Traveling Bluebirders

From: Adthomas10"at"cs.com
Date: Thu, 1 Nov 2001 18:33:55 EST
Subject: BB boxes
To: BLUEBIRD-L"at"cornell.edu (BLUEBIRD-L)

As a Bluebirder, in my travels I'm always looking for bluebird boxes, type of boxes, how they are mounted, etc. In the last year I was in Delaware, Ohio, saw many boxes, also visited our daughter in Weyerhaeuser Wisconsin, also noticed many boxes. Last week we were in Sarasota Florida, for a week and I didn't see a SINGLE BB box. Sarasota seems to have many "retired folks" who I would assume have a lot of free time to monitor boxes. Is this unusual for Florida??

Dan Thomas
New Providence PA

Date: Thu, 01 Nov 2001 18:33:00 -0600
To: "Bruce W. Wilkinson" bwilkinson"at"multipro.com
From: Kathleen Oschwald nestbox"at"1starnet.com
Subject: Re: Cowbird predators
Cc: Bluebird-L"at"cornell.edu (BLUEBIRD-L)

At 08:15 AM 11/1/01 -0600, you wrote:

We are a new group of bluebird watchers in central TN and at one of the early meetings someone asked if anyone had experience with cowbirds getting into bluebird nests and laying an egg. If so, how can you identify a cowbird egg from an occasional white bluebird egg?
 

Cowbird eggs are speckled, and look like a house sparrow egg. I had one appear in a nest of bluebird eggs two years ago, but that has been my only incident. Kate Oschwald Paris, TX 100 mi NE of Dallas 33.6853N 95.6293W

Date: Thu, 01 Nov 2001 17:03:05 -0800
From: John Schuster John"at"KABAaudio.com
To: Adthomas10"at"cs.com
CC: BLUEBIRD-L BLUEBIRD-L"at"cornell.edu
Subject: Re: BB boxes

Dear Dan and friends,

I do not live in Florida, but I can share this with you.

Like you Dan, I'm always on the hunt for nest boxes on the side of the road. It's my opinion that the east coast is miles ahead of the west coast when it come to nest boxes.

My friend Steve Simmons of Raptor Works told me that when he drove up from Merced to go Salmon fishing and to visit me so we could talk about our favorites Barn Owl and Bluebird nest boxes, Steve said, "On the way up I didn't see one Barn Owl nest box or any nest box" and he's right. Really slim pickings out here.

However, I'm noticing nest box more and more (allot of them are mine which doesn't really count), but there is so much land that is just not being utilized in this area. I do what I can by talking it up to get people interested and it is working.

The sad thing is most people are just to lazy to get up off the couch, turn the "One Eyed Cyclopes Off", put the remote control down and take a little time out to do something constructive.

I mean think about it. How much does the average BB nest box cost $15.00 or $25.00? How much time does it take to monitor or clean out a BB nest box? Ten, fifteen or 25 minutes? I guess I'm just singing to the converted, but it does boggle the mind.

I guess that is why the average life expectancy of a person who retires, after working his or her life away never having a hobby or did anything outside of the work place is between 2 to 3 years.

Henry David Thoreau said, "Most people live out their lives in quiet desperation".

How sad.

To bad these people will never know the joys that our fraternity enjoys when we see that flash of blue, a nest full of blue eggs or our first fledge. It's the little things that matter that helps keep the heart youthful.

Happy Bluebird Trails To You,
John Schuster
Field Vineyards and
Wild Wing Company
Cotati, CA.
N Lat. +38.33194 & W. Long. -122.69111
Cloverdale, CA.
N Lat. +38.80556 & W. Long. -123.01611
Potter Valley, CA.
N Lat. +39.27306 & W. Long. -123.0925
Climate Zone: 10a (30 to 35 F)

Adthomas10"at"cs.com wrote:

As a Bluebirder, in my travels I'm always looking for bluebird boxes,
type of boxes, how they are mounted, etc. In the last year I was in
Delaware, Ohio, saw many boxes, also visited our daughter in
Weyerhaeuser Wisconsin, also noticed many boxes. Last week we were in
Sarasota Florida, for a week and I didn't see a SINGLE BB box.
Sarasota seems to have many "retired folks" who I would assume have a
lot of free time to monitor boxes. Is this unusual for Florida??

Dan Thomas
New Providence PA

From: "Bruce Burdett" blueburd"at"srnet.com
To: John"at"kabaaudio.com
Cc: BLUEBIRD-L"at"cornell.edu (BLUEBIRD-L)
Subject: Re: BB boxes
Date: Thu, 1 Nov 2001 21:01:02 -0500

To: John Schuster, et al,

You're right on target, John, about people's inertia. I can't speak for the Far West, but around here most people simply don't care enough to get out there and do something. I've distributed, to date, roughly 1800 of my free information/suggestion packets about Bluebird restoration, and my guess is that maybe 300 of those recipients have actually DONE anything specific on their own. Most of my packets probably end up in the wastebasket, once the people discover that a certain amount of effort and time is required. They'd rather watch football or Arnold Schwarzenegger or Rosie O'Donnell.

And the amount of sheer ignorance is boundless. Some people think that Bluejays and Bluebirds are the same thing. Many have never seen a Bluebird in their lives. Many will never be convinced that regular monitoring is essential. Others simply are too squeamish to do the necessary stuff. Some wouldn't touch a mealworm if you paid them, to say nothing of cleaning out blowflies, or removing dead chicks, or dealing with wasps. And just for starters, a lot of folks have no interest at all in birds or any wildlife, or the natural world in general. They care chiefly about amusing themselves.

I'm somewhat encouraged to know that you think the East does more than the West. I was surprised to hear you say that. But whether we're in the East or the West, I guess the best we can do is just go one doing what we do, and trying to do it better.

Bruce Burdett, in SW NH

From: "Maynard Sumner" msumner6"at"home.com
To: "Blue bird-list" bluebird-l"at"cornell.edu
Subject: Re: BB boxes
Date: Thu, 1 Nov 2001 22:04:22 -0500

In my ten years of going to Florida I have only seen two Bluebird boxes.

Maynard Sumner
Flint, MI
43.075046 N -083.607782
Elev. 630 Zone 5

NABS MBS GAS OBS OBC NAHC NAFC

Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
Galatians 6:7

----- Original Message -----

From: Adthomas10"at"cs.com
To: "BLUEBIRD-L" BLUEBIRD-L"at"cornell.edu
Sent: Thursday, November 01, 2001 6:33 PM
Subject: BB boxes

As a Bluebirder, in my travels I'm always looking for bluebird boxes,
type of
boxes, how they are mounted, etc. In the last year I was in Delaware, Ohio,
saw many boxes, also visited our daughter in Weyerhaeuser Wisconsin,
also noticed many boxes. Last week we were in Sarasota Florida, for a
week and I
didn't see a SINGLE BB box. Sarasota seems to have many "retired
folks" who
I would assume have a lot of free time to monitor boxes. Is this
unusual for
Florida??

Dan Thomas
New Providence PA

From: "Jim McLochlin" bluebirdbox"at"cox.net
To: "Bluebird-L" bluebird-l"at"cornell.edu
Subject: Florida Bluebirding
Date: Fri, 2 Nov 2001 09:48:23 -0600

I am not sure how much bluebirding is going on in Florida. I do have a picture on my web site from a man in Florida and an address for their organization. Unfortunately I haven't had any conversations with the group for a few years and I am not sure what their status is.

Indian River Audubon Society
C/O Judy Dryja
888 Bartel Place
Rockledge Florida 32955

I also have a link to the Florida Fish & Wildlife Commission which has some bluebird information on it at http://floridaconservation.org/

Jim McLochlin
Omaha, NE
41.279N -96.060W

The Audubon Society of Omaha = http://audubon-omaha.org/
The Bluebird Box = http://audubon-omaha.org/bbbox/index.htm
Omaha Web Solutions = http://www.omahawebsol.com

From: "Robert E Rager" rerager"at"bright.net
To: "Bluebird Cornell" Bluebird-L"at"Cornell.edu
Subject: Florida BB's
Date: Fri, 2 Nov 2001 11:11:15 -0500

In early 90's I tried bluebird houses North end of Okeechobee. Being a snowbird living their 4 1/2 to 5 months never worked out. Gave a friend couple houses in Loridia which are still there, still no results. Have notice houses around Frostproof sure they were successful. Never knew nesting success for Florida sure some stay year around. Retirees get old I"m 83 and still try to monitor 83 to 100 boxes but its hard to do.

Robt Rager N/w Ohio

From: BBBMV"at"aol.com
Date: Sat, 3 Nov 2001 00:53:21 EST
Subject: Re: BB boxes
To: msumner6"at"home.com, bluebird-l"at"cornell.edu (BLUEBIRD-L)

Roadsides are not popular sites here in Florida, almost all nestboxes are placed on golf courses. Of course, many are put up and not monotored, but birds can nest for three or four years until they can't get in anymore. Bill Davis Ft. Walton Beach Panhandle between P'Cola and Panama City

From: "Phil Berry" mrtony8"at"home.com
To: Elizabeth.D.Seward2"at"usdoj.gov, bluebird-L"at"cornell.edu (BLUEBIRD-L)
Subject: Re: BB boxes
Date: Mon, 5 Nov 2001 11:12:02 -0600

Enough about no bb's in florida!! I would have answered earlier, but just a few hours ago returned from southeast asia (no bb's there either). Here in NW Florida, we have no problem enticing them to nest. I have 12 boxes from which I fledged 36 babies this year, and am in the process of putting together another 90 for next spring. Watch out then!!! The reason you don't see nest boxes in south florida is this: no bluebirds are there to use them. there is a project in the everglades to re-establish them there, but as far as i know, none have taken them up on it yet. Why are they absent from most of florida? i don't have the answer, but have tried to find out. historical figures show no blues south of about Tampa, and the line would run diagonally from there to jacksonville. above the line, eastern bluebirds can thrive. below the line, nope.

Phil Berry
Gulf Breeze, Florida

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