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Lake Daniel Bluebird Trail
The Eastern Bluebird (EABL)
is doing well in Greensboro. Our TGPAS chapter maintains two nest boxes at
the Audubon Natural Area on Tankersley Drive north of Cone Hospital and 12
boxes in Lake Daniel Park.
The nesting season
starts for us in February when we clean out the boxes with a diluted bleach
solution and rub the inside roof with ivory soap to prevent wasps from
settling in. Last year we fitted 6 boxes at Lake Daniel with baffles to stop
any predation from the ground. This winter we will do the rest and move
several boxes to better locations. The end of March we start a weekly
monitoring program which continues through to the beginning of August. On
March 25 there was already nesting material in 5 boxes and completed nests
with eggs in 2 more.
To monitor the
boxes we knock on the side to arouse any adult birds inside or possibly a
snake, although, that has never happened to us. Most adult birds will fly
out. Then we unscrew the front so it will lift up and we can peek in. We use
an automotive mirror mechanics use to see in hard places so we can see
inside the nest without disturbing it. We record on a form what we observe.
Sometimes we get dive bombed by rather assertive adults which is one reason
why we wear hats. However, most adults just wait until we leave. We find
mostly bluebird nests with some house wren nests. We will remove a house
sparrow nest but leave all other kinds of nests. We rotate monitoring teams
so no one has to do it too much. Last season Marie and Bob Dow, Quint and
Dirk Simones and Barbara Hughes, Jack Jezorek and Sue Cole did the
monitoring.
Six EABLs fledged
from the 2 boxes at the Audubon Natural Area. At Lake Daniel 43 EABLs
fledged and also 10 house wrens. We lost 2 EABL nests with eggs but do not
know why.
If this project
interests you, call Marie and Bob Dow at 852-6091.
Photo Credits: Eastern Bluebird - Ken
Thomas, bluebird
eggs, bluebird babies, and house wren nest - Jean Murdick |
