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Bluebird sightings in the SpringDate: Tue, 6 Feb 2001 13:08:30 -0500 I have noticed over the past couple of days that a pair of banded EABL's have joined my wintering seven EABL's. They all get along without any competition. Eating the mealworms and also from a tube feeder with a seed combination called "fruit and nut" that I purchased at Walmart store. The EABL's will eat all day long from this seed combination which I was surprised to see. Of course they will take a break to enjoy the mealworms when I put them out. The tube feeder is suction-cupped to my window and as I sit here writing I have four EABL's within four feet of me. Very cool! I wonder if this pair of banded EABL's are new to this area or could they be some of my first two clutches from last year returning from their journey south? The first two clutches of birds were banded but the last clutch was not due to timing and the schedule of the bander in this area. Caren Wagner
Date: Wed, 07 Feb 2001 10:33:02 -0400 Haleya Priest Amherst MA I continue to learn how tough bluebirds are during these winter months. I bet this snowstorm barely if at all affected them negatively. Nature is absolutely brilliant in the designing of protecting bluebirds from the winter elements! This happens with the design of the bird (feathers, etc), their instincts, and the addition of being supported by their environment. The morning of the storm, and I've noticed this with other large storms, the blues scattered and headed towards the deep woods - they have that "instinct" that something is on its way. When I was out fixing boxes, I noticed how tall staghorn sumacs grow out here in New England, and several different flocks of birds (including bluebirds) were feasting on the berries. No matter how much snow falls, these berries will always be available. And even though they aren't the most nutritious, they keep the birds supplied with enough calories and nutrition to keep them going. When I was out repairing boxes before the storm, not one of my boxes at one particular site had roosting bluebirds. It dawned on me that the reason was that these boxes are all placed out in the open, and of course the bluebirds know to roost somewhere deep in the woods away from wind. Between those things, we have high test bluebirds out here! It seems they may be way more vulnerable to predators than a big snowstorm. Ice storms are another matter... but I think they master a snowstorm like we would master a winter time 3 hour power shortage. I'd like to hear from those who have weathered the ice storms this winter to hear if you lost blues to all of their food being covered in ice.. Haleya
Date: Wed, 7 Feb 2001 12:17:54 -0400 Diane Seward, Potomac, Maryland A bright, sunny morning, and I awoke to a male blue announcing his availability with a rich, varied song--just beautiful. Half an hour later, a pair of blues appeared at the birdbath, then sat on a wire directly over and just a few feet above a container of mealworms on top of our bluebird feeder, but did not investigate further. You figure! (The feeder was installed two weeks ago.) They then investigated our backyard nestbox, and I am anticipating an early first nesting, if this mild weather keeps up. By the way, I have strung 8-pound monofilament in two, taut, vertical lines on each side of our NABS'-style nest boxes. The blues are not deterred, confirming the observations of others on the list, but today I saw several house finches flying around the box, who would not alight on it. And I have not seen any HOSP near it. They have their own decoy box to investigate nearby. Thanks to Fawzi's design, the decoy soon will be outfitted with an external Huber-type trap that can be operated manually. This set-up should eliminate the risk of trapping a blue or other desired cavity nester.
Date: Sat, 10 Feb 2001 22:28:42 -0500 Jus to let you all know I spotted 15-20 Western Bluebirds all "puffed up" and sitting in the same tree while driving to work this afternoon on I-80 in Sacramento. Cute little critters.. Other good birds of interest were 40+ flyover Tundra Swans and 9-10 Long-billed Curlew feeding in an agricultural field. Yellow-billed Magpies abounded everywhere. -Derek Cragin
Date: Sun, 11 Feb 2001 11:54:27 EST Hello all, this morning at 9:00 AM I saw for the first time this year a male BB., first he was in the feeder with the goldfinches and then to a flower pot , have put raisins and suet feeder out. Happy Days , JoAnn, Guilford,CT
Date: Sun, 11 Feb 2001 12:00:03 EST Hi all...My blues have returned too. (four of them...one male and three females) They have been waiting for mealies at their feeder every morning since last week. If they're not there, they're in the nearby trees ready to come to my whistle. Yippee!!!! I'm going to experiment this year with another set of boxes facing away from the first set. I will let you know what happens. Nancy Bocian
Date: Sun, 11 Feb 2001 13:45:46 -0800 Linda Violett - Yorba Linda, Calif. Since we have bluebirds all year round, I keep a close watch on the many signals left in the boxes to gauge the start of the nesting season. Some (not all) nesting pairs on my trail will leave thin flat material in their boxes just prior to nest building. The material is wide but thin (flat) and at least 2" long and you can't miss it. It usually consists of just one special item per nestbox which can be: a flat curly strip of bark, a single feather (2" size), a flat party ribbon, a gold band from a pack of cigarettes, a clear cellophane wrapper from a toothpick wrapper or a paper wrapper from a straw. After that special item is placed in the box (presumably by the female), a full nest is built within one or two weeks. I'm pleased to say this weekend was the official opening of the 2001 nesting season on this central Yorba Linda, Calif. trail with the appearance of a 2"-3" long piece of translucent wrapper (strip was about 1/2" wide) in one box and a 2" feather (mourning dove?) in another. This year I will set up a web page entitled "Claim Straws" to visually record these precursors to nest-building.
Date: Sun, 11 Feb 2001 18:38:46 -0500 I saw my first blues about 1 1/2 miles down the road from me - there were at least 2 - a male was sitting on the short telephone electrical box. I saw them again the next morning. Yesterday to my surprise we looked out the window and saw that a HOSP was on one of our nextboxes. Then we looked again and saw our blues! As I was jumping around trying to look, I noticed at least 2 males and 2 females - the blues were chasing the HOSP away from the boxes. It made my day - only a few more weeks and they'll be nesting - I can't wait - since this will be our 2nd year at watching the blues! I remember seeing them towards the middle of March last year when it was kinda warm out - so they seem to be a few weeks ahead of schedule. Just thought I would share!
Date: Sun, 11 Feb 2001 20:37:55 -0600 I obtained permission from Brush Freeman of Utley, TX to share the information below gleaned from his posting today on the Texbirds list. Bastrop, TX is about 30 miles east of Austin. Maybe one day the NABS convention will be in Central Texas! Today Brush birded Sayersville Rd. just north of Bastrop in Bastrop County. Birds he saw included at least 6 Mountain Bluebirds and even more rare for Bastrop Co. was a single, brilliant male Western Bluebird associating with a handful of Easterns about .5-.6 mile. south of the Mtn. Bluebird location. Brush furnished complete directions (if any want to check out what sounds like a Texas brag)! Sayersville Road is essentially a northern extension of Main St. in Bastrop and goes through some open rangeland well north of town. The birds were noted along the road well after it reverts back to gravel. It is little traveled. The Mountain Bluebirds were in the weedy field near and just south of a old dilapidated house on the right. The Western was about a half- mile to the south of that in a large post oak in the open pasture. Pauline Tom
Date: Tue, 13 Feb 2001 09:27:51 -0500 28 this AM heavy frost========= At 830am saw a male bluebird at my backyard box making an inspection. He entered the box later took off. Rager N/W Ohio
Date: Tue, 13 Feb 2001 20:24:41 -0500 My blues have been around all winter. I would see them several times a week at the bird bath. Some only one, sometime up to 6 at a time. Several time in the last few weeks, I have seen them sitting on the house. Today it was over 50 degrees and a pair was going in and out of the house for some time. At one point, the male chased another male away. I reduced the rent this year, so I'm sure they'll be back Lynn near Reading Pa. ---------- From: Joseph Frisco jfrisco"at"mediaone.net
Date: Tue, 13 Feb 2001 22:07:10 -0700 I went out to Unaweep Canyon today to repair the 65 nesting boxes and cover one of each of the paired boxes. The Ash Throated Flycatchers will take over the BB nest if I don't do this every year. I didn't see one bluebird but did see lots Chucker and Quail. All the bluebirds are here in the valley at 4,600 feet not at 7,000 feet where the trail is located. We only lost three boxes to human predators this past winter. Looking forward to a great season. Bob Wilson
Date: Wed, 14 Feb 2001 08:31:21 -0600 Below is another bluebird report from Central Texas (4 - 20 Mountain Bluebirds near Bandera) that showed up on Texbirds-L! Pauline Tom ----- Original Message ----- From: ricky Here, 8 miles southeast of the "city" of Bandera (40 miles west of San Antonio, 30 miles south of Kerrville) we have had from 4-20 Mountain Bluebirds continuously since December 7. Last week one of the males was standing on a nestbox which our usual Eastern Bluebirds have been using for eleven years. The stunningly beautiful MBB's are quite tolerant of our watching and adoration.
Date: Mon, 19 Feb 2001 18:38:16 -0600 Bill Darnell Savannah, TN, windy, cool. Today, I checked nearly all my boxes. I usually leave the old nests in place until spring cleaning. I do this because it makes ME feel warmer for the birds roost in boxes with old nests. At least a third of the boxes looked like they had been roosted in all winter. Lots and lots of poop. I found no live parasites. Box construction: Since reading so much discussion of boxes for the last year, I paid quite a bit more attention to the condition of my boxes . I will never build a box using nails again. Screws cost a little more, are very easy to drive with a variable speed drill. I use the socket head screws, making it even easier. I carry a battery drill motor with me. Just beat on a box with a hammer if you want trouble. Screwed together boxes just hold together better. Boxes are not rocket science, and a bluebird could care less if the box was a winner in a "Birds and Bloom" photo contest or not. The bird wants a place that it's instincts tell it are safe. Even getting a little damp in this part of the world is not usually fatal. Location: When I reconstructed my trails a year ago, I was more careful of where I located the boxes. A lot were on fence posts. I tried to make sure I attached the box to a post away from brambles, where tall weeds would grow, etc. I believe a predator (coons, snakes, even cats) is reluctant to expose itself in the open to say, Great Horned Owls, which will catch nearly anything, or Coyotes, of which we have lots. I also have some boxes attached to utility poles on roadways and had good luck with them. Put the boxes on utility poles facing away from the direction vehicles travel; that makes it nearly impossible to throw bottles at them. Another thing I will be trying this year is gourds for housing. They cost next to nothing if you grow them. I know it was mentioned here recently that you can't clean them out or examine the contents. However, they can be easily fixed so you can. I have 32 up for Purple Martins and every one has an access door. I can direct anyone to some Purple Martin sites which will show you how it is done. I will do one for bluebird gourds soon, showing just how easy and inexpensive it can be. One reason I am going to try gourds is that I want to try a few hanging houses because the danged cows on some of my trail like to rub them down, and a gourd house would be very easy to hang. Sorry for such a long post; but I have not posted much in a while. Bill
Date: Sat, 24 Feb 2001 08:08:13 -0600 On Wednesday February 22 I say 4 Eastern bluebirds on a melt puddle of water about 1 mile north of the Niobrara River in central Keya Paha county Nebraska. This 1000 acrea pasture is deep clay canyons with oak, red cedar and some pines. There are plenty of red cedar and sumac berries to sustain the berry loving birds. It was nice to see them after looking at too much snow while feeding the Angus cow herd that we raise on the Hall Ranch. Carolyn Hall, the Sandhills Bluebird Lady, Bassett, NE
Date: Tue, 27 Feb 2001 04:54:44 -0800 (PST) Hello, everyone! Well, I can "finally" join the rest of you by saying "they're back!" Yes, I spotted my first BBs of the season just about 10 minutes ago! What a lovely sight! The Bluebirds have returned to Northeastern Pennsylvania! Excitedly, Date: Tue, 27 Feb 2001 08:50:42 -0500 The Bluebirds are back in the Northern Neck of Virginia!!. I just seen one
just a few minutes ago can't wait to watch these beautiful birds Date: Tue, 27 Feb 2001 08:51:16 -0800 The bluebirds are on the move. I, too, saw my first (Mountain) bluebirds of the new season yesterday. There were 6-8 that I could see, one perched on one of my boxes. (I stick old pine branches in a "T" in the open top of the conduit that supports my boxes to provide perching space.) The rest were foraging in the brush in the area. They seemed to be passing through, and today the snow is flying. They are right on schedule with previous years. Molly Date: Fri, 2 Mar 2001 14:23:43 -0800 Lonn in Roseburg, Oregon Date: Fri, 02 Mar 2001 18:44:41 -0800 Lonn/Linda, ----Original Message Follows---- Lonn in Roseburg, Oregon Date: Mon, 05 Mar 2001 00:44:29 -0500 Bluebirders, This sight is one to behold: 125+ Mountain Bluebirds are being seen in the fields around Road 27 outside of Woodland (near Sacramento). Other birders have seen them as well, and they are absolutely glorious. The weather these past few days has been overcast, very windy, and very rainy, so they weren't seen then. But during the beautiful days, oh, it is just quite the sight. Many of them are males, which makes it even more beautiful. Some days 90 are seen, others around 150. But at any rate, the amount isn't the point, the beauty makes it awesome. And to see them in the field, with the Vacaville foothills and snow-tipped mountains in the distance, blue sky above, and blackish-brown agricultural field as the background makes it even better. For those of you, if any, in the area, it is well worth the drive to see them. Ask me for directions if you'd like to go. Cheers, -Derek Cragin ~ Sacramento area, California Date: Mon, 5 Mar 2001 11:29:26 -0600 Jay and the list, This is the second Message that I wasn't clear so obviously I wasn't. My
definition is a nest with at least one egg. What I am trying to establish Sorry to be so confusing, that certainly was not my intent. As a general Message to the list I might add I am doing some work on my web
site that will split up large files of Best of Bluebird Mailing Classified Also as a general Message, I just got done opening up my trail for the year.
I open it usually around presidents day and this year I am a little late due to
cold weather, snow and ice. For the record, at least on my trail, there were no
bluebirds at all. Just a few red-tailed hawks, a chickadee, a Jim McLochlin The Audubon Society of Omaha = http://audubon-omaha.org/ -----Original Message----- Hi Jim--- Thanks--- -----Original Message----- As I did last year, I will be mapping the first nesting of 2001. The rules are also the same. 1. The date/time of the email, phone call, postmark (for snail mail) will
serve as the date/time of record. I know to some this may not seem fair but 2. I will record all three species of bluebirds, chickadees, tree swallows,
and nuthatches, wrens. In other words any native species using a single 3. I will include a text line with your record of up to eighty characters. Included in this can be any or all of the following: actual date (if different from the one of record), your name, city, trail location, email address, nest box type, etc., In fact just about anything you want to include. You must define this in the email, phone call, snail mail. 4. The lines of text will be below the map in alphabetical order (by state/province). 5. The rules will change as I see fit. Notice this mapping is not limited to those who subscribe to Bluebird-L. It is open to all who monitor nestboxes in the US and Canada. Please send all submissions to me directly so as not to bog down the list. I will try to scoop any off the list that I see and add them to the map. Jim McLochlin The Audubon Society of Omaha = http://audubon-omaha.org/ Date: Mon, 5 Mar 2001 21:41:34 -0800 (PST) As of March 3 we have at least three EABB nests in boxes on our trail. It has been too muddy to check some of them. Daily temperatures have been in the low 70's frequently. ===== Date: Wed, 7 Mar 2001 06:57:31 -0500 Carolyn, et al, ----- Original Message ----- How much snow did this storm leave you? Looked from here like a mess. Date: Wed, 7 Mar 2001 09:03:59 -0500 Hi Bruce... We had three yesterday while the snow was blowing - foraging in the sumac and winterberry!! ...Shel Michaels, Hollis, southeast NH ----- Original Message ----- Date: Wed, 7 Mar 2001 14:49:34 -0800 (PST) I too had Bluebirds yesterday eating from my Sumac tree during the blizzard. What a lovely sight! I have seen my Blues the entire winter, and now am hearing them more and more. They show up daily around 1:30, checking out the box. I guess their getting spring fever too. I know I am. The For Lease sign is out and the floor boards are clean and ready. Just hope it starts warming up and they build early. Can't wait!! Marcy NE Ohio Date: Wed, 07 Mar 2001 21:25:30 -0800 Linda Violett - Yorba Linda, Calif. How many dead bluebirds are being found in boxes this year? Each year I find
a dead bluebird in one of my boxes during late winter. This year A bluebird family has stayed close to the nestbox since last year's fledges. A Nuttall Woodpecker took over the original nestbox so I hung an alternate box for the bluebird family to use for roosting (which they did). The Nuttalls usually start vacating the nestboxes around Jan/Feb and this male was found in the original bluebird box on January 14 with no marks. Some books mention dead birds being found in boxes over the winter and have
guessed that they died by suffocation at the bottom of a heap of In So. Calif., we get very few nights of freezing weather and it could be that old/sick birds simply use the nestboxes as a quiet refuge to expire. That this male's body is along the very left edge, supports the idea that he may have died with others in the box. Why his head is turned 180* upward away from his chest is a mystery. When I found the dead male, bluebirds flew over and watched from a nearby tree . . . family? . . . successful competitors? What are others seeing? I've got the dead body in the freezer and am calling around to see if a zoo or school can use it. Date: Thu, 8 Mar 2001 04:47:58 -0800 (PST) Linda, Karen knisbett designs Date: Thu, 08 Mar 2001 19:09:13 -0800 Linda Violett - Yorba Linda, Calif. Wild birds found dead with no signs of trauma and within a few days of dying
are fairly rare and I am pleased to say that the (frozen) western Date: Thu, 8 Mar 2001 19:19:07 -0500 Saw them checking out the box ~7am. Finches were with them too. Date: Thu, 08 Mar 2001 22:32:54 -0600 This came from the NEBird list but thought you might be interested. Date: Tue, 13 Mar 2001 11:53:15 -0700 I just talked with someone who had just been to Palo Duro Canyon S.P. East of
Amarillo TX and they reported seeing all three species of bluebirds there last
month. Texans' is this really true? Do they live and nest in this area or are
they just wintering there? Bob Date: Wed, 14 Mar 2001 13:08:15 EST Had my first sighting of an Eastern Bluebird this morning. It was a female and she was sitting on the chain link fence in my yard. I have two nestboxes which are paired, 15' apart. I sure hope she comes back and brings a mate with her! I am so excited! Sherry Hunter, Date: Thu, 15 Mar 2001 12:25:52 -0500 Hello to all, I can only correspond to this mail list Spring thru the the bluebird nesting season. So hello again! On February 5th at about 7:00 am I was greeted with a male bluebird singing. I heard him once more earlier this month. This morning a pair were going in and out of three of my bluebird houses on my property. Hopefully it is last years pair or maybe an offspring of them. I had the female and 4 young banded. Time will tell. It is a bright sunny day here in Central N.Y. 41 degrees. I checked by bluebird log book and last Spring they were checking houses about the same time. This year though we have lots more snow!! I am so looking forward to another opportunity to possibly have them back! Sincerely, Date: Sun, 18 Mar 2001 12:34:08 -0800 (PST) Greetings..Anyone in SC, NC, or VA with a started EABL nest yet as of today, Sunday? Horace in NC. ===== Date: Tue, 27 Feb 2001 21:46:24 EDT Three bluebirds this morning, fluttering around the box nearest the house. I could both see and hear them. Sure hope they find enough food; I haven't seen them right near the house yet. The juncos have been amazing me this winter. They have been regularly perching on the tube feeders (both thistle and black oil sunflower) as well as the wire suet box. They have quite a time on the thistle feeder; since the hole and perch are pretty closely placed, they really have to squat to get a beak to the hole! Rhonda Watts Date: Thu, 1 Mar 2001 16:35:42 -0500 On Sat., I woke to the wonderful sound of bluebird warble....I thought I was in heaven. Even though they have apparently stayed around all winter, I last saw them on Christmas day, I have not really "heard" them. There is something about that sound they make!! Also, a friend told me that the sandhills are back. I have not seen them yet. Joan Way ta go, Rhonda! I've seen plenty of them here. But so far nobody's From: bluebird-owner"at"fsinc.com on behalf of Brenda Best Hi, Elaine! Granted, snowfall records are not very nice records to beat, are they?! At
least the sun is shining today! I saw a male bluebird in my yard this morning.
Since I band them, I'm always looking for a band, but I couldn't see one on this
bird. Maybe he's new to the neighborhood or just passing Brenda The Nature Club of Central New York From: bluebird-owner"at"fsinc.com on behalf of Elaine Stayton Hi Brenda--I really hate beating the record!!! Can't wait till spring--saw my
bluebird yesterday--they have been around this winter--saw them on one of the
coldest days's of winter--need sun bad here in CNY. Have a good day and happy
bluebirding--Elaine from CNY I got your snowfall beat!!! 185.1 inches so far. 7 more inches and we'll Date: Mon, 19 Mar 2001 05:50:27 -0500 I'm in Osceola, Indiana, which is northern Indiana. We usually see the bluebirds in March every year, but none have stayed yet. They come in to eat our holly berries. Date: Mon, 19 Mar 2001 13:18:55 EST Hello everyone, Date: Mon, 19 Mar 2001 11:42:34 -0800 Sherry here in sunny Osoyoos, BC I just finished moving a few boxes and adding 4 new ones to the trail on my property yesterday in the cool damp between rain showers. In 2 spots I paired my slot boxes with a NABS box and a box quite similar to a NABS that I had been given. Now the test begins to see what happens. I have only used slot boxes for 6 years and hoping to increase the bluebird population to what it was before the swallows seemed to have taken over! I currently have 16 nestboxes on my 7 acres. Last year all 12 were in use. After high gusty winds last evening, I awoke to a clear sky and the air is full of bird song and birds going in every which direction. A wonderful sunny day has arrived - what a gorgeous morning!! At 7am my first Tree Swallow of the season arrived right on schedule. By 8am I had 8 Western Bluebirds, 3 Says Phoebes, 3 Tree Swallows, 1 Downey woodpecker, 1 Towhee, 1 Song Sparrow, a multitude of juncos, house finches, goldfinches, California quail and black capped chickadees ... oh yes ... and 1 Stellar Jay!! The 1st Mountain Bluebird of the season on my property flew in around 9am. All is right with the world. I am enjoying hearing all the spring news of the members of the group and can sympathize with those finding the less desirable offerings in the nestboxes. Keep the wonderful posts coming. Date: Mon, 19 Mar 2001 20:47:10 EST Hi Linda: You definitely have your hands full for sure!! Two days ago, I had five male Eastern blues and one female (probably sibs or family from last years get) The males were squabbling over the single female. Adding to the commotion, two Junco's were parked squarely in the fray! What a crazy start to the season? ;-). Hope your falcons take wing soon.... Best for now, Crystal Davis Date: Tue, 20 Mar 2001 02:12:00 -0600 How cold does it have to get to harm eggs? Have a pair of Eastern blues in our very first nest box. Checked the box Saturday; the nest (all pinestraw) appeared to be finished, but no eggs had been laid. Right now our weather has gone crazy, even for Alabama. It's 36 degrees, windchill of 19; barometer is falling; have 1/2 inch of SNOW on my deck and it is pouring rain/snow which is turning into slippery mush. We have not been able to tell if the birds are staying in the box at night or not. Kitty in Birmingham, AL Date: 24 Mar 2001 04:00:52 -0000 Hello EveryBIRDie: To you newcomers, you might be interested in the Website for Journey North (Spring) and Journey South (Fall): http://www.learner.org/jnorth/index.html to follow your favorite birds' migrations. Also, for reporting early sightings. Happy birding! Stan
Date: Fri, 23 Mar 2001 20:57:31 -0800 (PST) Hello all, The blues chose my neighbor's box this year, but today I found a Chickadee nest in my box, so I put a 1 1/4 inch restrictor plate on to protect the chickadees. I will report it when they lay eggs and when the neighbor's blues lay their eggs. Talk to you all later, BYEBYE! Koby Prater
From: "Elaine Stayton" moron"at"a-znet.com Good morning and a good morning it is. Now I don't have to listen to the bluebirds on your posting site I can hear it in my own back yard. Heard that wonderful sound this morning and knew spring is near.Saw 2 and assume it's a pair as they went to the same box they go to every year. Even with snow predicated today can't dampen my spirts at all. Elaine from Central New York. Have a great day.
Date: Sat, 24 Mar 2001 12:03:10 EST Hello all. Just thought I'd report I've noticed the first interest in any of my nestboxes (I have a chickadee, 2 wrens, & a bluebird house).... unfortunately, it was a HOSP. But at least the birds are looking now in this part of the states. I haven't seen anything paying any attention to any of them until now (except the squirrel box, which has been in regular use & may have already sent one brood out). Nothing else exciting to report yet. I am a bit jealous that some of you, even farther north, have had some nesting already, but I am patient! Birds In Spring
Date: Sun, 25 Mar 2001 18:47:36 -0800 Lonn in Roseburg, Oregon I am relating my WEBL episode on this day. As of today the Western Bluebirds are taking a house hunting expedition. They have become more plentiful than of other days. Maybe 4 of them, 2 pair, is all there are at one look, but if I had eyes in the back of the head, I'd say there's some more. Some are seeming to practice male dominance as they peruse their local hideouts. My one persistent thought of today is that upside down clay planter I cut the bottom off of that I put on their nest entrance to stop a pecking chest wound repeat of last year. It became clear, of the dead one of 4 dead nestling in this box; it must be stopped! Then, my thought today: Is this really going to be the right solution; and is that bird clutching on the 3" bottomless clay pot taking this idea seriously? If time is precious then I'll take my precious time. Date: Fri, 30 Mar 2001 12:38:13 -0400 Haleya Priest Amherst MA I'd like to give a quick summary of weather here in New England and how it is affecting our EABL. I thought you Southerners and those in warmer climes (even OHIO!) should probably know how we are drooling here as we hear your reports of nests and eggs! We're having another storm move through with flood watches and warnings. Burdett in NH will probably get several inches to a foot of snow, Nancy and Laura in CT will get all rain and we are in-between with this awful slushy/sleeting/snowy something or other. Spring is way behind schedule. Every year for as long as I've been in MA, we have a cacophony of spring peepers peeping by March 28. The marsh/pond that I've observed this at for the past 17 years hasn't even melted yet! Last year my first egg was April 4 (admittedly early), April 18th the year before..... Our blues are beginning to settle or fight over boxes, but my sense is we won't see any real nest building for a good two weeks. They are courting and singing, but no evidence of any serious nest building. Now understand that until a few days ago, all grass was still buried under a solid 3-7" snow pack! We are at a 30 year record of having snow on the ground from the first day of winter to the first day of spring! Still, how bluebirds amaze me. Here it is all slushy and sleety - not fit for anyone to be out in and yet the bluebirds are out there catching bugs off the ground in the small areas where snow has finally melted. It is amazing to me that there can be bugs crawling around in these conditions. Gees, it isn't like it is warm outside - nor has it been. Surely these bugs are mutants from some other planet or from plastic you learned about on Bill Moyer's program last Monday evening! The next time you have some maple syrup - think about our MS farmers out here. It has been a virtual nightmare. Most of them can't even get to their buckets because in their areas (hill towns) they are still buried in snow. Also the weather has been horrible for sap running. Many of the trees are still frozen (as of a few days ago)! So, if you want to send us any WARM thoughts, we could use them! In the meantime, I'm heading for a hot cup of tea. :-) H
Date: Fri, 30 Mar 2001 14:19:46 EST Haleya gives a great summary of what is happening here in the north and what we are all feeling up here! Some singing going on but no nest building here in NY either and Feeder Watchers are noting that the birds they are seeing are *still* mainly the same winter birds, not the spring visitors we are waiting for. I may be moving south soon if this goes on! Jane In a Message dated 3/30/01 11:27:11 AM Eastern Standard Time, mablue"at"gis.net writes: Subj: North East EABL ...
Date: Fri, 30 Mar 2001 14:28:57 -0500 (EST) Hello Haleya, When I lived in Ohio the bluebirds were seen feeding off the ground during winter on a hill side that faced south. snow would be all around the area but these opening that had melted from the sun attracted the bluebirds during the day. They seemed to feed much like during the summer by flying down to the ground and catching something. This was to far away to tell what they were finding but it happened several day during the winter especially during feb. joe Huber Venice,Fl. Charter member NABS, Charter member OBS, Life member OBS Joe Huber http://community.webtv.net/hubertrap/HOUSESPARROWCONTROL http://community.webtv.net/hubertrap/RoostingBluebirds
Date: Mon, 2 Apr 2001 12:07:24 -0500 This weekend, March 31, I was pleased to see several pair of eastern bluebirds at houses and am happy to report the presence of several new nests. I am in Nemaha county along the east edge of Nebr one county north of KS. Date: Mon, 02 Apr 2001 21:40:29 -0400 Greetings, I know that further north of my neck of the woods that it isn't exactly that
tingly spring weather yet and that it will be a while until the nesting season
begins. For instance, the first Tree Swallow is late from last year by 10 days
and the bluebirds first straw in the nestbox is over 2 weeks late. It is really
slow this year for some reason and it tends to annoy me but that is human.
Chickadees are late as well which usually they already have a nest with eggs
around here. Well I won't go on if I don't need to but this is just my
observation and perhaps nothing more. Date: Mon, 2 Apr 2001 20:50:39 -0500 It is late down here too. I still have two unfinished nests, but I saw today
where they have started working on #8 again. This season has been Evelyn Cooper ----- Original Message ----- Greetings, Date: Mon, 2 Apr 2001 22:10:18 EDT It is definitely late here in Connecticut and the lower Hudson Valley at
school. I have no signs of nests yet although the bluebirds have been Nancy Date: Tue, 3 Apr 2001 06:53:27 -0400 Just for everyone's information, Tree Swallows have been migrating past Derby Hill Hawkwatch on the southeast shore of Lake Ontario! Watch for them in your neighborhood soon! ----- Original Message ----- Greetings, Date: Tue, 3 Apr 2001 10:07:55 -0700 (PDT) Hi Kevin...Yes, I agree on the EABL lateness. Last spring my 1st EABL egg was
laid on April 1. This year very little EABL nest started in my ************************************************ Date: Tue, 3 Apr 2001 19:49:00 -0400 Hi All: Last year there was a successful nesting of a Song Sparrow on the Middletown, MD trail. Yesterday I found a completed nest in the same Bluebird Box (Nabs) and thought the neat grasses were somewhat coarse with a few rootlets thrown in. I decided to wait & see, this evening saw Song Sparrow in nearby tree, re-examined nest and discounted possibility of Bluebird work. Tomorrow will take advantage of adequate sunlight, observe Song Sparrow from a distance and confirm nesting. The area surrounding the park & trail of 10 yrs. is fast developing into housing. Natural habitat is disappearing fast. Betty Nichols, MIddletown, MD - 45 mi. NW Wash. D.C. Date: Mon, 2 Apr 2001 22:20:18 -0400 Late here, too. I've seen a male numerous times on the nestbox, but no straws yet. Randy Jones ----- Original Message ----- Greetings, Date: Wed, 4 Apr 2001 19:10:52 -0400 It warmed up into the 50's here in central New York today, so I meandered out to my nestboxes to make the first check of the year. I did see a pair of Eastern Bluebirds in one area, and heard one singing in another. But, the surprise I had was getting dive-bombed and scolded by a Tree Swallow as I checked one of the nestboxes! It was the first one I'd seen this year. I was very happy to see it, and I had a big smile on my face as I continued. I was also a bit dismayed, though, because local birders here play a game, and it had just ended for me. The game: Try to see 100 species before you see a Tree Swallow. I was at 87. Brenda The Nature Club of Central New York Date: Wed, 4 Apr 2001 23:38:16 -0500 Greetings all, The EAstern BLuebirds have been spotted by Rochester, MN, which is about 60 miles south of me. That means they'll be here in the next few days, maybe as early as tomorrow or the next day.... and I'll be gone! Speaking of migration, we are heading south to New Orleans for spring break with our two boys. We're looking forward to the trip, but I hate to leave just as the Blues are showing up! Our Blues definitely migrate! As Judy Mellin (of NE IL) noted, we don't get EABLs in our Christmas Bird Counts, either. Yes, every now and then an EABL will appear during the CBC, but then so do other "migrating" birds. This winter we've had miscellaneous birds, like a Yellow-rumped Warbler, Eastern Towhee, Townsend's Solitaire (which doesn't normally ever come here), etc., but that doesn't mean these birds, as a whole, don't migrate! Could some EABLs overwinter in our southeastern, unglaciated part of the
state? Perhaps, because with its cliffs, ravines, meandering streams and During the spring, EABLs are first seen in the southern part of the state and head north. (Of course, Minnesota has a lot of ground to cover between its southern and northern borders.) It's not that we're not looking for them. We have all sorts of birders out looking for rarities and migrating waterfowl... and these people report EABLs as soon as they see them in the spring. (It's kind of a "wacko-MNBirder" thing to be the first to report each northward-migrating species as it enters our realm; e.g., I was the first to report a Fox Sparrow this far north. Someone else will report when they see one north of the Twin Cities, and then farther north, and then in Duluth, etc.) People report all the migrants as they make their way north from the south: each dabbling duck, diver, hawk species, Tree Swallows, Song Sparrows, phoebes, killdeer and meadowlark species is reported and followed as it enters the state. And we report our overwintering migrants as they head back north from here.... like the Tree Sparrows, juncos, Snow Buntings, Horned Larks and an assortment of owls. I guess what I'm trying to say is: we are fanatics here. And still, the EABLs are not being reported from my east-central part of the state. It is because they have not yet arrived! Sorry to be so windy, but I think that the migration thing, like most bluebird-related ideas, depends an awful lot upon where you are! Regarding the late season: I'm seeing the same thing as you, Kevin, as far as
things being late this year. Last year the EABLs showed up on March 14 (of
course, it was a dreadfully wimpy winter). The year before, they started
building their nest on April 4. This year, April 4.... no birds, no Anyway... good birding to all. Molly Jo Miller Date: Thu, 5 Apr 2001 20:40:44 -0700 I think we all need to look at behaviors very closely. Birds change as times change and we may be on to the start of a major change for the blues. As late as the beginning of the last century, cardinals migrated in IL. These magnificent birds were never seen in the northern part of the state during the winter but, since that time, their winter range has spread at least throughout the entire state and maybe further north. This change has been attributed to the milder winters and the proliferation of feeders. I can't imagine our cold, dark winters without this daily visitor to my feeders. As Molly Jo correctly points out, Christmas Bird Count (CBC) is the prime way to view these major changes in behaviors. Maybe the warming climate is causing some of the blues with a ready food source to stick it out and enrich your lives. Since my trail is 15 miles from my house, I don't have the opportunity to feed as many of you do so I can't observe what you are seeing. It may be worth your time to visit the Cornell website when I believe most of
the over 100 years of CBC has been input. (If not there, try National Keep an eye and get out to do these counts. Spring Bird Count (SBC) in IL. is May 5 and it is always a great day to be out, no matter what the weather. In 1989, when we had 5" of snow that day, I saw my first-ever Scarlet Tanager sitting in the middle of the road trying to get warm! And, two years ago, I had my only 100+ species day on SBC! Try it- you'll like it! And, as far as late arrivals, we have no Bluebirds yet this year! We were out yesterday to replace seven of our nine houses with absolutely beautiful new red cedar houses but not a blue was seen. I did see three Tree Swallows there on Saturday but there was no evidence of anything in the boxes when we replaced them. I can't wait to see how our birds feel about their shiny new homes! Judy Mellin Thanks for your helpful post. I made the mistake of generalizing from
our ... Date: Fri, 6 Apr 2001 14:26:56 -0400 Finally, after being in and out of our yard for three weeks, we have a nearly complete nest in the same Peterson nestbox occupied last year. Not the same pair, however. Feels like Old Home Week! Randy Jones Date: Fri, 6 Apr 2001 17:13:31 -0400 Spring suddenly arrived in the Washington, DC area this week with temperatures above 60 for the first time this year. Like magic, a pair of blues that had been checking out our boxes for a couple of weeks finally began nest building in the back yard on Wednesday, April 4. (Our front yard EABL box is still waiting for occupants.) Curiously, the two 1 1/4" hole boxes we mounted for Carolina Chickadees and Titmice have not been claimed by either species, at least not yet. And a Carolina Wren has built a very mossy nest in a loaf pan under an awning over our front door, but the egg cup is completely hidden from view by the moss, leaves, etc. We also have a House Sparrow pair building a nest in a 1 1/4" hole box (I was surprised they would use the narrower opening), and I am consulting with Fawzi about passive HOSP controls. Diane Seward Date: Sun, 08 Apr 2001 11:20:51 -0400 Sherry and all: Major activity in Michigan! My bluebird pair were busily working without me noticing yesterday. When we seen Daddy and ESPECIALLY mama defend and chase away the HOSP (that appeared out of no where) we were quite curious. My husband said that they had been in and out of the house quite a bit. We went out to feed them mealies in the afternoon and just happen to look in their house and they had started working on their nest - the front was about 1" high, but the back was still pretty low. Saw mama this morning with a bunch of nesting material in her mouth. IT'S EGG TIME! YEE HA! Last year we only had 1 brood, they started memorial day weekend on the saturday before Memorial Day and by Wednesday we had our first egg. Since this pair started yesterday, hopefully we will have eggs by Easter! Pretty blue "easter" eggs. Just thought I would let everyone know that we've started the nesting season in Michigan! Hopefully we'll have more than 1 brood this year! Barb DeLong Date: Sun, 08 Apr 2001 16:52:20 -0500 We, in STL, also are having our 1st brood. I only had luck at feeding last year. We put up a new nestbox, but mom and
dad, too, did alot of going in & out of boxes over the last few days. They
ended up choosing a small wren house that was just sitting on the deck. (we have
2 other BB houses) I had to tie it to the deck and take off the perch. I am so excited; all I want to do is stand at the window and watch! Lee
Johnson Date: Mon, 9 Apr 2001 09:00:14 -0700 Zip-it-eee-do dah, zip it-ee-day, my, oh my, what a wonderful day! Finally, after a very long winter and a very windy day, I saw my first bluebirds of the season yesterday! On Saturday, we had sustained winds in excess of 50 mph all day and much of the night and lots of birds rode those winds into our area. None, though, more welcome that the blues- and Mrs. was inside the box with Mr. on the roof! They have taken the box at the highest elevation on the trail and the only one that is unpaired. Mr. was being harassed by the incredible number of tree swallows back already. There must have been over 30 of them already and they were going in and out of all of the other boxes, including the paired ones. I have never seen as many of them this early and I hope this does not mean that other blues may have trouble finding open boxes when they arrive. There were already swallow droppings in one of our brand new boxes! Judy Mellin Date: Mon, 09 Apr 2001 11:31:24 -0500 Hi everyone! Finally, I can join in with the rest of you seeing the Bluebirds! Last evening at dusk, I was working in my perennial flower beds and I saw a bird fly to a tree near me. It was too dark to see what it was, but I just had a feeling it was an Eastern Bluebird. I had ordered mealworms which arrived Saturday, so I put out the two feeders in my yard. This morning I looked outside and there they were! A male and a female EABl were perched on the nest box, then flew to the feeder. They took turns eating some mealies, then the male fed the female. It was so awesome. Since it was only 34 degrees F outside, there was not an abundance of insects, and they readily ate the worms. I'm sure it is the pair that nested in that box last year, as they went right to the feeder, knowing what would be there. As a matter of fact, perhaps that is why the EABL flew to the tree by me when he saw me last night, to let me know he was there! Whether this is true or not, I don't really care, I just know that I am so happy to see them again! The Minnesota Bluebird Recovery Program conference is April 21st, and I am so anxious to go. We are lucky to have such knowlegable people in this area. Dorene Scriven, Keith Radel, Steve Gilbertson, Dave and Jan Ahlgren, Carroll Henderson, Ruth Ogren and many more too numerous to mention, have given me such inspiration, I can't thank them enough! Thanks for all the information given on this list. I have learned so much from all of you, and know that I have much more to learn. Good luck to everyone this year with your "Blues"! Mary Roen, River Falls, WI Date: Mon, 09 Apr 2001 14:32:17 -0500 YESTERDAY First off, there hasn't been much to tell as I only have only seen the male the past week everyday except when it was really windy until just a couple of days ago I finally saw the female again. The update this time is I saw her on Fri. clinging to the box entrance of the nestbox near the road. Then just tonight I saw the pair together this time, it was close to dark I would say around 7 to 7:30pm, well I saw the male on the roof & the female clinging to the entrance hole again. So is this an even better sign than the past week! I think (not for certain yet) I saw the male clinging to the entrance hole tonight too I wasn't looking w/ my binocs as I didn't want to bring attention to myself. Joleen in Indiana Date: Mon, 09 Apr 2001 14:33:30 -0500 Good Morning! It is 8am...actually 8:19 to be exact. I finally was able to get up early at 7am.! I AM SO GLAD I DID! I got an AWESOME update since yesterday! THE FEMALE ACTUALLY WENT INSIDE THIS MORNING! Is that good news or what!? I hope so! I know it has to be from everything I have learned! I still want to be sure tho! Things can change! I went outside about 7:05...they showed up a little later *don't know the time exactly...need a watch*. The both were on top of the BB feeder then the male clung to the side for a bit, but they didn't go inside. They perched on the at different times seperately esp. the female...one time she stood at the edge on one of the sides where the hole is n looked down. I was like talking to myself saying "Go inside"...it didn't work. I think (don't quote me) I saw another BB, but not sure. Cuz there were 3 BB sized birds near each other around the Fruit Feeder, Birdbath & Oriole Feeder area. Will be on the lookout. Anyway, back the THE PAIR (hee hee ) they then flew from the feeder, the first time this a.m. they were on it, over to the birdbath he loves it, but she was hesitant for a minute fluttering by it until she settled right down next to him. He was in the water she was on the edge. Joleen in Indiana Date: Mon, 09 Apr 2001 14:36:35 -0500 Well, sometime after my Part 1 of my BB update I watched the BB's visiting
the box near the road quite frequently at one moment I seen the Male come to the
roof of the box & do his one wing wave (that was just too adorable for
words) right after that the female came down n perched on the roof then went
right into the box. Well, the BIGGEST excitement is what came just shortly after
that she came back to the roof by herself, looking thru binocs, I could see A
LEAF in her beak!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This was around the 8am to 9 am if not just a
wee bit after 9 am. I watched them for some time then after awhile *don't know
the time* I didn't see the male. Well, I went inside to tell my Dad the news of
her taking the leaf into the box. I came back out to the chair by the house I
sit in to watch them. I didn't see them, so I thought I would go into the garage
to lookout the window facing the nestbox. As soon as I did that there she was on
the ground in the garden spot picking up pieces of grass then she flew back to
the box. Well, she did this a few times & when she was in Also, caught my first Starling in my HOSP/Starling nestbox trap that I got from PMCA. I have to say I felt guilty, but after seeing the pictures of what they do to BB's & other birds I had to. Well, that is my update for now...look foward to the next few dys. Joleen Date: Thu, 12 Apr 2001 18:18:16 -0700 Hi everyone ... At about 2:30pm my first hummingbird arrived at the feeder. This is not as early as last year, but still earlier than the average over the last 6 or 7 years. The male Rufous is a glorious sight in the sunshine! Sherry Linn Date: Thu, 12 Apr 2001 21:44:37 -0700 (PDT) Hi all, There's been little activity in the nest boxes in my yard, other than house sparrows. There was a chickadee checking out the newest box and I saw a tree swallow in the yard recently. I have not seen any bluebirds yet this year. This is the first winter that they have been absent. Last winter they were seen occasionally and the year before they were present all winter. Keep your fingers crossed for me. Activity at the park is a little better. Out of 24 boxes I only removed two house sparrow nests and one family of mice. One box has the moss layer of a carolina chickadee. The chickadees fledged four young along with a brown headed cowbird from this box last year. The remaining boxes are still empty but I was escorted through the lower field by a pair of swallows. There were also a few bluebirds on the utility lines in the area. Last year things didn't get going until the last week in April and with the cold damp weather we've been having I think I'd wait a little bit too. Although the "trail" was quiet I was treated to the constant twitter of chipping sparrows, scolded by the titmice and given quite a show by an amorous pair of yellow bellied sapsuckers. From East Prospect and Samuel S Lewis State Park Jim Elliot Date: Fri, 13 Apr 2001 19:41:41 -0500 Well, the female has been building her little heart out this whole week. She started on Mon. Ap. 9th. & it is now 4 days later. I checked about a few days after she started building n she just had the rim of the nest going w/ a bare spot in the middle...it wasn't very tall. Well, I thought I would check today to see how it was coming along. Well, I am happy to report it is now close to being done it is about the right height I hav seen in pictures...the cup is even molded...I felt it n she just has to put a little more in the cup area. Do I stand corrected that she would be laying the first egg w/in the week or would it be later than that? Joleen in Indiana Date: Fri, 13 Apr 2001 20:13:24 -0500 This is Joleen I am from Jonesboro, Indiana it is in NorthCentral Indiana towards the eastern side. I have 2 BB boxes & 2 Chickadee boxes. I have 1 pair of BB's building nest in one box & there is claim straws in the other BB box that I have never seen them take a liking to the whole time I have had it up..they have perched on the roof, but that is it. Well, just the other day the male clung to the hole, so we will see if the 2nd brood will be there. I have had a Chickadees checking out the Chickadee box the last 3 dys & the BB box once. I did find a little piece of moss in the Chickadee box hole, so hope they take to it. I have seen a pair & a just one Chickadee checking the Chickadee box out. Today the lone Chickadee clung to the hole of the box. I hope a pair takes to it. Joleen in Indiana Date: Sat, 14 Apr 2001 12:41:17 -0400 Hello from eastern Mazzzchusetts. I have been spending a wonderful morning
watching a bluebird pair at one of my boxes. The female is busily lugging Date: Sat, 14 Apr 2001 21:36:40 -0500 Hi everyone! I checked my trail of 26 boxes today and found 2 completed and one partially
completed nests of EABLs! I am so hoping to find my first egg on Easter Happy Easter to all! Mary Roen, River Falls, WI Date: Sun, 15 Apr 2001 20:38:10 -0700 I have a pair of western bluebirds who have built a nest in the box, but haven't laid eggs as yet. Does anyone know how long usually between finished nest and egg laying? Also, there is nothing fluffy or soft in the nest, just the fine grassy material of the cup. I'm not sure what to expect. Maybe this nest is not finished?? My other box had a beautiful pair of tree swallows or violet-greens,not sure which inspecting today! Leah, Napa Valley, CA Date: Fri, 20 Apr 2001 10:46:42 -0400 (EDT) Hi All-- I monitored my boxes for the second (weekly) time and found that I have four boxes with 5 eggs each. Yesterday was a warm sunny day so don't believe any damage was done to the one nest that a hen left as I checked the box. But I think Dean Sheldon gave some very good advice in a recent post---- not to montor your boxes in cold damp weather. George N E Ohio
Date: Fri, 20 Apr 2001 09:48:36 -0700 Lonn in Roseburg, Oregon Don't monitor my boxes, I just watch; and keep seeing a single Male WEBL that looks like a good singer. But there's still time to find some good looking females. The weather that promised drought is not open to discussion. Bird Freedom Report: I get returns of Pine Siskins, this year in the 50-100; more next year! Well, I have a BirdSong microphone feeder. So I know who is out singing by my door. It has twin bars for perching. A big bird, small bird idea. Anyway with the wind blowing too hard a little baby Pine Siskin got his head stuck between the perches. A song from me and a tear in my eye as I said: "still 'bird' still", used the cutter and clipped off the plastic bar that barred his Freeedom. Last time the common sense of these bird brains got to be good. |
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