WOOLWINE HOUSE BLUEBIRD TRAIL

BOX 13:  In a country field.  I’ve seen both grass and needle nests in this box.  This box did three broods last year.  One brood died from blowfly infestation.  This season, all my boxes will be carefully monitored for any blowfly problems, and I’m prepared to do the switchout of nests.  When the grass gets too tall here, it is mowed down by a farm tractor.  Any scrub trees nearby are kept trimmed by me.   The owners have been so kind to let me install and monitor this box.  Thank you!

BOX 12:  Located on a great grassy hill overlooking the mountain located at a bed and breakfast. This box has a beautiful bluebird pine needle nest presently and awaiting egg laying.   It is a lovely location for both the bluebirds and humans who can watch the birds.   This box is fully shaded in the afternoon, which is extremely important.  The Noel wire guard over the entry hole does not seem to phase these bluebirds from nesting in this box for the first time this season.  The fun part of bluebirding is educating those who have given me permission to install a box and hopefully the guests staying here.   Included in this education is to please not disturb the boxes.  Too many untrained people opening the box can spook the birds.  Watching and photographing the birds can give great pleasure to the guests.  I plan on monitoring this box 3 times a week during this nesting season.  I am hoping for great success at this location.   I will be updating the owners of the property how this box is doing.

BOX 4: On Woolwine House grounds by a pond.  This box did well last season for a bluebird brood, in spite of the blowflies I had to deal with.  Mid-season, I had to deal with a hornets nest built under this baffle!  This is why bluebirders should never put up nestboxes and NOT monitor them.   Anything we can do help the bluebirds be successful is our goal.   We enjoy helping the birds.  Monitoring the boxes is crucial for success of bluebirds.  They NEED our help!

BOX 8: Newly-installed box for 2010 near peach orchards.

BOX 6:  In a public park. The weeds have been cut down to give more open spaces. Bluebirds have found this box!

BOX 5: Another box in the public park. NOTE:  THIS BOX IS BEING MOVED TO A NEW LOCATION NOVEMBER 2010 FOR THE 2011 NESTING SEASON!

BOX 2: Newly-installed box for 2010 moved from another location from 2009.

BOX 10: Newly-installed box for 2010 AND additional box on a successful field location. The bluebirds found this right away already and like this location.  NOTE:  THIS BOX IS BEING MOVED NOVEMBER 2010 TO A NEW LOCATION FOR THE 2011 NESTING SEASON!

BOX 9: Newly-installed box for 2010 moved from a location from 2009. Bluebirds found this box immediately and are nesting.

BOX 11: This particular box is on our own property behind our house. It was moved closer in towards our house from a perimeter location where it was installed previously. When bluebirds find this box, we’ll be able to watch closely from our window!

BOX 3: This particular box has some changed strategy for success. What I thought was perfect habitat wasn’t for 2009. It seemed to be infested constantly by paper wasps. For 2010, it was moved just a few yards closer to the road and apparently more easily seen by bluebirds. This season, the bluebirds found it right away and have nested in it. Woo-hoo!

BOX 1: This is another “strategy change” box location. In 2009, it was infested by paper wasps and no birds. It was moved to the other side of the road, farther from a pasture. We’ll see how it goes for 2010.

WHBBT TEST: This is not a VBS or NABS box. It is a test site for a 2-hole mansion for the purpose to see if bluebirds can defeat the house sparrow territorial wars for this location. See my gray tabbed page titled “Two-Hole Test” for more information on this test to be conducted for three years starting 2010. As you can see here already, the house sparrow is trying to dominate this box.  UPDATE May 2012!  This 2-holed box was placed at the only location on my trail that has HOSP/bluebird competition in order to see if bluebirds could successfully compete with HOSP without trapping.  In spite of intense HOSP/bluebird competition at this location, bluebirds have successfully fledged chicks each year AND without losing any eggs, chicks, babies or adult bluebirds in a HOSP battle. 

WHBBT TEST: Front photo of the 2-Hole Mansion (larger than NABS and VBS standard-size box and two entry and exit holes). See Gray Tabbed Page for more information on this 3-year test regarding competition between House Sparrows and Bluebirds and possibly House Wrens. The dark piece of wood underneath the holes is called a “toe-hold”, but it is not considred a perch (which is not recommended for bluebird boxes).

Christine feeling accomplishment so far! Handmade boxes are modified design-NABS style rectangular boxes.  The larger overhangs on the roofs are very helpful to the birds.  Many thanks to her neighbor, Carl, for his help with this project!