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Getting Ready For SpringDate: Sat, 06 Jan 2001 18:36:48 -0800 Linda Violett - Yorba Linda During Jan/Feb, I go about my trail rearranging boxes and futzing with last-minute details before the nesting season begins. The bluebirds are here year around but I only see them at a few sites during each sweep through the trail. During a take-down of hanging box, I heard something fluttering in the tree but couldn't make it out. Then, as the box was unhooked, a female western bluebird hover-flew facing the box for several seconds. There was no defensive motions or clicking . . . she gave me a soft peep and I softly let her know I'd put it back; we continued this calm dialogue until the box was safely back on the tree limb. I didn't hear or spot any of her companion(s). At another site (where the box had to be relocated because the original tree was left barren by the winter pruners) the birds don't seem pleased with their new arrangements. Each time I have visited the site since the box was moved, the female comes to the area as soon as she sees my truck and I can hear bluebird calls as I get my gear. But there is no evidence the relocated box box is being used. Today she came (as usual) to the trees in the street divider, calling when she spotted my red truck and pole. Then (as usual) flew to the area where her box used to be and watched me until she was called away by another bluebird. Even if you don't hear or see the bluebirds, they may be quietly watching. At my last site today, I put up a box with the experimental skylight roofed box. This was at the "Cumbre" site shown on my Winter Roost web page http://home.earthlink.net/~lviolett/winterroost.html. Claim straws have been in the box and rearranged all fall/winter so I know the box is frequented by bluebirds, but I hadn't spotted them until today. Not only did I change the box, I tucked it back in the trees a bit. As I was almost at the street about to cross, I turned to view the box from all angles and then saw the flash of blue (male western) head for a tree for some serious preening while a female flew to the ground for dinner, then another female flew to the ground. I stayed quite a while to see if they would peep at me or take a look at their new box. No. It was a very calm and quiet group.
Date: Thu, 11 Jan 2001 13:46:24 -0800 (PST) I was driving to work this morning and saw a male EABL sitting on a nest box (Could he be thinking about a territory?). I was struck with the urgency of getting ready for the up-coming nesting season.Boxes repaired? boxes re-located? predator guards mounted? etc. The biological clock of the EABL is running--do I have everything ready for the coming nesting season? Do you? ===== Dan Sparks
Date: Thu, 11 Jan 2001 17:45:41 EST Hello All, Gosh, that's a pleasant thought, ...Springtime..! Here in Southwestern Ontario, south of Detroit, we're still in the throes of Winter. Plenty of snowcover, frigid temps, Lake Erie is frozen over, Br-r-r-r. I was out cleaning boxes this afternoon. I've been using bleach highly diluted with water. Then rinsing with plain water. I've considered placing a few handfuls of fresh aromatic cedar shavings in the bottom of each box. I thought that might freshen the inside of the box and provide something comfortable to roost on, should I have any feathered guests on these cold nights. Any thoughts on that out there..? I haven't seen a BB since last season. They're around tho, because others in the area have spotted them. They're usually around reviewing prospective nestboxes, by the middle of February. It won't be long. Brucemac
Date: Thu, 11 Jan 2001 18:02:21 EST I was told by Fawzi and Betty Nichols to try putting some white pine needles in. I did this and although I posted earlier today that I wasn't sure the boxes were being used I decided to check one even though it would mean redoing the weather proofing on one side. And.. yes there were berry droppings in the box! Of course I can't be sure it was bluebirds can I because surely there are others who eat berries that might use the boxes? In a Message dated 1/11/01 5:50:55 PM Eastern Standard Time, Brucemac1"at"aol.com writes: I've considered placing a few handfuls of fresh aromatic cedar shavings in the bottom of each box. I thought that might freshen the inside of the box and provide something comfortable to roost on, should I have any feathered guests on these cold nights. Any thoughts on that out there..? Date: Fri, 12 Jan 2001 13:19:31 -0600 Hi Everyone: We have been very busy building nestboxes and getting them up. During the week of snow we had, I painted bluebirds on all of them and it really did make me want spring to hurry up and get here. We live on a farm and have all necessary materials for building them and this is something we enjoy doing. I now have ten nestboxes on my trail. This is the first year I have seen eastern bluebirds every month of the year. We are also seeing more than in previous years. Everyone up north, hang in there. We may even get some snow before it is over with. Evelyn Cooper
Date: Fri, 12 Jan 2001 23:43:12 -0600 Hello all, Don't forget the harshest days of wnter are still ahead, unfortunately. This past week I have been sealing boxes, making predator guards, winter proofing boxes, making a Fawzi Emad roost box, and also making NABS boxes. I hope to raise my trail size to 25 boxes and am almost there. Although, the boxes are in the garage, I will be getting them up with Ron Kingston predator guards very shortly. The snow has finally melted and I have already been seeing more EAstern BLuebirds feeding on insects. I am alos getting in the springy mood. Why? Because I can finally see the ground again, this week has been the first time in over a month. Yeah we had 14 inches December 12 and some melted December 14-15, but we have had 3-4 inches of snow and 1/2 inch of ice since then. Well talk to you all later, BYEBYE. Koby Prater
Date: Sat, 20 Jan 2001 15:42:05 EST Even though spring here seems far off (snowing today) I am starting to think about my nestboxes for the new season and I have a few questions. The first has probably been anwered here many times but I forget -sorry! 1. Will Tree Swallows use Gilbertson boxes as readily as other types? 2. I have a lot of woods around me and I would like to put up some boxes for various woodpeckers and I have plenty of info about sizes, height etc. from ' A guide to Bird Homes " and other books but I am not sure about mounting and location. Should woodpecker boxes be mounted on trees? And if so how does one guard against tree climbing predators ? Even if a baffle is placed around the tree most of my trees are so close to others that a predator could still get to it. Do people use those little wire guards around the hole? ( can't remember what they're called). Will woodpeckers accept those? 3. The book mentioned above says woodpecker boxes should be packed full with woodchips and sawdust.Correct? Thanks Jane
Date: Sat, 20 Jan 2001 18:49:56 -0400 Haleya Priest Amherst MA Hi Jane, I found TRES use Gilbertsons as readily as EABL. I had one box don 7 happy babies and fledglings! Stinky box, but they made it. :-) Haleya |
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