HAPPY AUTUMN!
I’ve finalized and 3-times checked my statistics for fledging numbers for the permanent records. I’m going to write an essay and a “summary” in near future with more details; in the meantime, here are the final numbers of the Woolwine House Bluebird Trail for Year 2013. 34 monitored nestboxes. Only 1 box was not used. 5 boxes had partial nests and no eggs laid. 1 box I could not monitor due to an unforeseen circumstance. You will note a difference of # of eggs laid to # of birds fledged. Bottom line: The birds had a tough year with issues to deal with–some on their own and some with my help. Some won over the issues; some did not. My last bluebirds fledged late, on August 29, 2013. NOTE: A nest attempt means at least one egg is laid. Questions? Leave your notes here on this post and I’ll answer!
Reminder, too….lots of interesting discussions going on through the Facebook page! If you are on Facebook, join us. Keyword on Facebook Search: Woolwine House Bluebird Trail or go to this main page and click on LIKE.
2013 RESULTS:
EASTERN BLUEBIRDS: 43 Nest Attempts
Eggs Laid: 192
Eggs Hatched: 146
Young Fledged: 138
CAROLINA CHICKADEES: 5 Nest Attempts
Eggs Laid: 19
Eggs Hatched: 8
Young Fledged: 8
TREE SWALLOWS: 1 Nest Attempt
Eggs Laid: 5
Eggs Hatched: 3
Young Fledged: 3
HOUSE WRENS: 2 Nest Attempts
Eggs Laid: 11
Eggs Hatched: 6
Young Fledged: 6
INVASIVE HOUSE SPARROW: 3 Nest attempts
Eggs Laid: 9
Eggs Hatched: 0 (removed nest/eggs)
Young Fledged: 0
PREDATIONS:
Snake: 3 (all at boxes with no predator guards–I plan on changing this on these private properties for 2014)
Cat: 1 (at a box with no predator guard)
House Wren: 4
One adult death is unknown predator (My studies indicate an attack outside of the nestbox)
PESTS:
Earwigs: 2
Ants: 3
Wasps: 4
Spiders: 3
Unknown Winged Insect: 1
Blowfly Larvae: 10 (some WITH and without hardware cloth risers–more on this in detail soon)
OTHER HAPPENINGS:
` Thorny overgrowth up a pole (fastest growth I’ve seen yet!)
` Hypothermia to nestlings (wet nest–OLD nestbox on private property–nestbox should be replaced)
` Fallen stovepipe baffle (and repaired using galvanized wires–will replace before February 2014)
` Messy bluebird couple not cleaning nest daily (unusual but it can happen)
` White egg clutch (this is always a pleasure!)
` Bear knocking nestbox setup flat to ground (immediately after fledging – phew!}
` Roof needing repair (thankfully, the repair was before birds started nesting)
` Utility pole nearby with fresh creosote application. This is a long story.
` House Wren attacks on eggs and nestlings (worse year ever on this problem)
` Dead nestlings (not due to weather but other issues)
` Broken eggs (by House Wrens)
` Missing Eggs (this is the time I wish I had a live cam in every nestbox)
` 2 Dead Adults, both female (from a cat and one unknown attacker which was NOT House Sparrows)
` Several Carolina Chickadee vs. Eastern Bluebird competition (ongoing for several years)
I deeply appreciate your passionate dedication to Bluebirds and your
careful reporting to us. It gives me such joy! Makes me wish I had
my camera when I had 9 ( count ’em, NINE!) bluebirds, parents and teens and new ones all crowded and splashing in ONE birdbath, water drops
lit like diamonds flailing above. Glorious.
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Thanks for your kind words, Elaine. I hope you have a wonderful 2014 with your own birds!
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Congratulations! Job well done!
11 fledged from three broods here on my 1/2 acre outside Charlottesville.
Only real drama was the appearance of a 6′ black snake the day the last brood fledged, with much encouragement from adults. Snake was not at box yet I encouraged it to leave with a shovel…
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If you’re in Charlottesville (I forgot!), you should attend the Virginia Bluebird Society’s State Conference (held every other year), which will be, yep, in Charlottesville this year on November 9! It is open to VBS members and non-members alike. Go to the website’s main page for link for the schedule, timeframe, agenda, and location with directions: http://www.virginiabluebirds.org/ Look for UPCOMING EVENTS. You will love it.
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Thanks, hope to meet you there! Diane
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