Prothonotary Warblers

Yvonne & Al Bordelon Covington, LA on the N. Shore of Lake Ponchatrain ...

This is the 2nd year that a pair of Prothonotary warblers have ignored bluebird houses to nest in a wooden butterfly shelter. The 9 slots on the shelter are about 1/2" wide and 2" long. I can peek down through them and see the little nest. She laid the 5th egg yesterday (Easter Sunday). Does anyone know, off-hand, what the incubation period is for Prothonotary Warblers?

The bluebirds are nesting a second time. The 5th egg was laid on Saturday, April 22. Papa is hanging out in the mulberry tree & huckleberry bushes with the 3 young from the 1st nest. Mama appears to have begun to incubate the eggs.

We have fledgling Tufted titmice and Carolina chickadees. There are many natural nest cavities since we leave dead trees standing as long as they don't threaten cars or houses. Have seen pileated woodpeckers, red-bellied wp, & great crested flycatchers investigating some of the dead trees/holes around the yard area. We haven't see the red-headed woodpeckers yet, but they should show up soon. A Carolina wren built in the rafters of the pump room and we have chimney swifts nesting in the chimney. The birds are taking advantage of the mild winter & beautiful spring.

Date: Wed, 26 Apr 2000 17:52:45 EDT
From: Warbler5"at"aol.com
Subject: Prothonotary warblers

...The incubation period for prothonotaries is 12-14 days. How in the world does the adult fit down in these slots?

BTW....I'll trade you a few of my western bluebird pairs for one of your prothonotary pairs ;o)

Dee Warenycia (warbler5"at"aol.com)
Roseville, CA

...Poor mountain bluebird wouldn't know what to do way down here in this humid low land. But we are better off than New Orleans, our neighbor to the south... we're several feet above sea level & actually have hills (little ones) & trees!!!

I was amazed last year that both male & female squeezed in & out of the slots. They are a little wider that the normal butterfly shelter & rough cut so one end might be 1/2" & the other closer to 3/4", but still. We are so blessed to have all these wonderful creatures around us.

Yvonne & Al Bordelon Covington, LA ...

Thanks to everyone who sent info about the prothonotary warblers. The pair that built the nest in the butterfly shelter have 3 or 4 babies. There appears to be one unhatched egg. It's hard to tell exactly since I have to peer down through the slots. They look like they're 3 or 4 days old so those little devils had been setting for over a week. We checked on Easter Sunday & the eggs were unhatched, so, the eggs must have hatched on Wednesday or Thursday. It looks like they may fledge next weekend if all goes well. The male broods as well as the female.

The EAstern BLuebird female is diligently incubating 5 eggs. The male goes into the nest box, but spends most of his time with the 1st 3 young.

The chimney swifts built a nest in our chimney as they have for the past 4 years. I think the great crested flycatchers are nesting in the wood duck box again, but they're really sneaky. Last year we didn't know they had nested there until the young fledged. There are many fledgling Carolina chickadees and Tufted Titmice.
The black mulberry trees draw such a multitude of different species including: northern flicker, red-bellied woodpecker, pileated woodpecker, EABL's, summer tanagers, catbirds, evening grosbeak, Carolina wren, indigo bunting, crows, & cardinals. If you have room away from houses & parking areas they're worth planting.

We are so blessed to have the opportunity to share our place with so many beautiful & interesting creatures.

Date: Thu, 02 Aug 2001 17:32:04 -0400
From: Mike Powers mep42"at"cornell.edu
Subject: Prothonotary Warblers (was: For Rent)

Hi Betty and other monitors,

I can't speak much on property values, but I can help with some ways to attract Prothonotary Warblers. Because they are one of the Birdhouse Network's "Most Wanted" birds, we recently ran a species profile in our quarterly journal with tips on how to attract them to a nest box if they are in your area (Birdscope, Spring 2001).

As you mentioned, they will nest in cavities over water. Mounting the box over water has the advantage of reducing competition with other cavity-nesters and lowering the possibility of predation, although predator guards are always a good idea. The disadvantage, of course, is monitoring becomes a bit tricky. Researchers have found that cavities low over the surface of the water are used more often than high cavities. Because moss is a key component of the nest (perhaps it favorably adjusts the microclimate in the box) they speculate the lower the cavity, the easier it is to gather moss and fill the box (less flying time between the ground/water and the cavity). The downside here is flooding: if the river rises, the cavity is suddenly under the water.

We received many letters from folks who have hosted Prothonotaries in their yards. Among their comments: They do not need to be over water, but they do need to be within sight of water. Several monitors found them nesting in boxes mounted on their house or a nearby post, but always with a pond or river within sight. Also, they will nest in almost anything, including glass jars, coat pockets, and mail boxes (note: we don't recommend putting out old peanut butter jars and hoping for a Prothonotary!).

But this brings up an interesting twist: they will nest in standard bluebird-sized boxes, but will also nest in milk-carton nest boxes. A researcher in Tennessee needed hundreds of "cavities" to mount in a specific area, and found a simple method to convert milk cartons into nest boxes. The boxes were only meant to be temporary, but she found they lasted for several seasons and the Prothonotaries actually preferred them to the standard boxes that were also placed in the swamp. She suspected that the smaller box volume was the reason: easier to fill the box with moss. The cartons thin wall apparently provided enough insulation in Tennessee and other southern climates, monitors in the northern part of Prothonotaries range should use standard nest boxes. In Tennessee, nesting success was similar or better in the milk cartons than in the other boxes, and predation rates were similar.

If you are interested in how to convert milk cartons to nest boxes, let me know and I'll be happy to send you a copy of the plans. Finally, since Prothonotaries have been declining in many of their traditional strongholds, please join the Birdhouse Network and submit your data to a national database!

I hope you are able to attract one or more pairs of these beautiful birds to your area! I remember seeing them along the C & O canal in the spring. A final interesting note (for history buffs, anyway): a birder named Alger Hiss, excited about seeing a Prothonotary along the Potomac, indirectly brought down the presidency of Richard Nixon.

Good birding,
Mike

At 08:45 AM 8/2/01 -0400, you wrote:

A stream runs thru the mountain trail & I lust for an ideal
spot for a box to entice the Prothonotary Warbler which
will nest in a cavity over water.

Since my Real Estate question to the List produced many experts
on "rental property", how do you suggest placing a box over a
stream and what type of box is best?

Betty Nichols, Middletown, MD (cheapskate)

Michael Powers
The Birdhouse Network
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
159 Sapsucker Woods Road
Ithaca, NY 14850

mep42"at"cornell.edu
phone: (607) 254-2416
fax: (607) 254-2415
http://birds.cornell.edu

Date: Fri, 18 Jan 2002 10:29:53 -0500
From: Tina Phillips cbp6"at"cornell.edu
Subject: Prothonotary trail

Hi all,

I am posting this request from the Nestbox-l list. If anyone has information for her, please email her directly, not the list! Thanks! Tina Phillips

Hello,

I would be interested in corresponding with anyone who runs a Prothonotary Warbler nest box trail or to have my name given to someone off this list who works with Prothonotary Warbs.

Doris McGovern
Media, PA
mcgovern"at"masca.museum.upenn.edu

Date: Thu, 28 Mar 2002 09:42:12 -0500
From: Tina Phillips cbp6"at"cornell.edu
Subject: Fwd: An interesting press release

Here is an interesting study using Prothonotary Warblers and their nesting cycles to look at global warming.


VCU BIOLOGIST FINDS EVIDENCE OF GLOBAL WARMING
Sixteen-year study shows migratory bird returns earlier every year
RICHMOND, Va. - Scientists and politicians have debated the existence
of global warming for many years. Now, a biologist at Virginia
Commonwealth University contends he has evidence that the earth is
indeed getting warming, and he points to the migratory pattern of a
little yellow bird due to return to its U.S. breeding grounds in early
April. Charles R. Blem, Ph.D., currently is preparing more than 300
nesting boxes for the return of thousands of Prothonatory Warblers. For
the last 16 years, Blem has studied the birds' migratory patterns and
breeding habits in a swampy area of Virginia's James River. But what
started as a basic research study revealed an interesting trend: the
bird has returned from its winter home in South America and the
Carribean an average of one day earlier every year. "We started
studying Warbler population changes as a part of neotropical migrant
bird decline," said Blem. "Only secondarily it turned out the numbers
were changing with time and reflected a change in climate." Blem is an
ornithologist and ecologist in VCU's Department of Biology. According
to Blem, the temperature of the nesting area has increased one degree
since his study began. The warmer it gets, he says, the sooner the
birds return. "I predict that if this keeps up, this bird will become a
resident species of North America entirely," said Blem.
Along with his team of volunteers and graduate students, Blem has amassed
one of the most comprehensive data collections on this particular bird.
"We know who their mother was. We know who their grandmother was in some
cases. We know how many eggs they laid so we can get a handle on long-term
change," said Blem.
The Prothonatory Warbler, also known as the Golden Swamp Warbler, is a
striking bright orange-yellow color and measures about five inches long.
It flies only at night during migration and breeds throughout the
southeastern United States and in southern Canada. Destruction and
degradation of breeding and wintering areas and competition from other
birds threaten the warbler's population, which has declined in recent
years. Blem says nesting boxes, which provide safe shelter from weather
and predators, are helping to reverse that trend.
Last year, the warblers returned to Central Virginia on April 6. Barring a
cold spell, Blem predicts the birds will be back in the United States
around April 5 this year.
About Charles R. Blem: Charles R. Blem, Ph.D., joined the Department of
Biology at Virginia Commonwealth University in 1969 as a professor and
teaches courses in ecology and ornithology. He received his M.S. and Ph.D.
in ecology at the University of Illinois. He is an affiliate faculty
member of the University of Montana, where he teaches a course in avian
ecology. Dr. Blem is a fellow of the American Association for the
Advancement of Science and the American Ornithologists Union. He has been
editor/associate editor of three international ornithological journals.
About VCU: Virginia Commonwealth University is ranked by the Carnegie
Foundation as one of the nation's top research universities. Located on
two campuses in Richmond, Va., VCU enrolls about 25,000 students in more
than 150 undergraduate, graduate, professional, doctoral and post-graduate
certificate degree programs at 10 schools and one college. Sixteen
graduate and professional programs have been ranked by U.S. News & World
Reports as among the best of their kind in the nation. The VCU Health
System is one of the leading academic medical centers in the country. VCU
recently launched VCU Life Sciences, a comprehensive undergraduate and
graduate program involving academic and medical faculty. In addition, the
university is developing the Virginia Biotechnology Research Park in
collaboration with business, civic and government leaders. For more, see
www.vcu.edu.

Tina Phillips
The Birdhouse Network
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
159 Sapsucker Woods Rd.
Ithaca, NY 14850

(607)254-2482
cbp6"at"cornell.edu
Join TBN at: http://birds.cornell.edu/birdhouse

From: Shane Marcotte marco50"at"bellsouth.net
Subject: Prothonotary Warblers
Date: Sat, 11 Jan 2003 9:07:11 -0500

Hello All,
Can anyone give me some insight on the Prothonotary Warbler? Do they begin nesting at the same time as Eastern Bluebirds? I am told that they are cavity nesters and will even nest in a clorox bottle with a hole cut in it!! Any info. will be appretiated.
Shane Marcotte
Louisiana Bayou Bluebird Society

From: "Larry A Broadbent" rockets"at"mnsi.net
Subject: Re: Prothonotary Warblers
Date: Sat, 11 Jan 2003 09:39:32 -0500

Shane,
The Prothonotary Warbler is the rarest bird in Canada. It is on Ontario's endangered species list. Their are only 20 known nesting pairs of Prothonotary Warblers know to nest in Ontario Canada.

Prothonotary Warblers nest in small cavities in trees that are located in water. Usually only a few feet above the waterline. One bird that wrecks havoc with the Prothonotary warblers is the House wrens. They are a major problem here in Ontario where the few pairs of Prothonatory warblers are nesting.

A friend of min who has the #1 Bluebird Trail in the province of Ontario is also involved with the Prothonotary Warblers. I will be submitting his past 5 years of Prothonotary Warbler nesting records to Cornell Lab this month.

Regards,
Larry A Broadbent
Chatham, Ontario

From: "Mr Tony" mrtony8"at"mchsi.com
Subject: Re: Prothonotary Warblers
Date: Sat, 11 Jan 2003 08:44:09 -0600

Shane,
Prothonatary Warblers show up here on the Gulf Coast early in the season, but never stay here long. They prefer northern climates to the steamy south. You may have them in La, but we sure don't.

Phil Berry
Gulf Breeze, Florida

From: "Lawrence Herbert" lherbert"at"4state.com
Subject: Prothonotary Warbler
Date: Sun, 12 Jan 2003 06:44:18 -0600

Years ago I had great success with half gallon milk cartons for these warblers. I placed them around trees along streams at the water's edge. I simply used strapping tape to keep them to the tree. I monitored them with an oars-only jon boat, and had 10 or 15 boxes on two trails. One trail was in north central Missouri when we lived there and the other was here in southwest Missouri.

P w's began nesting here when they arrived back in May. The cartons were used only once, don't recall one being used twice. I used the 1.5 inch diameter for the entrance the same as bluebirds. And, since they were flimsy cardboard, they only lasted one season.

Most of the cartons would be used each season. I think there seemed to be a shortage of nesting sites.

Periodic stream flooding was as much a problem as anything else. At times I wondered if I was doing them more harm than good.

They're sure a gorgeous little bird. I called them the "golden swamp warbler."

I believe I was only having about a 40 % nesting success ratio.

I used two half-gallon milk cartons for each box. I would think that the plastic 1/2 gallon milk cartons would be even easier. And, since they nest in the shade, the sun wouldn't be a problem.

Good birding, Larry H. Joplin MO. 37.02 N 94.28 W.

From: "Keith & Sandy Kridler" kridler"at"1starnet.com
Subject: Re:Prothontary warblers
Date: Sun, 12 Jan 2003 09:00:38 -0600

Keith Kridler Mt. Pleasant Texas
These warblers are nesting in regular wood bluebird nestboxes on Caddo Lake in Northeast Texas. They have higher success on this lake when the boxes are mounted on the free standing channel marking poles rather than mounted in cypress trees. Even well out into the lake there are high numbers of black rat snakes that live off of nesting birds in this cypress tree swamp. This is the ONLY naturally formed lake in the state that has water year around. It is only about 16 feet deep in the deepest channel and water level may drop as much as 10 feet during the summer creating thousands of acres of bogs.

I have had one report of one of these warblers that nested inside of an electrical breaker box panel near Lufkin Texas 200 miles south of me. The breaker box had a missing "knock-out" about 1&1/2" in diameter and the box was located on a corner of a boat house about 30 feet off the shore and 6 feet above the high water level.

Since the 1980's when three major lakes were completed in my area I have maintained about 100 nestboxes on or near the shores of these lakes and still have not had a single nesting of this warbler.

These birds can enter 1&3/8" entrance holes that would exclude most eastern bluebirds (not all) and will nest in smaller floored "chickadee sized" nestboxes. Since these birds are far rarer than bluebirds I would put FAR MORE effort into creating LONG lasting nestboxes, mounting pole combinations that would protect them from predators and weather. Flooding IS a major problem for these birds during nesting season. They will nest on shore near water and can be candidates for tree limb "hanging" nestboxes. (Linda Violett's preferred mounting style for Western Bluebirds.) Heavy walled schedule #40 PVC nestboxes would be excellent choices for this species.

You can do a search of Cornell's nestbox data site to see if these warblers (or any other species) are being reported by anyone in your region. https://secure.birdsource.org/login/login.html Is the log in page to put in your "favorites" when you become a member and want to check or enter data! Remember that they are running a two year special (last years data and this
years) for a one year price if you join and enter quick! KK

From: "Larry A Broadbent" rockets"at"mnsi.net
Subject: Re:Prothontary warblers
Date: Sun, 12 Jan 2003 10:18:37 -0500

My friend Don Wills from Caledonia Ontario, is the most knowledgeable person in Canada on the Prothonotary Warblers. There is a display of 4 different Prothonotary Warbler nestboxes that Don Makes, at the ROM Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto Ontario.

I have a color photograph of the 4 different styles of nestboxes Don Wills builds and uses here in Ontario Canada. Incidentally most of the only 20 known nesting pairs of Prothonotary Warblers are located in Rondeau Provincial Park ( by Lake Erie), which is less than a half hours drive from me her in Chatham, Ontario.

If anyone would like to see a color photo of these 4 different style Prothonotary Warbler nest boxes, please email me directly, and I'll send it to you as a email attachment.

And I agree with Keith, that FAR More attention be given to making and placing the proper nestboxes for this rare Warbler. As I said previously, this bird is on Canada's endangered species list, and is the rarest bird in Canada.

Kind regards,
Larry A Broadbent
Chatham, Ontario

Date: Mon, 13 Jan 2003 16:09:39 -0500
From: Tina Phillips cbp6"at"cornell.edu
Subject: Re:Prothontary warblers

I have thoroughly enjoyed the Prothonotary Warbler topic of late and hope that more people will try and attract these beautiful Most Wanted birds to their areas, where they exist. Currently, in TBN's database we have just over 100 nesting records of PRWAs entered from NC, NJ, OH, PA, and TX. This is a 500% increase since our Most Wanted program was initiated in 2001! We are anxious to get Larry's data from Canada as it may possibly be the most complete PRWA data from the great white north and have the potential to double the existing number of PRWA nest attempts in our database.

Also, we have our fingers for a new Nestbox Cam located in Texas which will hopefully attract PRWAs! Our funding is still very tight but we are hopeful! This would surely be a first, not to mention a thrill for birders everywhere!

Tina Phillips
The Birdhouse Network
Cornell Lab of Ornithology

From: "emcooper" emcooper"at"bayou.com
Subject: O/T Fw: [LABIRD-L] Whiskey Bay Prothonotary Warbler
Date: Thu, 20 Mar 2003 09:45:58 -0600

Click on the site below and see typical Louisiana. this was sent this morning. Evelyn Cooper Delhi, La. Louisiana Bayou Bluebird Society Bluebirds along the bayous.....where we lend a helping hand! www.labayoubluebirdsociety.org

Jill Beckman writes:

I've posted a photo of the PW here (note his lovely companion on the left):

http://jbeckmn.home.mchsi.com/proth2.jpg

From: "Larry A Broadbent" rockets"at"mnsi.net
Subject: Re: O/T Fw: [LABIRD-L] Whiskey Bay Prothonotary Warbler
Date: Thu, 20 Mar 2003 11:09:35 -0500

Evelyn,
That is a terrific photo of the Prothonotary Warbler and the fellow companion. Looks like a Water Moccasin snake. Am I correct about the snake?

Regards,
Ontario Eastern Bluebird Society (OEBS) ...
Larry A Broadbent

From: Shane&Emily Marcotte [mailto:marco50 "at"bellsouth.net]
Sent: Saturday, November 27, 2004 9:30 AM
Subject: Fw: Southern People and Prothonatary Warblers

Back to the milk carton nestbox for Prothonatary Warblers. Can someone tell me what to use and when do they nest in La? Will a Bluebird nestbox work?Do place it over water? Shane Marcotte Watson Louisiana

From: Larry A Broadbent [mailto:rockets "at"mnsi.net]
Sent: Saturday, November 27, 2004 12:10 PM
e: Southern People and Prothonatary Warblers

Shane, I will be glad to send you information on the proper types of nestboxes for Prothonotary Warblers, along with a photo of the different types used here in Canada. Prothonotary Warblers on Canada's - Extreme Endangered Species list. With less than 20 pairs of Prothon's in all of Canada. My friend Don Wills ( from Ancaster, Ontario) is on the Prothonotary Warbler recovery team, which is under the jurisdiction of the Canadian Wildlife Service and Bird Studies Canada. Don Wills fledged 5 Prothonotary Warblers this year from one of his hollowed out natural tree limbs mounted on a round steel pole in flooded swamp / bush area. I will get back to you later this evening with more details and a photo of Prothonotary Warbler nestboxes built by Don Wills. Regards, Larry A Broadbent Ontario Eastern Bluebird Society

From: Humbirdhill "at"aol.com [mailto:Humbirdhill "at"aol.com]
Sent: Saturday, November 27, 2004 4:41 PM
Subject: Re: Fw: Southern People and Prothonatary Warblers

Hi Shane, We have had prothonotary warblers nesting in houses and natural cavities here at our place outside Covington, LA for about 10 years.  So far they have used wooden standard NABS homemade houses, Wal Mart wooded bluebird houses, Wal Mart wren houses, Milk/juice carton boxes sprayed brown and a butterfly hibernation box nailed to the gate post.  They also nested in the cinder blocks that were holding up the neighbors a/c compressor and several rotten trees on our property. 

The most succesful nests were in boxes in part shade.  All were near water, none were in it, except 1 during flood stage.  I feel that the wooden houses with a roof extending out to protect the hole from crows etc. are safest.  Predator guards are also a plus.  Try to keep the boxes away from overhanging branches or tree trunks that flying squirrels could use to launch from. 

I think they really like the smaller houses because they usually choose them over the larger bluebird size. 

We are phasing out the cardboard milk carton houses so this winter we hope to build some wooden chickadee size houses for the P. warblers. The males arrive in March about 2 weeks before the females.  They begin singing and showing off to claim territories.  They put moss in the best boxes that they plan to show perspective brides.  When the females arrive the show begins.  You'll see pairs checking out various boxes.  The female makes the final decision. 

When you see her bringing in the moss & grasses it's pretty certain that eggs will soon follow.  She lays 4-5 spotted eggs.  She begins to incubate when the last egg is laid for 11-12 days.  The chicks fledge in 11 days.   In LA they usually have time for 2 nests.  They leave sometime in late August or September. The Cornell site has a lot of good info about Prothonotaries. We have a photo of a prothonotary nesting on our homepage.  There are also some links that you might find helpful:  http://hometown.aol.com/ylbordelon/LittleTchehabitat.html Hope this helps. Yvonne & Al Bordelon Covington, LA St. Tammany Parish

From: Wendell Long [mailto:mrsimple33 "at"go-concepts.com]
Sent: Saturday, November 27, 2004 11:30 AM
Subject: Prothonatary Warblers plus Canes Shane...

Yes, place it over or near water. I looked in a booklet--The Complete Book of BIRDHOUSE CONSTRUCTION for Woodworkers by Scott D. Campbell copywright 1984. Dover Publications, Inc. New York He listed the following for the Prothonotary Warbler: Interior Size 4"x4", Depth 8", Entrance Size 1 1/2", Entrance Above Floor 5", Height Above Ground 4-7'. Habitat: Swamps and near water in eastern deciduous forests. Nests over or near water. That is his recommendation. I don't know since I am not a woodworker.

...How about keeping us informed about your success with the Prothonotary Warbler. I hope you meet with great success. Wendell Long Caesar Creek Gorge, Ohio

From: Lawrence Herbert [mailto:lherbert "at"4state.com]
Sent: Sunday, November 28, 2004 11:24 PM
Subject: PRWA

Shane and bluebirders: When I was younger I studied Prothonotary Warbler nesting in both north and sw Missouri. I had equal success using standard bluebird houses and milk cartons. Milk cartons, of course, were only good for one season. I had them mounted on poles in creeks and monitored them with a jon boat. The boxes were mounted on poles for the most part. The base of the pole was a circular metal frame. They were held in place with a masonry block. So it took a lot of energy to get the "trail" up and running. I finally gave them away to a person who also had an interest in Prothonotary Warblers. He worked for Missouri Dept. Conservation, and wrote an article on his research in their magazine. He did quite well with his study also. He researched them over by Springfield, sw. Missouri. Good birding, Larry H. Joplin MO.

From: Lawrence Herbert [mailto:lherbert "at"4state.com]
Sent: Monday, November 29, 2004 8:04 AM
Subject: PRWA

Shane, I would think that Prothonotary Warbler get started nesting in Louisiana in early or mid April. Late May here in Kansas and Missouri. Streams are subject to flooding, so, if I had to do over again, I would try to find shaded owbows and marshes and pools What I do for wasps is, if there are several, return the next morning when it's cool and dispatch them. One or two at a time I can handle.... Good birding, Larry H.

From: Larry A Broadbent [mailto:rockets "at"mnsi.net]
Sent: Monday, November 29, 2004 9:24 AM
Re: PRWA

Shane, There is a excellent article in the NABS Bluebird journal Summer 2004 Vol.26, No.3. Pages 18 & 19 article by Steve Barlow. dealing with Wasp problems Soap applied to nest box ceiling can be solution. Steve Barlow is a Biologist and works for the US Fish & Wildlife Service. This article is about his 70 Prothonotary Warbler ( PRWA) nestboxes put up on the Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge in Florida. http://lowersuwannee.fws.gov/ This is a excellent article. It also shows two photos of a smaller NABS type rough Cypress PRWA nestbox mounted on steel post with 4" PVC Predator guards wt. 1 1/4" entrance holes. Kind regards, Larry A Broadbent

From: Larry A Broadbent [mailto:rockets "at"mnsi.net]
Sent: Sunday, December 19, 2004 7:20 PM
Subject: Prothonotary Warblers

Prothonotary Warblers (PROW)
Dear List,

A short while back I posted a few posts on this List about my concern of using plastic milk cartons for the Prothonotary Warbler nest boxes.

I also raised issue with the Prothonotary Warbler Milk Carton Plans on Cornell's - The Bird House Network (TBN) http://birds.cornell.edu/birdhouse/bhbasics/prowplans.html

Well, one individual took the time to email me personally and basically nit picked with me over my use of the word "Plastic" milk carton.

Well, I made a mistake in my choice of words. I meant to say and quote TBN website word for word, which states " ... plastic-coated cardboard milk cartons..."

Plastic-coated cardboard milk cartons or wax coated cardboard milk cartons would be even worse that using a plastic milk carton if such a plastic milk carton is actually available. It would be far easier for a predator to rip apart a Plastic-coated cardboard milk carton or wax coated cardboard milk carton than a plastic milk carton.

So just to clarify things Plastic-coated cardboard milk cartons or wax coated cardboard milk cartons or plastic milk cartons (if they exist) are all Bad to use for this endangered species or any other species of bird. Period!

I was able to get the Chairman of the Canadian PROW Recovery Team to second my feelings along with others on the PROW Recovery Team and other top Ornithologists in the States working on the PROW's.

So, if anyone wants to blame the person who got Cornell's - TBN to add this update note to their Prothonotary Warbler Milk Carton Plans http://birds.cornell.edu/birdhouse/bhbasics/prowplans.html
..."PLEASE NOTE, THESE TYPES OF PLANS ARE ONLY RECOMMENDED FOR USE IN WARMER CLIMATES. WE DO NOT RECOMMEND THEIR USE IN THE NORTHERN PART OF THE UNITED STATES OR CANADA."

then blame me.

One of the PROW recovery biologists in the States made this comment about milk cartons
..."The milk carton boxes border upon putting up trash or litter! I will suggest to TBN that a better set of plans be put on the web site." ...

Look for new, small NABS style PROW wood nestbox plans on TBN website in the near future. Along with some excellent PROW nesting photos.

Regards,
Larry A Broadbent
Chatham, ON

Larry, I think the man you mention that gave his description of the milk carton is from Florida. I think some folks in the south would like to see better ways for the PW's to nest down here recommended.

It is hard to tell someone that NABS does not recommend this kind of material on their Fact Sheets and then there it is on TBN big as Dallas recommended for our part of the country.

Evelyn Cooper
Delhi, LA

Evelyn, yes the person / Biologist working with the PROW Recovery is from Florida.
And this is what he said.
..."The milk carton boxes border upon putting up trash or litter! I will suggest to TBN that a better set of plans be put on the web site." ...
I'm in complete agreement with his statement.

I have been reading though all of the top Ornithological papers, research notes, on the Prothonotary Warblers going back to 1912.

A lot of the PROW Recovery / Nestbox teams were initially using wax-coated cardboard milk cartons for the PROW's when they first started.
Fortunately most of these people came to the obvious conclusions that better nest boxes were needed, and started putting up wood nestoxes.

So, yes, I for one would NOT recommend wax-coated cardboard milk cartons to be used for nestboxes for the PROW's or any other species of bird, for Canada & the United States, or the wintering grounds of the PROW's in Central America, the Carabians and coast of South America.

Regards,
Larry A Broadbent
Chatham, ON

I know that there are members on the list who are interested in Prothonotary
Warblers. For more information on the Central Park PW sitings go to Marie
Winn's Website/Blog. She does a wonderful job of keeping a log of all kinds
of birding and wildlife activity in Central Park, NYC - there's also a very
nice pic of the PW. http://mariewin.server304.com/marieblog/

kimmarie :)
Buffalo/Varysburg, Western NY

From: David Gwin [mailto:David.Gwin"at"cityofcarrollton.com]
Sent: Wednesday, February 22, 2006 10:27 AM
Subject: RE: Favorite nestbox site

I had a very similar experience when I first began nestboxing (is that a word?) ...

I grew up in an area of the country that was completed surrounded by major wetland areas and large expanses of hardwood, bottomland forests. As such, I have always loved spending time exploring the river and its backwaters. At that time, one of the birds that was fairly common there was what an elderly neighbor used to call the "golden swamp bird" ... today, we call this bird the Prothonotary Warbler!

If you are familiar with the species, they are remarkably "tame" and VERY driven to find nesting cavities during breeding season. This elderly neighbor taught me how to take wax-coated, cardboard milk cartons and construct nest boxes out of them. I know it sounds crazy, but the Prothonotary Warblers would immediately occupy just about everyone that I put up. The boxes would only last one season, but a little diner in town used to save all their cartons for me so that each winter, I would have the next seasons nest boxes ready to go. To this day, when I find a pair of golden swamp birds nesting in one of my boxes, I am transported back to those very carefree days so many years ago.

Have a great day,
David

P.S. - Because of these early experiences, a large section of my current nest box trail is along a major riparian corridor and every April, I eagerly await the first flitters of gold in the dark recesses of the swamp and that often heard and wonderful song ... twseet, twseet, twseet!

...While PROWs like to be directly over or near water for nesting, I have observed that there is a lot of latitude in how they actually define "near." This is especially the case when you have an extremely popular and competitive habitat for them. On my trails, they seem to take the boxes that are located in intermittently-flooded, bottomland forest first; then they occupy the river corridor itself and finally they will occupy boxes in wooded areas as close to the river as possible. A good rule of thumb to follow is ... the slower the movement of the water, the better they like it!

Over the years, I have also noticed that a pair will often move to a different box for their subsequent broods during the same breeding season. The most broods I have ever had in one season is three (3) from the same pair ... but because they often switch boxes/cavities in between broods, I don't know if I would take that number to the bank.

Also, they have to work really hard during the breeding season since they are one of our migrating cavity nesters. As such, they arrive here in early April and leave to return to Venezuela/Columbia/Panama in early September. I have a hunch that this really puts them at a major disadvantage when in comes to nest box competition ... and this is all the more reason why more of us should be working to specifically help them! ... especially with our society's continued destruction of their preferred breeding habitat!

Because CACH begin nesting so soon for me, I am usually pretty lucky in that I can get a brood of CACH out of the box before the majority of the PROW move in ... so re-tenancy is the name of the game for me! In fact, on a couple of occasions, it has been possible for me to have the same box used by successful pairs of CACH, PROW & EABL ... all in one breeding season and in that succession!

In my opinion, the easiest way to get them to use your boxes is to listen for the males at the beginning of the season and then site a box nearby (this is where my hanging boxes are most valuable). Each year, I do minor adjustments to my trail layout to optimize breeding capacity on the 850+ acres that I work.

Also, male PROW have a very distinct call song that is easy to identify.
However, once the breeding process commences they quiet down considerably. They are also very inquisitive by nature and allow you to "track" them quite easily. I think I have shared before that the males often come to meet me as I work my boxes and stay with me as I work my way down to their box.

I hope this information helps.

Take care,
David

P.S. - Louisiana is just covered with prime PROW habitat, so just put a box out there near the water, in a somewhat secluded place, and let me know when you snag your first pair! Good luck! :)

Evelyn and all, I have trouble identifying a PROW nest because it looks so much like a CACH nest. Then, the PROW eggs look so much like CAWR eggs except that it obviously is not a CAWR nest. God forbid if a CAWR ever took over a CACH nest -- I would lose my mind. :-)

Funny Evelyn, you've been telling me that PROWs nest early but they are nesting the same as last year; that is, about the end of the first bluebird cycle. This particular PROW is nesting in a box just 100 yards from the box they nested in last year. Both boxes are about 100 yards from a swamp.

-Kenny
Baton Rouge, LA

From: Evelyn Cooper [mailto:emcooper"at"bayou.com]
Sent: Friday, May 05, 2006 8:42 AM
Subject: KENNY'S PROTONOTARIES

Yep, Kenny, your PROW's don't read the books.

Over a year ago, I fussing on another List Serve because a lot of folks in South LA use the cardboard milk cartons and plastic jugs and was told that the PROW's usually nest early before it gets so hot. Also, they told me most of them are in the shade.

I am still fussing because most of those type boxes don't have guards. Fledging rates are very low. In a wild storm like we had last night, they would be blown over to Mississippi. Half of one of my Cedar trees in the back yard is gone this a.m. It is strange that all my boxes seem to withstand this. There is a nestbox just 20 ft. from it on a "t" post not harmed. One season a huge Sweet Gum tree was blown down with its roots up just about 20 ft. from my wooden pole nestbox and it wasn't moved!

This is not to say they won't be damaged, but we have some terrible winds and so far in 9 years, they are not lying on the ground....Evelyn, Dehli LA

From: Evelyn Cooper [mailto:emcooper"at"bayou.com]
Sent: Friday, May 05, 2006 8:59 AM
Subject: Re: KENNY'S PROTONOTARIES

P.S. I meant half of "my Cedar TREE" is gone in the backyard and the nestbox is 25 FT. not 15 from it. (typos)

I guess Kenny is really in the second cycle where he is. My second nesting cycle has just begun. They are usually 3 weeks ahead of us. I am sure having the Prothonotary nest after the Bluebirds nest their first cycle is interesting.

Also, do PROW's have just one cycle?

Evelyn

http://audubon2.org/webapp/watchlist/viewSpecies.jsp?id=165

I was told by a List Member to give the List a break, but I want to send
this link. It answers my question about PROW's nesting twice in a season and
whoever told me they got through nesting before the weather got hot is full
of "hot air". I think they deserve wooden boxes just like our other cavity
nesters. Just my feelings.

Evelyn

Kenny:

Here in the South ... beginning to nest at the end of the first EABL
cycle, is right on target for PROW.

Thanks,
David

P.S. - Quick question ... The box that is 100 yards from the swamp ...
Is that 100 yards of wide open space between it and the swamp? (FYI ...
I have an experiment set up on my trail that is meant to test how far
from the water they will tolerate.)

I am back from our meeting in Baton Rouge. It was so neat to find a that a Prothonotary Warbler was nesting about 10 ft. from the building. Some got to see the female, but I didn't. I got to see her eggs. ....

From: Yvonne & Al [mailto:tchehabitat"at"bellsouth.net]
Sent: Tuesday, June 13, 2006 8:57 PM
Subject: Prothonotary Warblers, Gr. Crested Flycatchers & Bluebirds

After a slow start, the nestboxes on our small trail had a high percentage of occupancy this year. This was probably due to the fact that most of the natural cavities were knocked down by H. Katrina. Five pairs of Carolina chickadees had successful nests, which was such good news because they haven't been doing well the last few years.

Three different pairs of Prothonotary warblers were successful: 1 in a bluebird box, 1 in a chickadee size box & 1 in an ornamental old barn wood box on our front porch. I have pictures of the pair on the front porch. It looks like they are starting a 2nd nest, too.

A pair of Great Crested Flycatchers built in a screech owl sized box in the vegetable garden and the last of their young are fledging as I write. We found what we think is a great crested flycatcher's nest in box #13. We are unable to check it regularly because you have to scale 4 fallen trees and balance on logs to reach it. It also has never had a nest in it until this year. We considered making it box 12b, but maybe it's not jinxed after all. :-)

After a successful 2nd nesting attempt producing 4 fledglings (I saw them on the wire this a.m.) the eastern bluebirds have laid 4 eggs & the hen is beginning to set in one of the houses from the LA Bayou Bluebird Society.

Tomorrow we check the boxes down in the woods. We're hoping for 2nd nests for the 2 Prothonotary pairs. This a.m. we watched a family of brown headed nuthatches feed their young. I guess they found a dead limb somewhere for their nest. There was another family using the feeder down by the river.

Photos of the Prothonotary warbler parents on the porch & the fledgling great cresteds can be found at: http://home.bellsouth.net/p/s/community.dll?ep=331&folderid=243085&folderview=thumbs&groupid=303304&ck=

or go to our website at: http://home.bellsouth.net/p/PWP-tchehabitat and click on the photo album at the top or the bottom of the page, then Habitat Happenings.

Yvonne & Al Bordelon
Covington, LA
St. Tammany Parish

From: Lawrence Herbert [mailto:lherbert"at"4state.com]
Sent: Friday, January 26, 2007 8:21 AM
Subject: prothonotary warblers

Al & Yvonne in Covington LA:

Thanks for sharing - and you have a beautiful web site!
I used to study Prothonotary Warblers when I had a jon boat and a wagon to slide it in for transport.

I had plenty of PROW's too! Many nested in 1/2 gallon milk cartons. Many liked the standard bluebird box. Most nesting sites were occupied year after year. They were placed on poles with a welded platform at the bottom and stayed in place with a cinder block. Gorgeous birds.
If I had the TEA I'd still be studying them (time, energy, ability). The biggest problem the warblers faced was fluctuating stream levels, i.e., flooding.

One odd place I recall a PROW nest was in a 3 " diameter pvc pipe that was stuck in the ground at a 45 degree angle. A nice, "safer" nest box was right next to the pipe! Go figure.

Good birding, Larry H. Joplin (sw) MO.

From: Al & Yvonne [mailto:tchehabitat"at"bellsouth.net]
Sent: Friday, January 26, 2007 12:23 PM
Subject: Re: prothonotary warblers

Lawrence & Bluebird-l
Yes, Prothonotary Warblers should get the prize for the most unusual nest placement. Our S. LA ones would ignore well built wooden boxes and use cardboard 1/2 gallon milk cartons, too. But Evelyn made us promise to phase out the cardboard boxes and we have replaced them with PROW size wooden ones. The PROW use all sizes and shapes if they are placed in shady areas on or near water. Each year we see the males placing green moss in the butterfly shelter, but the females have vetoed this spot in recent years.

We seem to have all of our nest boxes above the high water line, but we still have problems checking some of them regularly during rainy years.
We had been enduring a drought since before H. Katrina, but for the last
2 months we've gotten so much rain that rubber boots are needed whenever we go outside. It's either famine or feast.

Hopefully this year's breeding season will be productive with just the right amount of rain to bring out the insects and to produce fruit and berries, but not enough to cause much flooding.
Yvonne & Al Bordelon
Covington, LA

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