Click on image above for larger version. In 2008, this trail consists of 8 boxes.
See trail description. I"adopted" this trail in 2008. I put small squares of "Bounce" fabric softener sheets in boxes that had mice in 2007/2008 as a deterrent. All boxes were cleaned and caulked on 3/23/08. No boxes have baffles, but all are mounted on metal poles, about 5 feet off the ground. I expect House Wren problems, but will wait one year before moving boxes. In 2008, it consisted of 9 boxes. Also see info on unmanaged boxes on golf course across the street.
Mice are clearly going to be the biggest challenge here, along with House Wrens. No HOSP seen.
4/15: saw female bluebird. No action other than mice in other boxes.
4/26: heard a HOSP by barn. Realized there are a bunch of boxes on the golf course too! All had mouse, paperwasps, some HOWR and 3 with flying squirrels, one with EABL nest.
5/1: removed Bounce, may be deterring birds.
ROSELAND GOLF COURSE TRAIL
IMPORTANT NOTE: This trail was NOT monitored regularly or modified in 2008 for evaluation purposes.
These wooden boxes were installed at the same time as the park boxes above. They are all slot/1.5" entrance holes, mounted in brambles on metal poles without predator guards. Many are wet inside due to poor design and cracking roofs. We made forensic guesses on usage in 2007 when cleaning out the boxes for the first time. We did not manage or monitor the boxes in 2008, in order to get a baseline. In 2009, boxes will be cleaned, repaired, moved and predator guards will be installed. IMO, the four main reasons this trail is so unproductive are:
4/26: 4 eggs
5/11: at least 1 hatched
cleaned 1/4/09
4/26: dropped all eggs on ground while cleaning out mouse part
5/3: 1 egg hatching - see photo
5/11: 1 broken egg, 1 broken partially developed, no baby
5/17: empty (a little mouse/FS? material?
1
Mouse and HOWR
HOWR
cleaned 1/4/09
29
Bluebird in past, Mouse and HOWR
2" (low) nest, some gray feathers, grass etc.
cleaned 1/4/09
30
Ants and Mouse
Mouse, vine on pole
cleaned 1/4/09
7
Mouse/squirrel
Flying Squirrel - nuts. Need to move.
cleaned 1/4/09
20
Flying Squirrel
Flying Squirrel/Mouse nest
cleaned 1/4/09
16
Flying Squirrel
Flying Squirrel/Mouse
cleaned 1/4/09
26
?nest
Mouse - sticks and nuts
cleaned 1/4/09
4/26: PW
21
Mouse/Flying Suqirrel
Mouse (nuts)
cleaned 1/4/09
12
Mouse
? not checked
4/26: 4 eggs
cleaned 1/4/09
4/26: dropped all eggs on ground while cleaning out mouse part
When Nature made the bluebird she wished to propitiate both the sky and the earth, so she gave him the color of the one on his back and the hue of the other on his breast, and ordained that his appearance in spring should denote that the strife and war between these two elements was at an end. He is the peace-harbinger; in him the celestial and terrestrial strike hands and are fast friends. He means the furrow and he means the warmth; he means all the soft, wooing influences of the spring on the one hand, and the retreating footsteps of winter on the other.
John Burroughs, The Bluebird, 1867
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