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Bluebird Education & Presentation (Part 1)Subj: Web Quest for Children Subj: Bluebird Web Quest....Ooops!!! http://www2.lhric.org/kat/blue.htm Subj: Kids. 1. I have selected about half of the slides in the NABS set that I bought; the rest I do not find useful. I hope that they upgrade it someday, with better selection and better photography. 2. I start my slide show, believe it or not, with the picture of the Bluejay. It's surprising how many people think it's a Bluebird. 3. I still have my first ever Bluebird nest (1991) with its four intact eggs, and it's a popular part of the show-and-tell. I keep it in a 'half-box' about 5" high which both protects the nest and eggs and makes them clearly visible. I just had one house that year, and the Bluebirds were harassed (sp?) clean out of the neighborhood by the Tree Swallows before the eggs hatched. Since then I've paired all my houses - 15' apart, - and I've had no more problems. Tree Swallows are now allies and good friends.The pairing idea, by the way, came straight out of the Stokes' book 4. The children invariably have great questions to ask, and their questions are endlessly instructive TO ME. They also love to tell stories, some of which are germaine, some less so. 5. There is a striking closeup in Dorene Scriven's book of a House Sparrow's beak. I've had it made into a slide (without permission), and by the time I've finished describing this beak's murderous usefulness, all the children, and their parents, and their teachers are ready to swear the 'vendetta', without a word of urging from me. The beak's very BLACKNESS only adds to the picture's connotative impact, though you may be sure that I don't even mention this aspect in words, whether there are dark-skinned children in the group or not. 6. I've had a couple of very successful shticks with house-building. The children LOVE it, especially when they prove more adept than their elders. Some adults, I find, are astonishingly inept with a hammer! It's a good idea to have all the nail-holes pre-drilled, and to have one serious hammer per participant. The wooden parts, of course, must all be cut out (and pre-drilled) in advance. I don't charge for my presentations, but I do charge a nominal fee for the kits. All the parts for one box (7) fit neatly into one standard brown paper grocery bag. I try to have each child go home with TWO houses, just to make a point about pairing. 7. When I get to the part about monitoring, I find that it's a surprisingly hard sell. Many people are utterly convinced that one must never disturb birds'-nests in any way. On the other hand, this belief has probably prevented whole generations of curious children from vandalizing nests and eggs. So go figure. (whatever that means.) I do try to make the point that an un-monitored box is probably more harmful than no box at all. 8. If you have ample time, try dumping out all the parts for one box on the table in front of each child, and asking who can be the first to assemble the parts correctly, using just gravity, and not nails. They enjoy the competition, and some of the configurations are remarkable. I have found, incidentally, that these little girls are often more skilful than the boys, - and better, a little later, with their hammers. I wonder why this is true. 9. It is of no particular importance that a few children have no interest in box-construction whatsoever. In one case a couple of them were more intrigued by the task of chasing chickens around the adjacent barnyard, or feeding grass to the animals. 10. I think it's preferable, if possible, to have
adults, parents and/or teachers, present, - in the background, yes, but present,
on hand, available, observant, ready to step in if needed. The occasional
certifiably hyperactive child can require all your attention if you're the only
adult around. A simple carpenter's hammer, in the wrong hands, can be a threat
worth reckoning with. Overall, though, YOU must run the show. Subj: Re: Public
presentation: children Involve the family
as much as possible. I taught a class this morning on family birding that
overflowed the little room we started in. I really drove home the point that
parents are always on the lookout for meaningful things to do with their kids.
While you won't hook every one of them, keep in mind that even the mighty Amazon
River starts with a drop here and there. I think it's good to clarify about
cavity-nesting birds overall, not just bluebirds. That's just my own bias,
however. The situation here in the Rio Grande is critical given the loss of
native cottownwoods to exotic invasions, development and the complete control of
flooding in the RG basin. Therefore, I make a plea for ALL native cavity-nesters
here, especially considering that BBs no longer nest here, and don't know if
they did historically in the upper Chihuahuan Desert. My talk makes the point of
different-sized birds needing different-sized boxes (ie, Screech Owls to
Bewick's Wrens), so making a trail with different-sized houses may attract more
birds. Fortunately, in this particular habitat, EUST and HOSP and minimal
threats (especially with me and my BB gun or Super Soaker on patrol). Sorry for
the lack of brevity (TENA!!:) ). HOpe this is helpful to you. Subj: Re: Public
presentation: children Subj: Children's Programming Date: Tue, 1 Feb 2000 15:42:01 EST
Hello to all from Laura, Marlborough, CT I need advice about HOSP, box location, and school involvement. Here's the story. Several years ago our local elementary school principal put up a nest box outside his office window, at least one year, maybe more, there were EABL nesting. The principal retired and the box was ignored for a couple of years. I was asked to talk to 2nd graders and revive the interest. One problem we've found was evidence of HOSP activity. I didn't talk too much about what steps would be needed to solve the problem. We put up two more boxes, one of which is in a good location, the other is a problem because of ledge everywhere and we ended up putting the box up on the edge of a playground - too much activity? - not to mention the chance of vandalism. This year I'll be involving older elementary school children, hopefully starting a Bluebird Nestbox Monitoring Club. I guess I have my hands full, trying to decide how to handle the HOSP problem as well as making this small trail on school property work. Any thoughts on this from anyone who has worked with schools or other groups would be appreciated. By the way, I have a small but successful "bluebird sanctuary" in my own back yard, fledging at least 100 EABL from one of three boxes over the past 17 years. (I see and hear the fledglings for about 2 weeks after they leave the box.) My best years were when the adults raised 3 broods one summer and then 1 male mated and helped raise 2 broods with 2 females another summer. Very cool! Thanks for listening.
Date: Tue, 1 Feb 2000 19:03:46 EST
Dear Laura, I am a third grade teacher. I started a bluebird trail around my school. We also had problems with house sparrows. One thing I did was to pair the boxes. This way we had tree swallows who helped guard the territory. At one point we had house sparrows trying to take over a box. I added a third box, and the HOSPs left the other birds alone and nested. Then, after a discussion with the kids, I shook the eggs and put them back on the nest. (I think a better way is to either freeze them or microwave them.) I wasn't comfortable killing the birds or even setting that example since kids can be so indiscriminate. HOSPs have not been as big a problem recently as they were a few years ago although I still see them around. The project is always a work in progress. We usually make Linda Jamilla's Bluebird Delight which teaches the kids about measurement. We also feed mealworms to the bluebirds in the spring. We clean the boxes and monitor the progress of the babies very carefully. The look of joy on the kids' faces when they see their first bluebird egg is miraculous! We originally began it as part of an Eisenhower Grant. We got wired to the Internet to do research about bluebirds. We now have a digital camera which we use to take pictures of the babies and eggs to show the rest of the school. This year we plan to make a big book with the pictures we take. We have had problems with vandals, and feral cats as well. Even parents have tried to open the boxes, I guess out of curiosity. although they were screwed shut. We made signs though which said it was a federal offense to tamper with the nest boxes. That helped the situation a great deal. I'm not sure if I've covered everything..but please feel free to e-mail me at home with questions...or if your school is wired to the Internet perhaps we can connect our classes. What grades will you be working with? I'm looking forward to hearing from you.
Take care. School address:
Date: Tue, 1 Feb 2000 18:54:20 -0600
Laura and others: Letters like this make me feel the country still has a chance! You are to be commended, and deserve a raise! I have been wondering if anyone uses my system mounting and fixing the access front or side? I use the square drive decking screws, and take my DeWalt power drill/driver with me. The only way to get into a box is destroy it, or have the square drive head to do it with. Boy, does the DW save a lot of twisting! I also mount them with 3 inch or longer square drive screws. Yes, I know; I still use a lot of standing fence posts, but I always mount them where there is no foulness (brush, tall weeds,) along the fence, because it seems predators won't follow an open fenceline. I might be wrong too, but we have a lot of Horned Owls here, and they have been known to waylay all but the largest coons.
Bill ...
Date: Wed, 9 Feb 2000 09:45:46 -0600 From Tena Taylor, Calhoun County, MS Gary and all...possibly this is an issue that needs to be addressed to Tina Phillips at Cornell at cbp6"at"cornell.edu . I know for many it's hard to remember the time when one was brand-new to bluebirding...I thought I had lots of answers and came to find out I didn't even know the questions! With so many newcomers there's just no way we can expect NOT to have repeats! I've sent out 19 copies of the Reference Guide since 2/3/00! Haleya, maybe we could make a note of Jim's page at the top of the Reference Guide.
Date: Wed, 9 Feb 2000 11:42:57 -0500 Stephany, et al: I think your questions are shared by many, and deserve an airing on the List at large. Between the Best of BLUEBIRD-L and the Reference List, plus the number of useful books that are out there, we all now have a wealth of information available on just about every aspect of bluebirding. Yet there still is a great deal of misinformation and ignorance and downright superstition among the general populace. There are the people who light into folks who are monitoring. There are droves of people (I met another just last night) who think that 'Bluebird' is just another name for 'Bluejay'. There are those who believe the old wives' tale about birds abandoning if anyone goes near the nestbox, much less OPENS ! it. There is a widespread belief that 2 boxes 50' - 100' apart are paired. We still see and hear of Bluebird houses nailed to tree-trunks and buildings. Some people think that House Sparrows are sweet little tweety-birds, and love to feed them. There so-called 'Bluebird houses' on the market, often at exorbitant prices, which are all wrong in many ways. People locate their Bluebird houses in or near tree-lines and dense thickets, and then wonder why they get so many House Wrens. There are people who never clean out their old nests, sometimes for years on end. I could go on and on. We need to find imaginative ways to break into this circle of ignorance, and to reach the people who are not on the internet, who don't belong to a Bluebird organization, who don't own and read books, who don't write to me for my free packet, and who are completely isolated from the sort of fundamental information that we all take for granted. Maybe we should all be placing hundreds and hundreds of articles in newspapers, - both daily and weekly, - all over the continent. That strikes me as a pretty effective way to start. Of course, if you never read newspapers, then it's not effective at all. Gotta come up out of the grotto for lunch. Thanks, Stephany, for touching on this vast problem
Date: Wed, 9 Feb 2000 13:48:06 -0500 To: the Constituency, As a sort of sequel to my note to Stephany re. ignorance, misinformation, superstition, I feel I should add a post-script, just to be coldly realistic. We probably should all take into account the fact that a lot of people, - I'd guess 10% to 20% of the populace, - have an attitude toward birds in general that ranges from utter indifference to active dislike. Such people are probably not reachable, now or ever. They'll go through their lives being indifferent and full of bile toward all kinds of things, and we should not waste our time and our emotional energy worrying about them. The most we can ever hope for is that they'll refrain from vandalizing our operations and keep out of the way. And they're not all yahoos and rednecks and wool-hats, either. Sometimes they're fiscally successful 'suits', - but total Neanderthals under their Armanis. Look out for those guys. Sometimes they accumulate a worrisome amount of power. But I digress, and I warm to my subject, which is usually a bad thing. Thanks again, Stephany, for lighting up this area.
Date: Wed, 9 Feb 2000 16:16:07 -0600 Bruce et. al: What about the best of our Bluebird posters and out friends at NABS and Cornell, all get together and write "Bluebirding for Dummies" and /or "Birding for Dummies." If the statistics are correct that birding is the #2 hobby in the U.S., the "For Dummies" publishers ought to be thrilled to get such manuscripts.....and the For Dummies series is wildly popular...it's one of the first books on whatever subject people reach for now, when they're trying to educate themselves on a new topic.... And this in turn would give us a chance to get the correct word out the right way to largest possible audience..... Hey Wendell...whaddaya think? Tena? Gary? Anybody....anybody.... Kathleen O'Brien-Blair ... Date: Mon, 21 Feb 2000 19:39:30 -0500 Hi Tena, Thanks for the reference guide! It will come in handy. As a county coordinator, (I'm new at it), I am the representative of the NCBS to my county and their "local ambazzzdor" to promote bluebird awareness. It is my job to provide information, training and encouragement that will inspire prospective bluebirders to build and monitor nest boxes. The primary means of achieving this is to send press releases to our local papers, encouraging people to call for advice. Another suggestion I received is to develop a display for the local library. We are encouraged to try anything that will build interest in bluebirds. Tena Taylor wrote: ...
Date: 22 Feb 00 21:28:05 MST Linda Johnson Another good way to educate people is to write to your local newspaper. I am going to start writing monthly articles regarding our Tonto Bluebird Trail, why it is there, what our findings are each month and other interesting facts about bluebirds. At our Payson Wildlife Fair there were so many people that thought a bluebird was a Blue Jay. Pictures helped us explain which is which, but still, that is only a once a year thing. Will these articles be published? Only time will tell.
Date: Sun, 27 Feb 2000 13:59:26 -0400 Date: Sun, 27 Feb 2000 15:56:38 -0500 What a person elects to say in his talk, and how he elects to say it, depends
on the person's own individual style. I think a sense of humor helps. I always
try to make clear what my own ulterior purpose is, - to wit, - making X number
of people in the audience interested enough to go out and DO something concrete.
It is a fact of life that most people simply find it too much trouble. But
that's O.K.. The half-hearted types are just the ones we don't want. Let 'em
stick to their TVs and their canasta. I hope this was what you had in mind,
Haleya. Keep in touch. It hit 52 here today !! Date: Sun, 27 Feb 2000 16:53:07 -0500 Date: Sun, 27 Feb 2000 20:29:45 -0600 Date: Sun, 9 Apr 2000 09:35:54 -0500 You cannot expect school children to know their
birds! When you tell them that sparrows build a domed nest and lay speckled eggs
and you should remove Date: Mon, 10 Apr 2000 21:43:48 -0500 Regarding speaking to service clubs, many of them expect our talks on bluebirds to be dull fill-in entertainment. I give them a surprise. I show up with a bag full of Bluebird stuff including a knothole marked bluebird house, sparrow traps, snake traps, hanging hooks, The Bluebird Book, a large framed picture of a bluebird, etc. I tell them about the 5000 house trail across Canada and the one that is put together across the U.S. with one section already approved here in their backyard in eastern Oklahoma. Then I tell them why the Bluebird needs help, how we do it, about snakes and other predators, and after passing out pictures of gory house sparrow killed bluebirds I show them how we trap and eliminate house sparrows. I am wearing a bluebird shirt, am introduced as "Bluebird Bob," have seven page handouts (copies prepared by the organization), and have bluebird cards with my home telephone number which I encourage interested people to use. I will admit that I prefer to speak to garden clubs and special events that we set up at libraries, etc., but I get these people on the edge of their seats and we usually run out of question time. I also get referrals to other groups and clubs and calls at home for bluebird information and help. So far the investment of time seems to be worth it.
Date: Thu, 18 May 2000 14:27:27 -0400 Hello All: Today the class returned and put labeled stakes at the bushes and were given the honor of gently holding a ten day old nestling. The look of joy on their faces and that of the teacher held a great feeling of satisfaction for all (me included). I stated to the class, "now you can see exactly what you are helping " What a wonderful group of young people. Betty Nichols, Middletown, MD
Date: Sat, 10 Jun 2000 22:44:44 -0500 Good comments. It is difficult to get the word out. I have had some success by mailing a letter to about 20 newspapers in this area stating that I am available to give free presentations on Bluebirds to groups and organizations and let them publish my telephone number. (it is gratifying how many times this Message gets printed!) I also send the same Message to about 100 service clubs, garden clubs, etc., etc. and also contact the central library system. At all of my presentations I give out Bluebird Bob cards. I make every effort to cover all requests even if it is a 7AM Rotary breakfast. In my second year of doing this the word is beginning to spread beyond my
efforts, and this of course what we really need. Bluebird Bob, Northeast
Date: Wed, 28 Jun 2000 10:33:29 EDT Hello Everyone, OK, now I'm excited! A teacher that I know has given my name to a reporter from a major newspaper in CT. He is coming to my house on Friday to interview me on bluebirds and he is also bringing a photographer! I need to know from any of you who have done this about your thoughts on how you dealt with the House Sparrow and cat issues. I feel very strongly about these two major problems and want to say the right thing without upsetting anyone! I feel so responsible for getting the right Message out to people about educating themselves before putting up nest boxes. I'll definitely mention getting a book on bluebirds and/or doing research on bluebirds on the Internet (NABS, Cornell, etc.) for people interested in attracting bluebirds or learning why they had failures. Thanks so much in advance!! Laura, CT
Date: Thu, 29 Jun 2000 07:27:29 -0500 Keith Kridler Mt. Pleasant, Tex. Deal with the JOYS of Bluebirding! If you start warning about snakes and
raccoons eating birds and house sparrows pecking the adults you will lose I never mention Ticks or Chiggers to the reporter but if we are going on the trail I dope up his/her legs with repellant because I darn sure don't want them scratching 300 chigger/mosquito bites while they type up the article or scared to death because of that nasty tick that was buried up for three days before they found it! Show them instead the sky blue eggs, the miracle of baby birds and how they gap for food at a whistle. The speed of growth and how you can tell a 13 day old babies sex simply by wing colors. How after 18 days the baby is ready to leave the nest just like our children at 18 years. Both species think they are grown up but still need guidance for their lives to be successful! Stress a good style nestbox with ventilation, drainage, lots of roof overhang and a good pipe mounting pole and stress location but leave the predator control to the books. This is for a local audience and let them call you for more information or your local group or state. Off to work but we need others to carry on this topic as this is the most important of everything we have discussed on this list. How can we expect to help the bluebirds if we do not get more people to place that first box? Once they get the box up THEN we can help them with the rest of the not so nice pictures! KK
Date: Thu, 29 Jun 2000 08:47:29 -0500 Hi-just wanted to say that I write for a weekly newspaper and just finished
writing an article about bluebirds. Interviewed a wonderful lady with a 17 Since doing the article, I'm always looking to see if there are any nest boxes and find very few. I am hopeful that I can increase bluebirds around here with this article. I even found another person with monitored bluebird houses (during an interview) that never knew anyone wanted to know the information. My advice to the person being interviewed-just relate your enthusiasm and
basic bluebird information and a good reporter will be able to write a good Teri in Wisconsin
Date: Thu, 29 Jun 2000 13:00:27 EDT A great big thank you to each and every one of you who helped with my
question of how much or little to say about House Sparrows and cats with a Thank you again!
Date: Thu, 29 Jun 2000 23:27:14 -0500 Lin - You are doing much good by starting the Bluebird Workshop. Please don't think I am being presumptuous but I will pass on some suggestions that may help. It is good to have some exhibits: A picture of a Bluebird (you will be amazed by the number of people who think a Bluebird is a Blue Jay!), the type of nestbox that you like, house sparrow traps (if this fits your audience), a picture of the house sparrow, and even predator guard examples if these also fit your situation. These help to capture interest and to key your comments. Talk about why the Bluebirds need help, and then how we help them. The house is a good key for this as for example the 1 and 1/2" hole eliminates the starling from Bluebird nests, etc. The support for the Transcontinental Bluebird Trail (10,000+ boxes) and the 5000 box trail across Canada are also interesting points to give a group an idea of how much support the Bluebirds are getting. Talk about areas that Bluebirds like (short grass), how they feed, where to
put up boxes, how to put up boxes, what other cavity nesters may use the You will do fine. As Dale Carnegie said, anyone can talk well if they like and are enthusiastic about their subject. Tell the group at the start to please hold their questions to the end of your talk, and if you have any handouts pass them out after so that they are listening to you instead of reading. These are only a few brief ideas, and if you wish you can call me at 918-486-6598 if you have any questions. Hang onto your outline or speech notes as when the word spreads you will be asked to talk to other groups. I ask groups in advance to make copies of the handouts, and to have a lectern and a table for the exhibits.(and a glass of water!). GOOD LUCK! Bluebird Bob.
Date: Tue, 11 Jul 2000 08:03:45 EDT Schachtner saw a bluebird. ``It captured my imagination,'' Schachtner said. ``It was just so pretty.'' The bluebird has a white belly, a rust-colored breast and, of course, a blue back. In literature, Schachtner said, bluebirds are described as ``carrying the sky on their backs.'' Blue jays do that, too, but less spectacularly.
And they're obnoxious, noisy and aggressive. Bluebirds are special, Schachtner
said, and worthy of the Well, she is. Last fall and again this spring, Schachtner visited the Elmer Thienes/Mary Hall Elementary School to teach children about bluebirds, and to help them build nesting boxes for the birds. ``Kids love nests and eggs, but for them to understand the big picture, that will come in time, I hope,'' Schachtner said. ``At first it just seems a bird, then it's more than that.'' It's a symbol. It's a high-flying example of displacement, of non-indigenous birds beating out native species. It's the story of the bluebird. ``They were almost wiped out,'' Schachtner said. From the late 1800s until the early 1980s, bluebird numbers declined. Human populations grew. Urban areas expanded. Open spaces contracted. Winters worsened. And insecticide use increased. ``It was not a good combination of factors,'' said Jenny Dixon, a wildlife biologist with the state Department of Environmental Protection. In addition, bluebirds succumbed to air attack - from house sparrows and starlings. Those two non-native birds were brought here in the late 1800s. Since then, their populations have burgeoned at the expense of bluebirds. Like bluebirds, house sparrows and starlings enjoy nesting in the holes of trees, but bluebirds are no match for the aggressive foreign birds. ``They destroy the eggs and kill the adults and the young of the birds they are competing with,'' Dixon said. ``They are not nice little birds.'' They're pests, and treated as such. While most non-game migratory birds are federally protected, house sparrows and starlings are not. ``They're non-native and have no protection whatsoever,'' Dixon said. So in the bluebird world, it's not unusual for people to trap and dispose of house sparrows and starlings. And, of course, it's quite common for people to create nesting boxes for the bluebirds, which should be placed in a lawn or near a field with low vegetation since bluebirds eat insects. The boxes should be mounted on a metal pole that predators can't climb and have a 1.5-inch entry hole to exclude starlings. More information can be obtained from the North American Bluebird Society (www.nabluebirdsociety.org), of which Schachtner is a member. She also belongs to the Mazzzchusetts Bluebird Association and the Birdhouse Network. The DEP 860-675-8130 and the Connecticut Audubon Society at Glastonbury 860-633-8402 offer information about bluebirds and a workshop on building nesting boxes, which Schachtner has taken. ``When people know more about bluebirds, there will be more nesting boxes and more bluebirds,'' Schachtner said.
Date: Mon, 30 Oct 2000 14:27:51 -0500 To the Constituency: I'm one of those who, back in the 70's and 80's, had given up on the Bluebird as another ecological lost cause. I know I went for more than 20 years without seeing one. Yet I remembered that when I was growing up in Western Mazzzchusetts back in the 30's they were nearly as common as Robins. Then one day I saw one! Fact is, I saw a pair, nesting in a neighbor's box out in his garden. I started putting up Bluebird houses here in Sunapee in 1991, and for several years I muddled along, making all the basic mistakes left and right, reading everything on the subject that I could find, and gradually improving my techniques. We always have lived in a wooded area since we came to NH, so I've had to use other people's clearings. Year by year my number of houses has increased, and my success rate has gotten better and better. In 2000 I had 60 houses, - that's 30 pairs, - and 21 active Bluebird nests. I also had 28 Tree Swallow nestings at my 30 'sites.' Meanwhile in 1994, having learned the NH had no state Bluebird oganization, I cranked up the Conspiracy, and between then and now I've given away 1813 free packets of Bluebird-restoration information and suggestions. That's all I do, Bluebird-wise, - that and answer occasional phone calls and letters from packet-recipients. The Conspiracy has no officers, no meetings, no dues, no by-laws. I've given quite a number of presentations, but not nearly as many as some. I probably should do more. And I still keep hoping that some Organization Person will start up a real NH group, but it hasn't happened yet. You can imagine my delight, however, when my Conspiracy was accepted last year as a NABS affiliate. The big question in my mind right now is the fate of those 1813 free packets. I had envisioned a flood of mail and an avalanche of interest, but it hasn't happened. I mail out the packets, and they vanish, presumably, into oblivion. I will never know, of course, exactly what happened to them, but I could make a number of educated guesses. Here are some: 1.) The recipient reads the sheets (3) and decides that it's simply too much
work, - too much hassle. -and I'm sure there are other scenarios as well. My guess is that between 5% and 10% of my packet-recipients actually follow through and are successful. Maybe it's even fewer than that. One thing is sure; I've probably learned more about people in the past 6 years than I have about cavity-nesters and I'm a lot more realistic as a result. Bruce Burdett, NH Bluebird Conspiracy, Sunapee NH
Date: Mon, 30 Oct 2000 16:57:23 -0500 Hi All, A fellow Bluebirder (off list) and I are going to try to get our neighborhood interested in a "birding" seminar. What we will be doing is educating the people in our 200 house neighborhood on: The dangers of putting up unmonitored nestboxes of any kind....particularly
small decorative boxes. This is all in effort to get folks to stop doing things that are detrimental to the bird population in the area. We hope to get people to feed Millet wisely, in the winter only, and to stop feeding it if there is a house sparrow presence. We don't want them to take down their "unmonitored" decorative boxes..we want them to plug them up OR monitor them depending on their desire and the suitability of the house to a local species. What I'm looking for are any ideas on where to get hand outs?? I also wanted to see who it was that was putting flyers in newspaper boxes at the homes of folks who had put up these unmonitored nestboxes??? I would love to get a copy of it. Thanks for any help or advice. We are looking to set this up for late winter...Probably January. Laney
Date: Mon, 30 Oct 2000 20:42:46 -0500 Earnie, Please keep me posted on how your un-paired boxes do. If I were to do what you plan to do, I'd get Tree Swallows in nearly every box, and almost no Bluebirds at all. Pairing is what keeps me in business, Bluebird-wise. My area of New Hampshire is Bluebird-poor and Tree Swallow-rich. Also, where are you in the country? Are you in New Hampshire by any chance? -----Original Message----- From: Earnie Breeding ebreeding"at"yahoo.com Okay, here's one of the 1813 receipeints, who did not take time to write a thank you. I have the data and am working on getting several houses available for placing in the spring. I do not plan to mount in pairs as Bruce does. Reason, There is so much free space around here that I feel that I will get better results by establishing a trail down several of the major roads. I p[lan to use one house on every other power pole. If I had a thousand houses, I could place every one and still have places to mount more. I have found that there is one trail about 15 miles from where I live that has about 20 houses out. Maybe more people will get the word and help with this project. Again Bruce, Keep up thre good work. Earnie Bruce Burdett blueburd"at"srnet.com wrote: To the Constituency: I'm one of those who, back in the 70's and 80's, had given up on the Bluebird as another ecological lost cause. I know I went for more than 20 years without seeing one. Yet I remembered that when I was growing up in Western Mazzzchusetts back in the 30's they were nearly as common as Robins. Then one day I saw one! Fact is, I saw a pair, nesting in a neighbor's box out in his garden. I started putting up Bluebird houses here in Sunapee in 1991, and for several years I muddled along, making all the basic mistakes left and right, reading everything on the subject that I could find, and gradually improving my techniques. We always have lived in a wooded area since we came to NH, so I've had to use other people's clearings. Year by year my number of houses has increased, and my success rate has gotten better and better. In 2000 I had 60 houses, - that's 30 pairs, - and 21 active Bluebird nests. I also had 28 Tree Swallow nestings at my 30 'sites.' Meanwhile in 1994, having learned the NH had no state Bluebird oganization, I cranked up the Conspiracy, and between then and now I've given away 1813 free packets of Bluebird-restoration information and suggestions. That's all I do, Bluebird-wise, - that and answer occasional phone calls and letters from packet-recipients. The Conspiracy has no officers, no meetings, no dues, no by-laws. I've given quite a number of presentations, but not nearly as many as some. I probably should do more. And I still keep hoping that some Organization Person will start up a real NH group, but it hasn't happened yet. You can imagine my delight, however, when my Conspiracy was accepted last year as a NABS affiliate. The big question in my mind right now is the fate of those 1813 free packets. I had envisioned a flood of mail and an avalanche of interest, but it hasn't happened. I mail out the packets, and they vanish, presumably, into oblivion. I will never know, of course, exactly what happened to them, but I could make a number of educated guesses. Here are some: 1.) The recipient reads the sheets (3) and decides that it's simply too much
work, - too much hassle. -and I'm sure there are other scenarios as well. My guess is that between 5% and 10% of my packet-recipients actually follow through and are successful. Maybe it's even fewer than that. One thing is sure; I've probably learned more about people in the past 6 years than I have about cavity-nesters and I'm a lot more realistic as a result. Bruce Burdett, NH Bluebird Conspiracy, Sunapee NH
Date: Tue, 31 Oct 2000 08:22:50 -0500 Earnie, If Bluebirds are as common as you say they are in Canton, GA, and you have no competitor species, then probably pairing is not necessary there, as it is up here in NH. The suggestions in my free packet are based entirely on my experiences here where I am. My normal, or optimum, situation is a Bluebird nest in one house, a Tree Swallow nest in the other one, 15'+- away, and no competition whatever.. My first house, back in 1991, was a single one, (I only put out one house that year) and Bluebirds quickly took it. Immediately flocks of 15-20 Tree Swallows would swarm around the house all day until the Bluebirds finally gave up and went elsewhere. Eggs and nest were abandoned. Live and learn. Bruce -----Original Message----- From: Earnie Breeding ebreeding"at"yahoo.com Bruce; Canton, Ga 40 miles N of Atlanta. There are lots of EBB in the area I just want more. No problems with other birds in the 2 nesting boxes this year. Earnie Bruce Burdett blueburd"at"srnet.com wrote: Earnie, Please keep me posted on how your un-paired boxes do. If I were to do what you plan to do, I'd get Tree Swallows in nearly every box, and almost no Bluebirds at all. Pairing is what keeps me in business, Bluebird-wise. My area of New Hampshire is Bluebird-poor and Tree Swallow-rich. Also, where are you in the country? Are you in New Hampshire by any chance? -----Original Message----- From: Earnie Breeding ebreeding"at"yahoo.com Okay, here's one of the 1813 receipeints, who did not take time to write a thank you. I have the data and am working on getting several houses available for placing in the spring. I do not plan to mount in pairs as Bruce does. Reason, There is so much free space around here that I feel that I will get better results by establishing a trail down several of the major roads. I p[lan to use one house on every other power pole. If I had a thousand houses, I could place every one and still have places to mount more. I have found that there is one trail about 15 miles from where I live that has about 20 houses out. Maybe more people will get the word and help with this project. Again Bruce, Keep up thre good work. Earnie
Date: Fri, 3 Nov 2000 09:29:40 -0500 Dean, Cyprus and Redwood are rot resistant but not well suited for nestbox construction. This is because it is difficult to nail. It is prone to splitting and cracking. Cedar is light, sturdy and long-lasting wood excellent for nestbox construction. Pine is light and easy to work with but it will warp and crack over time. Fir is an alternative to cedar. It weathers better then pine. ,Paul Fifth Day Creations ---------- Original Message ---------------------------------- Greetings,
Date: Sun, 5 Nov 2000 10:33:36 -0700 All this discussion about where have all the EABL gone is great but my more important question is; WHERE WILL TOMORROWS BLUEBIRDS COME FROM? When we dedicated bluebirders are too old to build, monitor and clean out our boxes WHO will take over from us. In ten or twenty years when many of us will be past the time physically when we will be able to continue with our beloved bluebirds. What then! If we wait until then to get someone to take over our trail it may be too late. What will happen then, the boxes will rot and fall down, the nest will fill the entire cavity and no one will care. We had better get younger folks interested in helping us by monitoring, build and establishing new trail. If we don't someone will be writing on e mail what ever happen to the bluebirds. I use to see them all the time, it must be the weather, or lack of food or may it too many houses. Bob Wilson
Date: Sun, 5 Nov 2000 14:23:57 -0500 I wonder how many of you out there started to like and take care of bluebirds when you were young (I mean less than 30 years old). It seems to me that most of us got interested in BBs when we had time to "smell the roses". Even though I was interested in *all* birds all my life, it was not till my late 50s that I started to take care of BBs. And even then, it was upon the request of a bluebird. He came over me on a tree as I was gardening. He started to sing. I looked up, and I was so surprised to see him. What a lovely blue. He insisted, and kept on talking in the most gentle manner. Finally it dawned on me he wanted me to build him a house. I made over 28 houses that summer. Most of them not fit for bluebirds. By the middle of that summer I found out how to make them right, and got him and her to nest twice... I felt so happy like being in heaven! That got me hooked, and now it is hard for me to quit. I think of bluebirds most of the time. My wife even checks if I had seen "my" bluebirds today. If I did, then she knows I am in good spirits, if not, she knows I'll probably be irritable! She is not absolutely right, but on most days this method allowed her to predict my temper... (today I saw four of them, two males and two females.) So, I agree with Bob that we should get younger folks to take care of the BBs after we are gone or too old to do it. I wonder how young should they be? I think I would look for someone in their 50s and 60s. They have the time and ability to do it. Most younger people have work and probably would not dedicate the necessary time to do it... So, I am looking for a few good men and women who want to learn about bluebirds (and I will not hold it against any of them if they are young...) Fawzi ----- Original Message ----- From: "Robert Wilson" bluebirdbob1"at"home.com All this discussion about where have all the EABL gone is great but my more
Date: Sun, 5 Nov 2000 14:47:55 -0600 Dear Bob et al, Your post strikes a strident nerve. One which each and every person upon this list, could conceivably create change from within their community and environment, should they only react correctly to its call. This deals with teaching others: particularly the youth of today's world. My life-long interests and vocation of horticulture was initiated exactly so by an elderly woman who asked if I would accompany her on woods walks. As a gentlewoman, masterful teacher, and botanist, she had recognized a spark within me. On those long-ago walks, she carefully tended that tiny spark, ever so slowly adding the fuels of knowledge and wisdom until it became the flames of fascination which continue to this day to burn within me. Doubtless, this is similar to how so many of us who enjoy this list, became fascinated in ornithology. If we should take the time and think back about this question, we would discover a patient elderly teacher. So, the tradition demands that it must be carried forward by us into the next generation. We could, as you often suggest in your posts to the list, take a youth with us on our trail checks. Let me propose a slightly greater plan that will reach even more than a single student. Most of us will have the time this winter to assemble a delightful program which could be given to the area schools where we live. In actuality, many of us could do far more good in helping our Bluebirds by teaching such classes, rather than to tend a few nestboxes. Think about that statement for a few moments. The old saying about "feeding a man fish or teaching him how to fish" comes into mind here! Thank you Bob, for reminding me that I can spread the word by using my teaching skills! Fread J. Loane
Date: Sun, 5 Nov 2000 13:09:13 -0700 Your right I guess that younger people to me is anyone under 60 years of age. Audubon chapter is a good place to find people who would like to help. I have my display up at the chapter house and already I have several people who are interested. They are all retired so maybe that our market. Bob Wilson ----- Original Message ----- From: "Fawzi P. Emad femad <at> fpemad <dot> com I wonder how many of you out there started to like and take care of
Date: Sun, 5 Nov 2000 15:44:23 -0600 It would be easy to tell that I am locked in by rain today and have much time to devote to thoughts and bluebirds.........smile! After reading Bob Wilson's post, I began to think how we could gently encourage others to teach a short course of "Bluebirding" to their local schools. No matter how many times you tell folks how simple and easy it is, there are always the "first time jitters!" It is almost a universal fear for us to get up in front of any group, no matter their general age, or size of the group, and give a dissertation.......even though it's subject matter is about something we have strong feelings and a deep and abiding love for! However, once you successfully cross this bridge, you then quickly learn how very easy this was accomplished. Your fears melt like a March snow before the Spring sun. You start talking from the heart. This is what captures the young minds and begins the transformation of knowledge. When you speak from the heart with a willingness to share your personal love and fascinations in Bluebirding, there occurs a marvelous, beautiful, flowing exchange of knowledge. Indeed, witnessing this metamorphosis take place in someone's eyes and mind, is the truest essence of teaching.......! In my estimation then, it appears to me that the first step that most Bluebird folks need assistance with, is a general outline of the speech from which they can customize their individual presentation. This could be a "Bluebird List/serve Winter Project" for all of us who wish to donate their time and inspiration for just such a cause. Such an outline could be a part of our vast information packet that all have contributed so generously too, and easily printed off. I would enjoy hearing some thoughts about such a "Winter Project" from all of you discussed in the open forum of the List/serve. Fread J. Loane
Date: Sun, 05 Nov 2000 17:10:21 EST THIS IS THE BASIC OUTLINE OF A COURSE WHICH THE OHIO BLUEBIRD SOCIETY IS HOLDING IN MARCH, 2001. WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF EVALUATING/REVISING THE OUTLINE SHOWN HERE. BECAUSE OF THE BLUEBIRD-L INTEREST SHOWN TODAY, I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE APPROPRIATE TO PUT THIS ON-LINE FOR CONSUMPTION/USE BY THE FAITHFUL. BY THE WAY, THIS HAS BEEN ON THE BACKBURNER AT OBS FOR YEARS AND WE ARE JUST NOW TURNING UP THE HEAT IN RESPONSE TO INCREASED INTEREST IN THE BASICS OF BLUEBIRDING AS EXPRESSED AT OUR LAST ANNUAL MEETING. UPWARDS OF 30 PEOPLE (ages 30-55) INDICATED THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE OBS DEVELOP SUCH AN EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM. WE HOPE THAT OTHERS WILL BE INCLINED TO DO THE SAME KIND OF THING IN THEIR OWN AREAS. IF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IS REQUIRED, PLEASE CONTACT ME DIRECTLY. DEAN SHELDON, HURON COUNTY, OHIO From: "Dean E Sheldon, JR" seedbed"at"accnorwalk.com THIS IS AN OUTLINE FOR THE CONDUCT OF A SHORT COURSE
Date: Mon, 06 Nov 2000 01:01:42 GMT Joe Schultz I wanted to put up more boxes but I am always afraid that I wont have time to monitor them. I thought of a friend of mine that had written a paper about me and Bluebirding for a college class and got an A so I told her she owed me big time and asked if she would like to monitor a trail. She agreed and now I have a lady in her 20's monitoring 15 boxes on an 18 hole golf course that are up and waiting to go. At the time I was scoping out that golf course I was introduced to the manager of another 18 hole course who said I could put up boxes at his place too.I met one of the workers who must be in his late 20's or so who has an interest in wildlife at golf course number two. Not only is he going to monitor the boxes but he built 20 of them that we will put up in spring.We put the re-rod in the ground already before the ground froze up and sprayed the tops bright pink so no one will run into them. Now I will report on 50 boxes and only have to monitor my 20.I guess the moral of the story is take the bull by the horns and teach by doing not just talking.Once people see you are serious about something and that you will spoon feed them for a while,they will probably get hooked and pass on the hobby of a lifetime.
Date: Sun, 5 Nov 2000 20:21:19 EST I think visuals would help - Wendell's photos, notecards, the finger puppet eabl that I found. Tina
Date: Sun, 5 Nov 2000 20:32:40 EST I think you are onto something with golfers. Afterall they like taking long walks and green belts anyway. Tina
Date: Mon, 6 Nov 2000 10:00:20 EST I think this is a very good idea. I am already planning a talk at our library and have been asked to write something for the local Land Trust newsletter too. A general outline would be most helpful. Jane In a Message dated 11/5/00 4:35:23 PM Eastern Standard Time, firefrost2"at"earthlink.net writes: In my estimation then, it appears to me that the first step that most Bluebird folks need assistance with, is a general outline of the speech from which they can customize their individual presentation. This could be a "Bluebird List/serve Winter Project" for all of us who wish to donate their time and inspiration for just such a cause. Such an outline could be a part of our vast information packet that all have contributed so generously too, and easily printed off. I would enjoy hearing some thoughts about such a "Winter Project" from all of you discussed in the open forum of the List/serve.
Bluebird Education & Presentation (Part 2) |
BEST OF BLUEBIRD_L CLASSIFIEDS HOME | Audubon Society of Omaha | The Bluebird Box | Bluebird FAQs | Search | Contact meAll material was originally posted on the Bluebird_L or Bluebird mailing list, and has been reposted here with slight modifications to make the posts more readable in an HTML format. In cases in which quoted material has been deleted to save space, this is indicated by an ellipsis (...)For more information about Bluebird_L, check out http://www.cit.corn.edu/cit-pubs/email/using-lists/index.htm. If you wish to contact the author of a post, you will need to edit the e-mail address, replacing "at" with the "at" symbol (above the number 2 on your keyboard). (This change was made to discourage spammers.)If you are the author of a posting and would like to see a particular post (or posts) removed from these web pages, please contact me with the web page address, title of post, and date and time of the post(s), and I will remove whatever material you like. If you have a different opinion from one posted here, you need not contact me, as often I will have a different opinion too. The intent is to try and provide both sides to the issues facing bluebirders, and to do so in an impartial and objective manner.If you have problems, encounter broken links (unless they are within an e-mail thread, as I do not maintain those links), or have suggestions on how the site can be improved to make it more useful, please contact the Best of Bluebird-L Classifieds webmaster.Website design by
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