[birding] bird nest boxes - Crystal Lake SF

[Trent Seager]

Hi All,

I have been working to repair the bird nest boxes at the Crystal Lake Sports
Fields.

Thanks to Paula we will have new ones for fall placement.  Thanks to Molly
they will be checked annually for emptying and repairs.  We will also have a
few new locations that may be more bluebird friendly.

As I made my rounds about a week and a half ago now, I found the following
in the nest boxes:

4 TREE SWALLOW nests - all with eggs

1 WESTERN BLUEBIRD nest - with day old young

1 box with no top - no nest

1 box on the ground with apparent mouse nest


Maybe what is most surprising to me is that the swallows and bluebirds were
nesting away in boxes with rotting, wet, old nests (the very reason we need
to keep up on them as Paula pointed out).  And that the birds were nesting
in boxes with falling off tops and sides that were propped open.  I have
gone along and nailed most of them back together.  A couple of loose boards
remain on the far (south end) swallow boxes, but the rest are back to being
predator proof (including curious humans that may mean no harm).  It takes a
hammer to pull out the "push nail" that seals the door, as they are old and
rusty.  This may be best.

Oh - and I put the box that was on the ground back up on its post.  The next
day an incubating BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE looked back as I checked on the
'mouse nest'.  Glad I thought to leave it and check before removing the
'ground nest' that had been built.

from southtowne,

Trent
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