KEY
BCCH = Black-capped Chickadee
EABL = Eastern Bluebird
FS = Flying Squirrel HOSP = House Sparrow
NABS = NABs style nestbox
PETE = Peterson style nestbox
PW=paper wasp
SLOT = Slot style entrance on nestbox
TRES = Tree Swallow
Notes:
Hanging boxes are about 100 yards apart. I am counting a nest as an attempt - especially because I am removing HOSP nests. Some monitors only count an attempt when an egg has been laid.
Boxes with numbers followed by an "x" are not part of this experimental trail, but I try to keep an eye on them. They are single-holers, pole mounted, with the entrance about 5 feet off the ground.
In the 2006 nesting season (before I started monitoring the trail) it appears from nests left in boxes that all seven single-holed boxes were used by HOSP, although one or two may have been Tree Swallow nests.
In 2007, 2 bluebirds fledged from H-12, and one box (H-8) was eventually occupied by a flying squirrel. H-9 was apparently stolen.
In 2008, H-10 was moved to a location about 1/2 mile down the road. H-9 and H-11 are occupied by flying squirrels. I am excited to have them using the boxes, and interested in observing them. For those who do not want Flying Squirrels in their boxes (if the goal is to fledge more native birds, or they are concerned about Flying Squirrels eating eggs and young), try placing boxes away from mature forests and/or lowering height. I am looking at making changes so there is only one 2-holed box in the middle of a 2-acre forage territory at
least 300 feet from any other nestbox.
In 2009, a box went missing. We installed a two-holed pole mounted box underneath H-11 to see if there was any interest. It has a very large overhanging roof.
2008 Trail Log
ID
Type
2008 Attempt #, Species, Fate
2009
Notes
H-9
Two-hole mansion
Moved on 5/19.
Maple Tree
Flying Squirrel
Flying Squirrel
2/22: flying squirrel nest, empty, cleaned out
3/28: empty
4/12: acorn shells.
5/2: Flying squirrel, no contents
5/16: green maple leaves
H-10
Two-hole mansion with partial Plexiglas back under roof. In winter of 2008, moved to another location 1/2 mile down the road.
TUTI F
HOWR F
MISSING
03/13: Box is gone.
H-11
Two-hole mansion
Maple Tree
Partial Plexiglas roof on this box
Flying Squirrel - nest removed by someone.
4/20: White Breasted Nuthatch
4/26: 1st WBNU egg
5/3: 7 eggs.
5/17: appears all hatched
6/12: all had fledged
WBNU
2/22: Flying squirrel, looks like defecatorium, cleaned out
3/28: empty
4/12: Big White-breasted nuthatch nest, no cup yet (just bark)
5/26: 5 eggs, covered with fur.
5/2: 7 eggs, female incubating
5/16: 6 nestlings, eyes slitted
H-13
Two-hole mansion, large overhanging roof, POLE mounted
New for 2009
Vacant
4/12 - 5/16: no activity
H-12
Two-hole mansion
Maple Tree
Stained gray
Vacant
2/22: HOWR sticks (no nest cup) and whole nuts, cleaned out
3/28-5/16: empty
General Notes:
APPROXIMATE SHORTEST distances between boxes:
(note:
H-9 is >300 feet away from H-10 and H-11).
H11 to H12: 230 feet
H11 to H10: 260 feet?
H10 to H9: 350 feet
H9 to H12: 220 feet
6x to H10: 100 feet (Note: H-10 moved to another location in fall of 2007)
6x to H9: 250 feet
Note: the recommended distance between boxes for bluebirds is 300 feet, but these boxes were spaced more closely in 2007 because of limitations in tree locations, size of the town green, and the hope of attracting other native cavity nesters.
NOTE: THE LOG BELOW and drawing SHOW USE OF THE TRAIL BEFORE AND AFTER TWO-HOLE HANGING MANSIONS WERE INSTALLED
ID
Type
2008 (Opened by unknown party)
2009
2009 Notes
1
NABS - replaced with Two hole Mansion, pole mounted in 2009
HOSP F
HOWR F
See H-13 above
2/22: a little grass, left in place
3/28: Mouse nest, removed. Replaced this box with 2 hole post mounted, see H-13 above.
Through 5/16: vacant
2
SLOT
EABL S - 4 fledglings
HOSP
5/2: HOSP nest, removed. Saw TRES in area.
5/16: HOSP, no eggs, removed
8/2: male and female on guard, at least three eggs.
3
NABS with fishing line
HOSP, 18 eggs
HOSP
5/16: HOSP, 5 eggs, removed
4
NABS
BCCH F
HOSP, 4 eggs
EABL S
EABL start?
HOSP
2/22: looks like HOSP fecal material, cleaned out
4/12: Bluebird start? HOSP?
4/26: HOSP nest, no eggs, removed
5/2: HOSP, 1 egg, removed
5/16: HOSP, 5 eggs, removed
5
NABS
BCCH
7 eggs, 7 nestlings - F
HOSP F - 2 eggs so far
4/12: EABL start, no eggs
4/26: EABL incubating 5 eggs. Spooker installed.
5/2:5 eggs, spooker in place.
5/16: nest empty, 2 dead babies on ground - see photos and info
7
NABS
EABL: 6 eggs, 6 fledglings
EABL start?
2/22: mouse?
4/26: EABL start? Some pine needles.
5/2: Unchanged.
5/16: no change
7X
NABS
EABL S - 4 fledglings
Not being monitored, upside down
8
Troyer - Roseland Cottage - SE
New for 2009 (4/5), but previous box had EABL
Vacant
9
NABS w PETE hole - Roseland Cottage - E
New for 2009 (4/5), located in garden
EABL
5/16: 5 eggs
02/22/09: Cleaned out boxes
03/13/09: box H-10 has disappeared.
03/28/09: installed box H-13. Passerby said bluebirds had been seen in area. I heard HOSP near box 4.
04/05/09: Installed two new boxes at Roseland Cottage, about 1/4 mile away. Grassy area, ideal for bluebirds, bluebirds nested there last year. Mounted on metal poles, no baffles due to historical setting.
4/12: 31 degrees this morning! First egg at Roseland Park NET 4/8
When we try to pick out anything by itself in nature we find it hitched to everything else in the universe. - John Muir
