SUMMARY OF THE 2023 BLUEBIRD PROJECT
Kathleen Snyder
The bluebird team wrapped up the nesting season with our volunteers cleaning out, repairing, and installing new nest boxes in two locations where we had monitors and in two locations where we did not. Everyone involved enjoyed the seeing all the activity on prairies filled with wildflowers; here are the results:
Violet Prairie with 14 boxes – Western Bluebird successful nests 2
Violet-green Swallow 2
Tree Swallow 2
House Wren 2
Glacial Heritage with 38 boxes – Bluebird successes 9
Violet-green Swallow 7
Tree Swallow 8
House Wren 2
Unknown Swallow 5
The two locations that did not have monitoring were Tenalquot Prairie and Cavness Ranch. Cavness had some successful swallow nests but no bluebirds. Bluebirds have been seen in this location so our team will try moving the nest boxes out of the oak trees and onto the fields. Tenalquot did have bluebird as well as swallow and House Wren successes. Some of the nest boxes there are quite old and need replacing and most need a new numbering system. The team will get out there before spring to accomplish these tasks.
If you are interested in joining our team, please let me know at ksnyder75@nullgmail.com.
Photo credit: Western Bluebird, by Bruce Jacobs.
