOR 2010!

Woolwine House Bluebird Trail — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 21:30:05 +0000

I have three boxes so far with third-brood bluebird nests and egg laying! We’ll see if they can survive the continued heat we’re having here. I have had one year with one box that had a third brood successfully nest and fledge babies this late. This is interesting to me. My theory is: in spite of the late start due to the harsh winter we had, Spring came in fast and warm and the birds started their nesting cycle and incubation earlier and faster than before. Another thought is these bluebird adults are more fertile than others in years past.

Also, good news in the test site box “two-hole mansion” on my trail….the bluebird babies just fledged either on Day 19 or Day 20–Saturday afternoon or sometime on Sunday morning or afternoon, July 24th or 25th. We’ll see if another nesting will be attempted there. See my final notes on the “2-Hole Test Box” page, updated today, July 28th.

Filed under: Birds, Blogroll, Bluebird Trail, Bluebirding and Bluebirds, Bluebirds, Nature, Virginia Bluebirds

BREEDING SEASON ALMOST TO A CLOSE? CAN THIS BE?

Woolwine House Bluebird Trail — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 19:14:39 +0000

I have one set of nestlings left…in my two-hole test box. I believe the breeding season may be coming to a close now. It is my belief that the birds know this excessive heat we’ve been having (and insects!) is not good for raising their young. This means the time of having “bluebird withdrawal” begins. I go through this every year. Once the hummingbirds end migration in late summer, it’s double the withdrawal for me.

I always take notes what changes each year on my trail–what worked…what didn’t…what was a wonderful surprise….what disappointed me. Year after year, there is always something new that happens. I feel honored to be a part of nature in this way and making my contributions to help the Eastern Bluebird in the area where I live.

Once all boxes are cleaned and it’s been established the breeding season of 2010 is closed, I know the bluebirds here will flock with the migrators from the north and will stick together until next spring again when the males start establishing new territories and mates. The anticipation of spring is particularly satisfying for me as I await the first males to look at my boxes and for the first male ruby-throated hummingbird to arrive again! My hope is we have no major snow and ice storms for our resident bluebirds that will take their food sources from them (fruits and winter berries).

Filed under: Birds, Blogroll, Bluebird Trail, Bluebirding and Bluebirds, Bluebirds, Nature, Random, Virginia Bluebirds

CHECKING NESTS AFTER FLEDGINGS

Woolwine House Bluebird Trail — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 14:59:56 +0000

It is important that we monitors always INSPECT nests when nestboxes are cleaned out between broods and after “alleged” fledgings. I get questions how I know fledgings actually took place at nestboxes at locations where I cannot watch closely the goings on. Here are some tips and examples of nests after inspection:

First, I make sure I monitor at least once a week. I prefer about every 4 days. I can keep a better handle on happenings if I monitor more than once a week.

After I think there has been a successful fledging, I can actually tell by looking at the remaining nest if indeed a fledging took place as opposed to a snake predating the older nestlings. The parents always “change diapers” or clean up the nests of the fecal sacs. During the fledging period, usually within a 24 hour period (sometimes a little longer if the parents think it’s not safe or a nestling is weaker than the others), the parents don’t bring food to the nestlings as often or clean up their waste matter to entice them to make the first flight. The adults will also swoop down to the nestbox and call to them to come out. It’s fun to watch if you can do so! Most of the time during fledging, the waste matter (fecal sacs) remains in the nest as the young birds fledge. If a snake gets them, their usually is no waste matter in the nest. The parents are diligent the nest stays clean. When I see a flattened nest with waste matter, that’s a good sign the youngster made it!

Note: I always look for waste matter left on the front-side of the box under the entry hole. That’s a good sign they made it out OK, leaving a bit of matter behind as they fly out. This is cleaned off between broods by me so the box is as clean of the birds’ waste matter as much as possible.

When cleaning out a nestbox, I turn nests over looking for blowfly larvae and other possible parasites in the nest material which are not visible in the box itself (such as the beginnings of ants or mites). It’s really important to always remove used nests but PARTICULARLY those that shows parasites, such as the example of this first brood nest for this season (first time I ever had blowfly larvae in first nests). The female likes to build a new nest for the second and possibly third broods. Clean nesting material is good. Otherwise, she may bring in new nesting materials and build on top of old nests that could have parasites in them. This also brings the nest higher to the entry hole, which is not a good idea for the safety of the nestlings. The youngsters did make it out OK according to what I could determine in the nest you see in Photo 2 below, but there was the beginnings of the hatched blowfly eggs in the first brood. The larvae in the nest cause harm to the nestlings if they multiply and then the nest is heavily infested with them. The more larvae present in young nestlings’ nest material, the more chance they become anemic from losing blood to the larvae, which feed on them at night.

In the photos below, you’ll find two photos of nests:

First photo shows a clean pine needle nest. I inspected it in detail from top to bottom — no evidence of any larvae, no larvae nest “dust” (the blowfly breaks up the nesting material to a fine dust usually found on the bottom of the nest along where the nestbox floor is located where they rest during the day), and as you can see, there is waste matter not picked up by the parents. When I inspect nests during breeding, I always take a small spatula and lift the nest up a little to look for the dust, a sign of possible blowfly larvae.

The second photo below shows the bottom of a nest (what appeared to be a clean nest on top when I first looked) when I flipped it over, this is what I found…this detail of blowfly larvae in first brood nestings material went into my trail notes. This is the earliest I’ve ever seen the larvae appear in nesting material along my trail. I am thinkig the early warmer weather this Spring may be why–only theory on my part–nature’s way. Blowflies in birds nest has been going on for centuries. However, by installing manmade nestboxes, my goal is for the bluebirds to fledge, so I make sure as best I can that they make it successfully to bird life outside of the box. Monitorig is fun but it’s work, too–I don’t want to monitor boxes to find sick or dead birds. It’s best not to have a nestbox up if you don’t take care of the birds using them.

Bottom line to monitors: Always inspect nests to know for sure what happens in the nest during breeding season. What remains of the nest tells a story. Never drop old nests near the nestbox, as this attracts predators to the area. Always take it away in a plastic bag and dispose of it later. Any pristine clean nests I have I keep for emergences that could be possible later.

Anyone know what emergencies I would need a clean, used bluebird nest for? There are two possible reasons. I will update this post with the answers. Leave a comment here, if you wish, if you know what the reasons are.

One more thought: we can’t assume once the nestling fledge, they actually survive to adulthood. Survival rate will vary on the young birds that fledge. We can’t assume every empty nest means all young birds live a long life. If possible, if you have a nestbox by your home, you can look for the fledglings in the area in your tree branches, put out a platform feeder with mealworms to entice the adults to feed the mealworms to the fledglings, and you can watch them for another month or so as they learn to find food for themselves. If the youngsters don’t make it, nature rules. It’s probably good the bluebirds try more than once per season to breed. The chickadee generally has only one brood per year–interesting to me why some species breed 2-3 broods and others once. The House Sparrow breeds average 5 times per season! The start earlier and breed later each season. The one sparrow species not native to North America breeds often!

I surmised the young birds fledged successfully in this nest. The waste matter remains behind which is normal during the fledging period. After turning this nest over and inspecting it, there was no evidence of parasites. The nest was clean on the bottom side. With gloves, I pick off the dried matter and keep the nest handy for possible emergencies later. The nest I keep is clean through and through. These are white pine needles.

The young birds made it out with evidence of matter on top side. However, when I turned it over to inspect it, this is what I found on the bottom of the nest. I tossed this out in a tied plastic bag in a waste can away from the nestbox.

Filed under: Birds, Blogroll, Bluebird Trail, Bluebirding and Bluebirds, Bluebirds, Nature, Photography, Random, Virginia Bluebirds

BLUEBIRD TRAILS: MAINTENANCE IS KEY!

Woolwine House Bluebird Trail — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 15:36:46 +0000

A monitor’s day out on a bluebird trail is very well reflected in Bluebird Bob’s poem, which I have posted on this site on another page. It’s worth repeating here, then read on regarding my trail notes from Saturday, June 12:

THE TRAIL MONITORS

A Poem by “Bluebird Bob” Walshaw

Out they go, rain or shine,
Checking on their Bluebird line.
Helping out those birds of blue,
Walking in the grassy dew.

Opening nestboxes one by one,
Reveling in the morning sun.
Finding nests and eggs so blue,
Spring’s promise coming true.

Another nest with little ones,
Waiting for the parents to come
From east, west, north or south,
With insects for each open mouth.

One more nest -oh so sad!
A roving Black Snake has been bad.
Predator guards work in many ways
But nature can have a different say.

Another nest with babies strong,
Showing that it won’t be long
Before their growing wings they’ll try
And out into the world they’ll fly.

They continue to check nest after nest,
Enjoying successes and fighting pests.
Enemies with beak and claw,
Sharing the Bluebird’s luck of the draw.

But they know from day to day
That all their efforts lead the way
To bringing the Bluebirds safe and strong
Back where all can hear their songs.

Between some thundershowers, I was able to carefully and methodically visit all my boxes this weekend. My findings were two boxes that successfully fledged young bluebirds for first brood, those adult bluebirds have not returned to those boxes. Part of my theory is a fast growth (since last trail check) of weeds and thatch near and around the pole. Within one week, morning glory (a fast-growing ivy) grew and attached itself not only to the pole but to the stovepipe guard all the way past the hardware cloth at the top—all in one week’s time! Other weeds, like milkweed and thorny growth type plants have inundated some of those poles. This is telling me to visit my trail at least every 3-4 days, not once a week. I like this schedule better also to get a better idea how the birds are doing and what they are doing. I look to see both male and female, where they are watching me from, if the nestbox is in the sun or shade depending on time I am there, etc. I look for any possible tree branches that may be reaching too close to a box, if any trees are nearby. Two boxes had ants move in, which I treated. A bluebird couple found another nestbox I installed not far that was empty and moved in. I believe it was the same couple in the box before those ants came around. I look around the base of the pole to see what’s there, if anything of interest….pests or any claw prints from a feral cat or raccoon or even a possible sign of a snake. I try to keep the materials around the base of the pole as dirt. If the pole is in a mowed lawn, that is not possible, obviously. I have no intentions in ruining a resident’s lawn who allows me to install a box.

The maintenance of a bluebird trail requires commitment and patience. In my humble opinion, no matter how hard it can be sometimes to see failure and why that failure occurred, by keeping my commitment and monitoring the trail AS NEEDED despite my busy schedule can allow me to do so, the birds are FIRST, not my schedule. The purpose of the trail is to help the birds succeed. If I don’t monitor and do the maintenance to keep the boxes safe, clean, and habitable, the birds can fail in reproducing young and having successful “HELLO WORLD!” fledglings to care for as they learn to be adult birds and be on their own. Keeping detailed trail notes is fun for me. I enjoy it. I keep my clipboard on my car seat and write my notes upon returning to the car. I keep them on file from year to year, and it’s good education for me to go over how the years did prior to this one as comparisons. Ants and a very heavy thatch/weed growth is a first for me. Also first for me is blowfly infestations in first-brood nesters. Thankfully, the larvae showed up late as the babies were about to fledge and not harmed. Though weeds grow, I think the heavy rains, many of them, has told all those weeds to keep on coming! Weeds can’t talk, but they sure read water. Weeds love water and sun, but it seems more water that comes down, the faster they grow, like any plant. Since I am in a rural community, many of my boxes can only be maintained and ground cover kept to a minimum by me. We don’t want predators having easier access to a quick lunch to a bluebird nestbox that is built, installed, and monitored for the purpose to fledge native cavity-nesting birds, specifically the Eastern Bluebird. A clean, slick conduit and predator guard is important. If I allow unmonitored boxes, my time is wasted, and so are the nesting bluebirds. It’s like playing a practical joke on the birds. Thinking of it that way makes me realize my efforts are worth it.

I am pleased to report I do have repeat nesters in some of the same boxes, treated for future blowfly larvae in advance of hatchings; therefore, I am looking forward to hatchings for second brooders. Females are incubating those eggs now. The females are so sweet. When I know I have incubating females, my trail visits are in the mid-afternoons when she is more likely to leave the nest to get a break from the box and find some food and fresh air. One female looked at me, and I gently said hello and she flew off the nest. I could take my mirror and do my egg count. It gives me such pleasure to also inspect a pine needle nest or a grass nest occupied by an incubating female who seems happy with her box and confirm that the nest is clean and clear of parasites and is dry, too. If a nest stays dry after rains, that is a good sign my nestbox is constructed properly! Every year I monitor (and I still consider myself a NEW bluebirder!), I learn something new. I hope this page helps share with others the importance of keeping an eye out on our bluebird boxes (to put it mildly) helps them succeed, and the rewards we monitors get back are great. Though my trail is not a big one, it’s what I can consistently monitor. I do not want to put more boxes up with a commitment to monitor them and keep statistics for the VBS and then fail doing so because it’s too much to do.

A quick note regarding my “two-hole mansion” test page and findings. It was determined within the last two weeks that bluebirds and house sparrows are battling somewhat to nest in that box. So far, the house sparrow is winning attempts to build there (and I continue to remove those materials). The good news is the bluebird male is still attempting to get that box—and that’s what the test is about! I will continue to remove the house sparrow nest materials to see if the male bluebird can win over that box.

Comments here always welcomed. Please do so–I encourage you to do so. (Spam never makes it to my site, thanks to WordPress which hosts my site. Good job, WordPress!) All comments come to me privately first and not posted without my review. Your Email address remains private to me only and will never be displayed publicly on this site. You can write to me through the comments section. If you prefer NOT to have your question, inquiry, or comment posted on this site, just indicate so, and I will not post it. However, by leaving your name and Email address, I can write back to you privately. It also deters spammers! Thank you for your time to read my website. I appreciate the support.

Filed under: Birds, Blogroll, Bluebird Trail, Bluebirding and Bluebirds, Bluebirds, Nature, Random, Virginia Bluebirds