We got a late start with our nest boxes this year due to the crazy weather, but we are busy now. We had to do some extra spring maintenance this year. Some of our boxes were older and damaged.
We are checking our boxes regularly for any nesting signs, not to mention evicting House Sparrows. We have some trouble areas, but we hope to nip them in the bud fast. Here are the latest stats on our boxes.
Of the 21 nest attempts so far, five are by Bluebirds. We currently have two active nests with a total of 8 eggs between them. House Wrens and Tree Swallows occupy some of our nest boxes. Since these other species are beneficial to the environment and protected by law, we let them nest in our boxes if they can snag one before the Bluebirds move in.
We don’t have any chicks yet. Many of these eggs were just laid, and Bluebird incubation takes 11-19 days. As long as nothing disturbs the nesting process, we should see the next generation hatch soon.
On some recent excursions to our trail, we were able to capture a few shots of the inhabitants.
Male Bluebird perched on one of our nest boxes. Photo by A. T. Baron
Tree Swallow perched in a tree. Photo by A. T. Baron
Tree Swallow pair on the nest box. Photo by John Benzee
Male Bluebird in a tree. A twinkle in his eye. Photo by A. T. Baron
As you can see, we get to see some beautiful wildlife. Maintaining our nest boxes isn’t that hard of a task, and it does have its benefits. Our volunteers are a great asset to our organization. The little bit of legwork they perform enables us to provide nesting opportunities for our state bird and other aviary species.
Until next time, enjoy what nature bestows.