Life Cycle of the Eastern Bluebird (Sialia Sialis) by Patrick Ready

4th Edition

Life cycle of the Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis) by Patrick Ready.

Within a week or two 3-5 eggs are usually laid in the nest.

After13-14 days of incubation the chicks hatch.

Pair select box and female builds the nest.

The male stands guard.

The chicks grow quickly being fed by both parents.

After 16-22 days old the chicks are ready to fledge. Bluebird Restoration Association of Wisconsin, Inc. has come a long way since its inception in 1986 with its understanding about how to effectively manage Eastern Bluebirds. This booklet pulls together the collective experiences of people who work especially for the interests of bluebirds, particularly those persons who record and summarize their nest box data and whom we term “monitors.” BRAW’s handling and interpretation of monitor data is done through data entry and computer analysis.

BRAW is the first to admit that not all experiences with bluebirds is typical of them throughout the state. However, most of our knowledge appears to be true regardless of where we encounter them. But bluebird management can be restricted by climate, geography, and habitat. The presence or absence of one or more natural enemies of bluebirds can alter results or even be a disaster. Nest box design, how a nest box is mounted on a post, and the spacing of boxes can profoundly affect what happens on a bluebird trail.

It is our hope that this Informational Packet produced by the Bluebird Restoration Association of Wisconsin, Inc. will bring you better understanding abut how to succeed in helping this bird “with the sky on its back.”

The Bluebird Restoration Association of Wisconsin, Inc. (BRAW) is a nonprofit organization incorporated under the Laws of the State of Wisconsin. The purpose and mission of BRAW is to increase the production of the Eastern Bluebird and other native cavity-nesting song birds through a coordinated, statewide nest box construction and monitoring program. BRAW seeks to expand public knowledge and enthusiasm for the Eastern Bluebird so that a growing number of people will have the desire to aid cavity nesters and have the knowledge about how to best accomplish this in their own communities. BRAW coordinates its cavity-nesting recovery program through a network of volunteer County Coordinators, workshops, meetings, and its official Wisconsin Bluebird newsletter. When BRAW was organized in 1986, it was estimated that the Eastern Bluebird population in its historic range had declined by 90 percent during the preceding 50 years due to changes in agriculture practices, competition from the House (English) Sparrow and European Starling, severe weather in its central and southern winter ranges, and the loss of nest sites, such as tree cavities and hollow wooden fence posts. A few far-sighted individuals and local organizations that took note of the plight of bluebirds in their respective communities had helped bluebirds and other cavity nesters during those bleak years. Much experimentation was done to develop nest boxes. Some of those efforts were more successful than others. Bluebird “trails” consisting of a few or many bluebird nest boxes were established by some persons. Special care of nest boxes (monitoring) was begun by more knowledgeable bluebirders. A few individuals kept records by documenting bluebird nesting success and events on their trails. BRAW works to bring to light the efforts of Wisconsin citizens who had been helping bluebirds in the past and those who have recently joined their ranks. Since 1996, BRAW has entered monitors’ data into a computer database and as a result, through computer analysis of the data, we are gaining better insights; and nest box designs affect bluebird population dynamics. Through workshops, the Annual State Convention, and publication of research findings in the Wisconsin Bluebird newsletter, BRAW shares successful production techniques while hopefully avoiding some of the mistakes painfully learned by earlier bluebird enthusiasts. County Coordinators are the “grassroots” of Wisconsin’s eastern bluebird restoration program. County Coordinators often conduct local workshops each year that are usually held in late winter and early spring. BRAW’s County Coordinators distrib- ute literature, are sources for nest box construction plans, answer questions, and otherwise serve as knowledgeable persons to help individuals, clubs, and organizations effectively aid bluebirds and other cavity nesting birds. The County Coordinators assist interested persons in becoming members of BRAW. BRAW members provide the financial base for the publication of the quarterly newsletter, Wisconsin Bluebird. The newsletter reports monitors’ data and data interpretations, different experiences of readers and other persons who work with cavity nesters, how to recognize good habitat, why and how to monitor a bluebird trail, how to spot natural enemies of bluebirds, how to defend bluebirds against their enemies, how to identify nest failures and what to do about them, about the impact and significance of other bird species that may nest in bluebird nest boxes, the names and addresses of County Coordinators and BRAW, Inc. officers and directors. BRAW, Inc. maintains liaisons with the Department of Natural Resources’ Bureau of Endangered Resources, the UW-Stevens Point, the North American Bluebird Society (NABS) and the Wisconsin Society for Ornithology. We invite you to join us and be a part of the bluebird conservation movement in Wisconsin.

Visit our web site at: www.braw.org

2 GUIDELINES FOR SUCCESSFUL MONITORING OF EASTERN BLUEBIRD NEST BOXES By

Kent D. Hall, Ph.D.,Coordinator, Data Collection & Analysis, Bluebird Restoration Association of Wisconsin (BRAW)

Why Monitor Eastern Bluebird Nest Wisconsin (BRAW) was formed on Boxes? March 15, 1986. BRAW has worked to In Wisconsin, Eastern Bluebirds increase the population of this species have traditionally never been abun- ever since. dant because good habitat is lacking in the state. But in the late 1960’s, History of Bluebird Production in 1970’s and early 1980’s, Breeding Bird Wisconsin by BRAW Monitors. Surveys done by the USGS on the There is strong reason to believe same stretches of roadway on a year- bluebird conservation efforts are ly basis, started revealing alarming working. Based on BBS routes, the drops in the few bluebird populations best estimate of bird populations we we had (partly due to severe weather have in the state, populations of blue- in 1976-77 on their overwintering birds plunged by 60% and hit a low grounds [Davis & Roca 1995]; see in 1979-1981. (Fig.1) By 2010 (latest Fig. 1). The other three main cavity date for which data is available), the nesters (chickadees, Tree Swallows & population had increased by about wrens) have never shown a similar 180% from these lowest levels and by drop in population. 45% from 1966 levels. BBS route sum- Armed with this information, the maries for the 2011-13 period should WDNR approached citizen groups show continued increases in blue-

Pat Ready around the state to attempt to stimu- bird populations because two of the late an interest in an artificial nest seasons prior to spring monitorings, January 2012: This monitoring guide 2010 & 2012, had record productions is dedicated to the hundreds of nest box program to “bring back” this imperiled species. The Bureau of reported by BRAW monitors. box monitors that have collected data How much has BRAW contributed Endangered Resources of the WDNR for BRAW for the first 27 years of its to the recovery of the bluebird? Table existence. It is because of their care- called a meeting at Schmeeckle 1 shows that bluebirds in Wisconsin ful collection of data and responsible Reserve in Stevens Point in February increased from 1966 to 2010 at the reporting that it has been made pos- of 1986 (Don Bragg, WDNR Retired, rate of 1.8%/year in WI. That rate sible. Personal Communication). was almost identical to that of the As a result of this meeting, the United States as a whole, 1.9% (not Bluebird Restoration Association of shown in Table 1). But, if one com-

Figure 1. Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) data - bluebirds are increasing 3 Table 1. Yearly population trends for Eastern Bluebirds and other cavity pares the change in population from nesting species in Wisconsin and North America based on Breeding Bird 2000-2010, when improved production Surveys by the USGS. techniques were being implemented by BRAW monitors throughout WI, Species 1966-2010: WI 2000-2010: WI 2000-2010:United States one can see that the improvement in population levels in WI were almost 5 + EABL +1.8% +2.9% +0.6% times those in all of the US. And, more TRES -0.1% -0.9% +1.6% recently, starting in 2007, WI became the leading state in the US for bluebird BCCH +2.5% +1.5% -0.4% production and has held that status HOWR +1.0% +1.5% +0.2% for six consecutive years. During that time we set new national records in * Populations levels for all NA bird species can be found at: ’07, ’09, ’10, and ’12. So, it seems safe www.mbr-pwrc-usgs.gov/bbs to say that bluebird monitors have + EABL = Eastern Bluebird; TRES = Tree Swallow; BCCH = Black-capped contributed substantially to the recov- Chickadee; HOWR = House Wren ery of bluebirds in WI. Table 2 and Figure 2 compare data collected by BRAW members for the Table 2. Comparison of Eastern Bluebird and Tree Swallow fledglings in time periods of 2005-2012 and 1994- 2005-12 time period 2012, respectively. It is obvious that the time period of 2001 to 2012 has Year EBF EBF/Box % EB TSF TSF/Box Total been a golden one for bluebird pro- occupancy Boxes duction in Wisconsin. In only two (1+ Eggs years was there a drop in production due, in part, to weather. Laid) So why did the bluebird produc- 2012 35,592 3.8 64.4 11,837 1.3 9,334 tion more than double from 2005 to 2012 (+201%)? There were at least 2011 23,137 2.4 60.1 11,838 1.2 9,548 three reasons: 1) Monitored nest 2010 30,716 3.2 60.2 12,267 1.3 9,632 boxes increased by 3,318, but that accounts for only 55% of the increase; 2009 28,814 3.3 58.0 11,054 1.3 8,699 2) improved weather was a factor, especially in 2012. After an extremely 2008 21,379 2.9 56.0 9,864 1.3 7,387 cold weather pattern in 2011 which 2007 28,244 3.60 50.0 10,051 1.3 7,861 severely depressed production, nesting (including egg-laying) began in 2006 21,047 3.50 44.0 6,574 1.1 6,021 March and yielded record fledgling numbers in most areas of Wisconsin. 2005 17,670 2.94 ____ 8,440 1.4 6,016 3) Another important factor was implementation of management techniques discovered in the early years after BRAW was started (nest box location, spacing of nest boxes, use of predator guards & nest box design) Nothing shows the importance of improved management techniques better than nest box occupancy (Table 2). It increased 20% from 2006 to 2012. Although weather was also an important factor, the extremely cold weather of 2011 did not influence the attraction of bluebirds to our nest boxes (60.2% dropped only to 60.1%). It is obvious that we will never control the weather. But it is not only the weather in Wisconsin that influences bluebird reproduction in the state. Dr. Peter Dunn has shown (Fig. 3) that colder than normal weather in the over wintering grounds of the Figure 2. *Number of fledgling Eastern Bluebirds & Tree Swallows, Gulf of Mexico states, can suppress and number of active nest-boxes, in the 1994 to 2012 time period. Note that reproduction the following spring. most BRAW monitors dropped paired boxes by 1997 and most dropped No other cavity nesting songbird is crowded single boxes by 2002. subject to this reproductive influence 4 by the weather. Black-capped Chickadees do not migrate much and both Tree Swallows and House Wrens migrate far enough south that weather does not influence their overwintering populations much. Moreover, Tree Swallows (3-4 weeks later) and House Wrens (5-6 weeks later) do not start nesting until much later in the season and are not as subject to harsh weather effects on reproduction as are bluebirds. Finally, BBS routes in 2006 showed that the populations of other cavity nesting songbirds are much higher than bluebirds (Fig. 4). Chickadees had 2.46 times the bluebird population, Tree Swallows 3.55 times and House Wrens, 3.83 times. In part, these figures demonstrate that bluebirds are habitat specialists and can never be expected to reach the Figure 3. Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) data - bluebirds per route levels of the other three species. But, by 2010, those figures dropped to 2.22, 3.18 and 3.49, respectively. Since populations of chickadees, wrens and Tree Swallows were steady during these four years, these figures mean there was a higher population of bluebirds on the landscape. Artificial nest boxes played a role in this increase. In spite of the good news about bluebird populations in Wisconsin and the U.S., this species continues to be vulnerable to weather and competition from other cavity nesting species. A continuation of conservation efforts is not only desirable, it is essential if we are going to produce healthy numbers of this charismatic species. The bluebird trail that I coordinate (since 2002) is sponsored by the Aldo Leopold Audubon Society (ALAS). In 2012 it produced a record of Figure 4. Relative Abundance of cavity nesting songbirds in 2006 and 2010. 6,753 bluebirds. In the 11 years of

Table 3. Reproductive landmarks of songbirds & House Sparrows In the Central Wisconsin area (2005 Data*) Bird Arrival 1st nest 1st egg 1st 1st Last Length of Species Date Built Laid Hatch Fledge Fledge Reproduction EABL 24 Mar 1 Apr 10 Apr 30 Apr 20 May 10 Sept 163 days BCCH Resident 7 Apr 18 Apr 5 May 25 May 25 July 110 days TRES 29 Mar 1 May 12 May 8 June 28 June 21 July 82 days HOWR 20 Apr 15 May 23 May 20 June 20 July 2 Sept 107 days HOSP Resident 1 Apr 10 Apr DNA DNA DNA # 163 days *In some cases, the actual dates may be off by a few days # Estimated only

5 Table 4. BRAW management practices that are thought to have improved Eastern Bluebird production on the Audubon and other Bluebird Trails. Location, Location, Location: Nest, Egg & Chick Removal for bluebirds, chickadees, Tree 1) Need a territorial forage area of 1-3 acres of predominantly open Swallows (1,2,3,4) and House Wrens (4): Procedures approved by habitat USFWS in Dec., 2006 2) Ideal sites: short, sparse grass with interspersed trees: cemeteries, 1) Partial or complete nests w/o eggs: 1st week; 2nd ,3rd weeks no golf courses, parks, business parks, bike trails, RR tracks change, then remove; restart week count if more building occurs; if 3) Boxes should be totally exposed to sunlight from sunrise until wet, remove, replace with dry, fine grass or pine needles (white pine noon; thereafter, shading is permissable preferred) 4) Perch sites: 2) touch eggs each week; if they are warm, they are being incubated; a) One or more trees (10’ ideal) within 100’ (preferably closer) to if they then turn cold, they have been abandoned and are dead; to the front or to one side of nest box (most hunting starts on a test your judgment, remove a single egg and crack it open. If the perch and these trees are vital for use as survival perches when egg is viable (has a moving embryo), leave the remaining eggs— chicks first fledge) but if the embryo does not move (= dead) or the egg is empty, b) Fences (barbed, electric, wooden) remove cold eggs and nest. c) Electrical wires (no more than 30’ high preferred), clothes lines 3) It is also possible for dead eggs to be incubated well after they 5) Noisy sites okay (interstates, other roadways, railroads, temporary should have hatched (up to four weeks), and are warm to the touch. air shows, church picnics) Leaving eggs in a nest this long simply “robs” the nesting pair of 6) Roadways with limited traffic can be ideal nest box sites and adults precious time in the season when they could be rebuilding a pro- and young chicks are rarely killed by traffic. ductive nest. To prevent this problem, estimate the date for the last Relocation: egg being laid (one egg is laid/day). Add 19 days to that date (14 1) Change the nest box position if there has been no bluebird nesting for incubation; 5 for a delay in incubation) and when the monitoring attempt in a season OR date hits the 19 days or beyond, remove a single egg and repeat 2) Change by the end of the following April (75-90% of nest boxes the procedure in #2). have been occupied by bluebirds by then); if no nesting has 4) Chicks starving/lethargic: foster into nests with chicks of similar age, occurred by the end of April your 2nd nesting season, it is sign that + or - 2 days [place with slightly younger, if possible]: 85% reared by your site is unappealing to bluebirds. But moving them to better nest adoptive parents in a 4-year study by the ALAS in central WI sites still gives you a 50:50 chance of occupancy for the season. 5) House Wrens Only: If a partial nest of sticks is in your nest box the 1st week, remove them; the 2nd week remove them and tape the Box Style/Dimensions: opening. In two weeks, open the box and repeat. The 2nd taping 1) In ‘the wild”, bluebirds prefer to occupy old woodpecker holes that should be left until the end of the season because no other species are not usually very large or deep can nest in the box in the territory of a wren or you can choose to 2) Shallow, narrow boxes work best: allow the wren to complete its nesting. If egg cup or eggs are found a) 4-5” below the bottom of the hole as maximum depth at any time, you should allow the natural cycle to continue. b) 4 x 4”, 4 x 5” nesting platform (inside dimensions) 3) No vents or keep vents closed until June 1 to prevent windchill Common Predators of Bluebirds: Raccoons, House Sparrows and from killing eggs and/or chicks. The summer of 2012 showed that Black Flies: high temperatures can kill chicks in nest boxes. But cold weather has 1) Do not put boxes on wooden fence or electrical posts. The cheapest still proven to be more damaging than heat. Since it is likely that the and most convenient mounting system uses 3/4” electrical conduit. changing climate assures high summer temperatures in the future, Cut 10’ conduit to 6’-8” lengths. Flatten 4” at end and bury 18” of we recommend monitors consider making their boxes “convertible” by conduit. To the remaining 5’ conduit attach two 3/4” clamps and dropping side doors in the summer and replacing them at the end of screw to box. Two 3/4” pieces can be joined with a coupler to make the season. For Peterson boxes, holes can be drilled at the top of one a 6’-8” post. side and a piece of “lathe board” placed over them until June 1. A sin- 2) Raccoons: In the summer of 2012, Leif Marking and assistants gle or pair of screws can be used to seal the openings during spring. videotaped raccoons climbing fence posts covered with PVC tubing. The main thing to do here is to produce air circulation to prevent heat Previously, it was thought that such protected posts could not be buildup as in an attic. On the other hand, in the southwestern part of climbed by them. It was also thought that one could detect raccoon the state where black flies are a problem, screens should be placed predation raids by nesting materials being pulled from boxes. The over the openings to prevent ease of black fly entry. Marking team found that raccoons could remove eggs and pop 4) Oval hole small enough to keep out starlings & cowbirds them into their mouths like we do M & M’s without removing nesting 5) Don’t use predator guards on box fronts (too thick for bluebirds) materials. Numerous monitors ask me what causes the loss of eggs or perches on boxes (used by predator birds such as sparrows & with the the nest left perfectly intact. We must now suspect that kestrels). Instead, use a predator guard on your mounting post or many of these losses are due to raccoons. To prevent raids of your make the mounting post your predator guard (3/4” electrical conduit nest boxes by raccoons, two preventive measures are suggested: preferred). A) Use steel wool or a wire brush to smooth off oxidized PVC and/or B) smear car wax paste on the post. 3) House Sparrows are exotic, introduced species from Europe. They Spacing: have no legal protection from the USFWS in North America. They 1) Space no closer than 100-200 yards (1-3 acre territories needed); have a strong, seed crushing beak that easily out-competes the encourages Tree Swallow occupation if boxes are placed closer slender/weaker insect-eating beak of other songbirds. The best way than this to prevent these pests from occupying your nest boxes is to keep 2) Pairing reduces bluebird and increases swallow production/box them away from livestock (especially cattle) or homes with feeders

6 using millet and/or cracked corn as these locations attract large are at least 3 days of age—mist thoroughly (spray does not harm the numbers. But these pests can fly up to ½ mile to occupy a box, so eyes) D) the 2nd week, spray the hole and cracks on the outside considerable habitat is lost to nest boxes unless another alternate is of the box only, again plus the nest if the eggs have not hatched used. And the best alternative is a Van Ert trap (cost is about $10@; and spray the chicks for the 2nd and final time. If you recognize that Pg. 23). Van Ert traps are easy to insert and highly effective when black flies are being attracted to your boxes, you can almost elimi- used properly. They should be set only when the sparrow is building nate blackfly problems entirely, if you use these techniques. a nest or has already constructed one. Then, all nesting materials should be removed from the box (including eggs). Usually, the male Woodpeckers is trapped and that is a good thing because he is the “enticer” of the Woodpeckers can cause great destruction to nest boxes as they use female. Trapping a female is not as effective as the male will just at- them as roost-sites in fall, winter and early spring. Hairy Woodpeckers tract another female. Rarely, both are trapped together. To dispose of occupy boxes the most followed by Downy Woodpeckers. We have the sparrow, put a clear, plastic sack (held tight at the bottom) over tried to keep woodpeckers out of our boxes by placing thin wafers of the nest box. Open the door and the sparrow flutters out and can be alumnimum or ¼” plastic over the damaged holes. Nothing has worked penned against the side of the box and then disposed of. In 60-75% well as woodpeckers have the striking ability to “chisel” materials used of the time, only one trapping is necessary to clear up the nest box to patch the damage. Heavier metal can be used, but is too costly for protected songbirds. In two years of ALAS studies, almost 100% to be useful for large trails. The only practical solution is to leave the of boxes with removed sparrows have produced young from other boxes open in the winter to keep woodpeckers out (even then, they songbirds, mainly bluebirds. The major problem faced by trapping sometimes do damage). We use wire to keep the doors open as “good sparrows is how long to leave the traps in place. I use two approach- Samaritans” walking past boxes completely open, sometimes close es: A) Set trap and return after monitoring the rest of my boxes or them as an act of good will during the winter (Fig. 5). Wires can be B) Set trap and return the next day. By that time, the sparrows are unwrapped and boxes closed on March 15 to accommodate early dead, but if you have trapped a swallow or bluebird, they will still be arriving bluebirds. These wires can also be used to keep lids open for alive and can be released unharmed. My experience is this: “Leaving a week after the first bluebird traps in nest boxes rarely leads to the deaths of accidentally trapped has fledged to increase the but protected songbirds, if the trap is left unmonitored no longer than likelihood that the bluebird will 12 hours”. produce a 2nd brood. Another 4) Black flies are a menace like no other to cavity nesting songbirds. In advantage to keeping the Wisconsin, blackflies are limited mainly to the southwestern, driftless boxes open during the winter areas of the state. The counties there have many slow-moving but is that chickadees and House low-pollution streams that are ideal for production of black flies. Sparrows do not use the Female black flies are the real culprit of this insect. Like female boxes for roost sites during mosquitoes, they are attracted by CO2 given off by incubating hens the winter. This approach or immobile chicks and bite them for a blood meal. Females are levels the playing field for driven off their eggs by the persistent biting of black flies but chicks bluebirds coming to nest in Fig. 5. Wiring boxes open to prevent wood- can’t get away from black flies and are killed by dozens of black fly the early weeks of the season. pecker damage. bites. Anyone who finds a brood of chicks killed by black flies will not soon forget it. But we now have a way to prevent black fly deaths. Direction of Opening: It’s best to use Permethrin-10 poultry insecticide. Dilute it to 0.50% 1) Keep away from prevailing westerly winds (cools boxes) concentration and place it into an aspirator bottle such as a “Windex 2) Use the same direction for all boxes Bottle”. When you find black flies around your nest box (swarms 3) Cornell University has determined that directing the opening of a hover like a large fruit fly) use this protocol to prevent the hen from nest box to the northeast, east or southeast improves the fledging abandoning the nest box and the death of the chicks: A) spray the rate of Eastern Bluebirds in northern latitudes. Apparently, boxes opening and all cracks on the box, both inside and out B) if there pointed in that direction, heat up more quickly in the mornings in cold are eggs in the nest, put a small, clear jar over the eggs and spray weather but do not collect as much heat from a southern exposure the nest thoroughly C) if there are chicks in the nest, make sure they in summer Pat Ready photos

Female Bluebird Male Bluebird Immature fledgling 7 its existence, it has produced about fostered chicks. By the way, of those placing it in a permanent position, 46,000 songbirds, 36,000 of which that died, most were exceptionally never to move it again. were bluebirds. For the 2012 season, weak when put into the adoptive nests, Nothing could be further from the we monitored 1,304 nest boxes on 36 and didn’t have much of a chance for truth. No nest box on any bluebird trail routes with 66 monitors in 6 counties. survival anyway. should be considered permanent Each of these sub-trails are monitored Still not convinced? I will give you unless it is attracting bluebirds! To do weekly and electronic reports sent two more examples: otherwise is to focus on your ego that to me for analysis. These data have a) In two instances (wrens nearby is saying: “this place will be absolutely contributed considerably to the ideal for bluebirds”. Well, I am sorry if information found in Table 3 and & gas pipeline being put in), nest boxes with eggs had to be moved bluebirds don’t build in your house, 4. I thank the dozens of monitors but they are saying, “sorry, monitor, for the ALAS bluebird trail that up to 200’ from the original site. Instead of abandoning the eggs, both I don’t like where you placed the box—I have contributed to our improved can’t raise young in these conditions”. knowledge of bluebird conservation. hens followed the boxes, incubated & hatched all eggs successfully and Don’t you owe it to them to put it in a also successfully fledged all young. place where they can nest successfully? Common Myths Associated I support the contention that “every b) One day I moved a box with five, nest box put up for bluebirds should With Bluebird Monitoring. 10 day old chicks (unknown to me), afford a maximum opportunity to There are several myths that monitors tossed it in the back of my trailer attract them”. If you agree, then I must dispel in order to reach a high and transported it 15 miles to a site recommend these principles of place- productive output for their boxes: where I wanted to put up the box. ment/moving boxes: “Any time you 1) Moderate disturbances will cause To my dismay, I discovered there place a box in a new location, let it go a bluebirds (and other cavity nesting were chicks in the box and rushed season and then until the end of April songbirds) to abandon their nests. back to the original site and put in the following season. Our experi- This is so untrue. This myth, very in post, guard and box under the ence with Audubon nest boxes is that common in the general public, has watchful eyes of both bluebird par- 69-90% of all boxes that will be used been used forever by parents and oth- ents. The box was away from during the season, will be used by the ers to keep children from vandalizing the original nest site for 3 hours. In end of April.” nests. It may serve a good function spite of this maximum disturbance, By moving any boxes that have had from that standpoint, but beyond that the parents continued feeding no bluebird nests in them by the end of goal, the idea is worthless. & raising the young and fledged all April the 2nd season the boxes are in It should first be noted that perch- chicks. place, you have essentially given them ing birds (= passerines) can smell Therefore, we “sell nesting birds two seasons to attract bluebirds, but but, “residual human scent on eggs short.” We fail to remember that in the can then place them in a new position and nest does not deter the parental case of cavity nesting birds, they care- that still has a 50:50 chance to attract instincts of passerines (Gill 2007)”. fully inspect the box and surrounding a pair for the remainder of the 2nd sea- Their sensory existence is mainly habitat for its reproductive potential. son. Of course, if another songbird has limited to sight and hearing. When When the hen eventually picks the box, already occupied your nest box by the one opens a nest box, therefore, and she has already decided (bonded to) end of April in the 2nd year, it should handles the eggs or young, or the that this is an ideal site for her to lay be left to complete its reproductive adults themselves, the birds are not eggs and raise young. When she lays cycle noticeably influenced by smells from eggs, she has even more reproductive the monitor. potential for her future (additional 3) Noise will prevent successful In fact, bird banders have captured bonding) and when the chicks hatch, nesting in bluebirds. both adults and young in nests for hell has to freeze over to get her and To me, it was surprising to find that decades; taken them out to band them, the rooster to abandon those young bluebirds tolerate high levels of noise. held them firmly to affix the band and (maximal bonding). The first insight I got about this fact then released (adults) or replaced juve- So give the bluebird hen & rooster was placement of a nest box in a park niles in the nests—all with only rare credit. Touching and modest distur- along a heavily traveled street on the mishaps. And bluebird monitors don’t bance of eggs, nest & young, will not west edge of Plover, WI. This box has come close to traumatizing juveniles & cause them to abandon the nest, eggs, been in place for ten years and has suc- adults in this way. or young. Quite the opposite, they cessfully produced broods all ten years Moreover, ALAS monitors have need your tender love & care to maxi- and successful double broods in most found dozens of starving chicks in mize their reproductive potential. By of those years. nests in ’05–’12 and have moved them all means, do monitor your cavity nest- Armed with this experience, I selected to other nests with young. In 85% of ing songbirds but with careful modera- a “very noisy railroad track site” along these cases, the adults adopted and tion. The principles I have outlined Hwy. 54 between Plover and Wisconsin raised these foreign chicks successfully. here apply to other cavity nesting Rapids. This site has thousands of Had smell or disturbance been a prob- songbirds as well. automobiles passing along it (100-200’ lem, they would have rejected these 2) When you place a nest box, you are from the boxes) each day and up to 8 11, 100-box car freight trains, passing responsibility of nest box monitoring, livestock (200+ yards) or do not place within 50-100’ of the boxes each day. it should mean a several hour commit- your boxes in suburban neighborhoods In an experiment in 2005, I placed four ment at least once/week. Anything where millet and corn are fed in the boxes along the tracks and three of the less and the necessary commitment is spring & summer, occupancy by spar- boxes produced bluebirds. In 2006 I lacking and monitoring should not be rows is minimal. expanded the trail to 36 boxes and 30 undertaken by a person under those Bluebirds have a “wing up” on swal- of them produced bluebirds.In 2007, circumstances. lows in that they will start building 26 of 30 boxes and in ‘08 31 of 40 pro- When one assumes the responsibility nests 3-4 weeks before they do. As our duced bluebirds. They were also very for monitoring a nest box, you assume winters have shortened due to global productive in the ‘09-’12 seasons. Noise the responsibility to do what you warming, the swallow is narrowing was not a significant factor in limit- can, to see that the natural cycle of the that gap because they are migrating ing the production of bluebirds in this songbird is completed without interfer- back from the Gulf Coast earlier. But extreme situation. ence from humans or other predators. for now, the bluebird faces less com- What was most important was the Monitoring once per week assures: petition from the swallow for the first habitat I selected. It consisted of a 1) accurate collection of data 2) nests nesting than the 2nd nesting. highway with a swath of vegetation of and/or eggs will be removed from Even less is the competition from about 50’ kept cut low (made it ideal inactive boxes 3) removal of wet nests House Wrens. First of all, if one places for ease of insect observation), 20-30’ or wet nests with eggs or chicks can a nest box 100’+ away from short & high electrical wires overhead for be replaced with dry nests 4) dying dense, brushy vegetation, wrens usu- perch hunting, short trees in front of chicks can be removed and fostered ally do not build in those boxes and the boxes for adults to perch on prior into nests with healthy young 5) find- if they do so, build dummy nests. to entering the box with food and for ing and controlling acute problems Secondly, wrens migrate back to WI young to fly to when they fledged, and such as black fly infestations 6) fix- even later than swallows. Since they railroad tracks with short grass hunting nest boxes, posts or guards that do not even start nesting until mid- ing sites on both sides of the track. In might have been damaged and that are May, nearly 100% of nest-seeking spite of the noise levels, an excellent threatening the safety of the songbirds bluebirds have selected boxes by then. and productive habitat for bluebirds. in question and 7) locating and/or Wrens are almost never a competitor in It should be noted that other reporting any vandalism to your boxes. the 1st nesting cycle for bluebirds, but researchers have found an effect of can become a major competitor in the “anthropogenic noise” on song, 2nd and/or 3rd nesting cycles. brood growth rate and condition Natural History Information and number of fledglings produced for Cavity Nesting Songbirds: in Eastern Bluebirds (Kite, Saha & 2002-2012 What kind of nest box should I Swaddle 2012). While my observa- Natural history data has been collect- use for a bluebird trail? tions do not agree with theirs, the ed each year (2002-12) of the Audubon In their natural environment, blue- differences might be due to the kind birds largely occupy abandoned wood- of habitat selected for nest box place- Study. Table 3 is representative of the pecker holes. Therefore, boxes ment and the types of data collected data collected during that time. Actual in our studies. dates vary somewhat, but the over- that simulate these holes work best. all principles are the same. Swallows, Shallow nest boxes with floors that are 4) One should not put boxes next to wrens and sparrows (usually in that only 4-5” below the bottom of the oval roadways for fear of bluebird adults/ order but depending on the habitat) hole and with an interior platform of 4 young being killed by passing cars. are the main competitors for nest “ x 4” or 4 “ x 5”, fledge the most blue- The majority of boxes on the boxes occupied by bluebirds through- birds. For the BRAW data reported Audubon Trail are along roadways. I out Wisconsin (individual trails may in 2006, the only boxes that fledged know of no adult or fledgling that has vary from these state-wide trends). more than the statewide average of 3.5 ever been killed by an automobile. Chickadees are a distant 4th as a com- bluebirds/box were, K-boxes, NABS/ On the contrary, moderately traveled petitor but do compete for boxes on NABS-Style boxes, & Peterson boxes. roads provide a great opportunity to some occasions. Moreover, these three boxes had raise successful broods and are safe for In late March & early April, only among the lowest swallow occupancy monitoring. Heavily traveled roads chickadees and sparrows compete with of all the major boxes used. You can’t (see #3) can be outstanding for raising bluebirds for nest boxes, as all start go wrong by placing these three box bluebirds but hazardous to stop along. nesting about the same time (spar- styles on your route; if fewer blue- rows nest before bluebirds, bluebirds birds are still being produced than the 5) One has to monitor nest boxes only nest before chickadees). If one places state average. once every two weeks or a month. nest boxes 100+ feet in the open, away Those using nest boxes which attract This myth is being perpetuated by from wooded edges (especially pine fewer birds than the state average, those who either don’t have a commit- plantations), occupancy by chickadees should first be sure boxes are placed ment to monitoring songbirds or are is normally not a problem. Likewise, according to the principles in this over-committed, and lack the time if you place your nest boxes some guide and then consider replacing to do so. When one “takes on” the distance away from cattle and other them with a higher producing 9 nest box, if still producing fewer blue- by a male to entice a female to the box you monitor the nest boxes once every birds than the state average. Partial Nest: Any nest construction 6-8 days (1 week average), it is usually It should further be noted that each with grasses placed in a circle or cov- pretty easy to determine the age of the of these box types has an “oversized” ering the nest platform until a cup is young, accurate to within a day. opening (K-Box), or oval in both the formed in the nest The Form 21 was dramatically NABS-Style and Peterson boxes. Complete Nest: Any nest with a deep altered starting in the 2010 season. Oval holes have been shown to pro- cup The new Form 21 has increased the duce more bluebirds than smaller, Complete Nest, Ready for Eggs: A accuracy of the data collected and round holes (www.braw.org /Table deep cup with grasses tightly packed improves comparison of data from of Contents: Bluebird Boxes: Round by the body of the female season to season. All forms are avail- or Oval Entrance Holes by Close). Clutch: Total eggs in nest Although difficult to prove, some Brood: Group of young birds in the investigators think that an oval hole nest allows adults to “tip-feed” their young Broody: Word to explain why a female without having to completely enter does not want to leave the clutch when the hole as is the case with a circular the box is opened opening. Theoretically, this behavior Double Brood Box: Boxes that have enables the adult to make more forag- fledged two broods ing trips/day than by using a round Triple Brood Box: Boxes that have hole and could lead to a faster growth fledged three broods rate for the chicks in oval-holed boxes. Fledged or Fledgeout: The process of It should be pointed out that 65% of young permanently leaving the nest Rick Pertile all nest boxes being reported to BRAW Fledglings: Young that have perma- in 2009 were of the three leading types nently flown from the nest. able at www.braw.org and in this pub- listed. As others see the importance Juveniles: Young that are living out- lication. of providing a better style of box for side the nest; first stage of adulthood increasing bluebird production, we Juvenile Assisted Feeding: Juveniles 3) Approaching & opening should see the average number of blue- from the first brood who are assisting the nest box. birds fledged/box increase steadily. in feeding the 2nd or 3rd broods or the Monitor boxes once/week. Meanwhile, it is possible to modify juveniles from the 2nd brood who are Experience has shown that production your boxes and still increase produc- assisting feeding in the 3rd brood. of bluebirds improves if you visit one tion, even though you do not replace Nest Box Year: A nest box that has or more times/week. For example, if them with the more productive boxes been monitored for one season there is an extreme weather event and discussed. When we first built our Nestling (= hatchling, chick or a nest gets wet, the eggs/birds can Peterson boxes for the Audubon Trail, young): Individual birds in the nest survive for only a few days. If you we used a poor model type and the EABL: Eastern Bluebird monitor the boxes only once every two nesting platform was 8” below the TRES: Tree Swallow weeks, you assure that the eggs/young bottom of the oval entrance hole. This HOWR: House Wren will die under these circumstances. By construction flaw forced bluebirds to BCCH: Black-capped Chickadee visiting every week, you could build a build a nest that was nearly double the HOSP: House Sparrow dry nest and save the eggs/young (see normal volume. below). Also, weekly monitoring helps The second year, we inserted a plat- 2) Forms to use. you determine if the nest is active or form into the box that was only 5” I prefer to use individual sheets for not (see bold font below). Destroying below the level of the oval opening. each nest box (Form 22). I think that inactive nests increases productivity. We increased the bluebird fledgling this form allows you to record data It is essential, whenever possible, to rate by 60% from 2002 to 2003 with in much more detail than if you use a get the hen to leave the nest prior to only this major modification of our shorter form. Whichever you chose opening the nest box. Several trail (few boxes were moved). So, for to use, however, you should sum- times on the Audubon trail, hens have those with deeper boxes, such as Hill marize the data on a Form 21 and been injured as they attempted to leave Lake, Bauldry & Herman Olsen mod- send it to me by Sept. 15 (after Oct. the box when it was opened but could els, you can improve their productivity 10, your data will not be used for the not use the exit hole. On at least one by simply inserting a new nest plat- Annual Report in the Winter Issue occasion, a monitor was so startled form to made them shallower. Better of the Wisconsin Bluebird. When you that he/she slammed the door shut, still, however, shift to the “Big 3”, more use a Form 22, you are expected to thinking that the young were escap- productive boxes. determine the age of the young in the ing and crushed and killed the hen in nest box to assure that you take cau- the door of the box. Such accidents are Monitoring Instructions. tion as they age, in order to keep them rare but can be eliminated by using the 1) Terminolology from jumping out of the nest box (see approach given below. Sprigs: Pieces of grass put into a box photographic chick aging sequence of As you approach the nest box, make Dr. Jack Bartholomai on back cover). If a loud pishing or clapping noise from 10 10-20’ away. Pishing is commonly laid in such nests have a low hatch- fed, they usually can be enticed to gape used by birdwatchers and involves ing rate. For example, none of the E’s by making a light pishing, kissing or making a shhhhhh sound with an laid in the ten egg nest hatched. More whistling sound. If neither of these explosive “p” sound preceding it (one commonly, but representing 2-3% of efforts allow you to get an accurate continuous sound). If the hen does all eggs laid on the Audubon Trail, are count of the nestlings, simply pick up not flush from the nest, go to the back “white eggs”. None of our white egg one or two of them and spread out the of the box and make loud tapping nests ever have any blue eggs in them, others. I have used this technique hun- noises on it. so this condition seems to be a fixed dreds of times without any harm to If the hen still doesn’t flush, step to genetic trait that does not vary over the the young. I also use the technique of the side of the box, away from the lifetime of the individual, apparently a scooping out the entire brood if they opening and open the box. The hen type of “egg albinism” (Gowaty and are only 1 or 2 days old. And, remem- should flush from the nest. If she still Plissner 1998). ber, smell is not a problem for cavity does not flush, return to the back of the When you look into the “hen-less” nesting songbirds. Rearing chicks box and make both a pishing nest, pull back the cup edge and you takes 15-21 days, depending on the and tapping sound. If she is still so will be able to see the eggs. time of year (spring is longer, summer “broody” that she stays on the eggs If it is a Tree Swallow nest, you must shorter; Berger et al. 2001). (less than 5% of the time if the above protocol is followed), simply reach in 5) After the young have fledged, and place your hand under the female what do I do with the old nest? (palm down) and lift her off of the I ask monitors on the Audubon trail nest. She will fly over your hand and to remove the nests from the boxes out of the box. She will chatter at you, after the young have fledged. but injury is not a problem with this They are further asked to scrape off technique (remember that smell is not all feces on the sides of the boxes, but a problem and this capture technique do not have to wash out the inside of is used by bird banders on a regular the box. For those that are compelled basis). I have used this technique to more thoroughly clean out the box, dozens of times without harm to the however, use only water and a towel hen. This technique can also be used Lief Marking (no soap; windex spray bottles work with other songbirds, but a hen swal- well). low will grasp nesting material, so care part the feathers to find the eggs. The I recommend removing the old nest should be taken when removing her, so eggs of chickadees are covered when from the area by placing it in a plastic you don’t remove her eggs. the hen leaves the nest during egg sack and disposing of it in the trash By using these techniques, you laying, so carefully pull back the hair at home. While insects such as blow should be able to get an accurate count covering them to get a count. In some flies are rarely a problem for songbirds of eggs and young, important data for cases, it is best to “touch-count” the in our experience, there is only one BRAW. eggs. This technique allows you to reason to leave the nest in place, that count the eggs with minimal distur- of leaving the jewel wasp, a parasite 4) Counting eggs & nestlings. bance. Rarely, you will find a larger, on blowflies, in place to parasitize After you have flushed the hen from brown-mottled egg in the nest that is blowflies in the next nest (Berger et the nest, you are then ready to count likely to be that of a Brown-headed al. 2001). Since it has been our experi- the eggs and/or nestlings. Cowbird. This bird is protected and ence that blowflies are not injurious to the egg should be left in the nest to bluebird nestlings and that old nests Counting eggs: complete its natural cycle. block nesting attempts by other blue- A complete clutch (= total) is 4-5 light To help prevent this parasitism, birds, we still recommend removing blue eggs. In unusual cases, probably reduce the size of your box opening. the old nests except in the situation associated with exceptionally good Incubation takes 13-14 days in blue- that follows: The longer one has a trail habitat & feeding conditions, 6 eggs birds (Erhlich et al. 1988). However, in place, the more common are second are laid. In all of the nests of eggs laid data collected on the Audubon Trail (and third) nestings. This means that in the past 7 years on the Audubon indicates that in cold weather, the hen new nests will sometimes be started trail, only four have had 7 eggs and may delay initiation of incubation prior to removing the old nest. In that one had 8 eggs. So, such clutches are until the weather warms. This is why case, the new nest can be built so high possible but ultra rare. In all of the one should use the 19 day criteria that it makes the bluebirds more vul- nests of eggs laid in the 11 years of before cracking open a sample egg to nerable to predation because they are the Audubon trail, fewer than a dozen see if it is viable. so close to the opening. If the nest is nests have had 7 E’s laid in them, one sturdy enough, it is possible to lift it off has had 8 and one has had 10. Most Counting nestlings: of the old nest and remove the old nest of these nests are the result of “egg- Healthy nestlings that are hungry will from under it. In other instances, it is dumping” with two hens laying eggs naturally “gape” when you open the so flimsy that it is best to leave the old in the nests. Much of the time, eggs nest box. If they are sleepy or recently nest underneath the new one. It is not continued on page 14 11 Nest Guide to Cavity Nesters by Patrick Ready/BRAW

Eastern Bluebird Tree Swallow Black-capped Chickadee Fine or coarse grasses, Similar to bluebirds, coarser Moss, fine grass, lined with pine needles, lined with fine grasses & straw, lined with animal hair. grasses. feathers when eggs are laid.

12 House Wren House Sparrow Sticks and twigs jammed in grass, straw, tight. Lined with a small amount feathers, paper, of fine grass and hair. Often plastic, etc. and builds dummy nest with a few they usually swirl sticks but without lined cup. the grass upward to fill the box, then tunnel down in. Sometimes when a nest is first started it my be hard to tell what species is nesting. Wait a day or two to see how the nest develops. Feathers and wrappers early on with some grass pieces are Above: Peterson box filled definite with straw, grass, and gar- signs of bage indicate a House Spar- House row nest. Sparrows. Middle: Eggs-white or grey with brown specs

Left: Beginning nest. Similar to bluebird and tree swallow but note chicken feathers and debris = signs of a House Sparrow nest.

Species Identification of cavity nesters

Male & female Eastern Bluebird Female & male Tree Swallow.

Fledgling Eastern Bluebird Black-capped Chickadee, sexes similar. House Wren, sexes similar. 13 worth the risk of disturbing nest build- following policy: “No bluebird moni- feet away from such habitats will ing and the abandonment of the box tor’s data will be accepted for sea- usually eliminate their nest attempts. by the hen. sonal reporting if they are known to Sometimes they will occupy a box in destroy active songbird nests”. the open, far away from woods. But it 6) What should I do if nests remain Monitors are expected to follow the is rare that these nests are successful. incomplete, empty or with unhatched criteria for inactive nests approved There really is nothing you can to do to eggs? by the USFWS on Dec. 27, 2006. If prevent these occupations. But three they do not and indicate that on weeks after you experience a com- All songbirds are protected by the their BRAW Form 21’s or in personal pleted clutch without hatching, touch Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918. conversation with BRAW Board it to see if the eggs are being incubated The Act states: “unless and except members, their data will not be (chickadees cover their eggs when they as permitted by regulations…it shall accepted for consideration in BRAW leave the nest, so carefully remove the be unlawful at any time, by any reports and their names will be sub- hair covering them to “feel” the eggs). means or in any manner to pursue, mitted as violators of federal law to If they are cold to the touch, you can hunt, take, capture, kill…possess, the USFWS. legally remove the eggs and nest. Our offer for sale, sell, purchase, ship, experience is that chickadees are the export, import…, transport or cause least successful of all the songbirds to be transported…any migra- attempting to occupy our bluebird tory bird, any part, nest, or eggs houses and they are most likely to be of any such bird...included in the ousted by bluebirds. terms of conventions between the For most of our 11 years, the United States and (Canada)…the Audubon Trail has strugged with United Mexican States…and the… House Sparrow problems. We have Government of Japan”. tried a variety of techniques to keep BRAW absolutely supports this sparrows out of boxes, the best pos- law. It is therefore illegal to destroy sible solution to controlling them, if any nest, eggs or young of any one can find something that works. songbird except in the following We have not found anything that situations approved by Ms. Andrea can keep sparrows out of boxes. our

Kirk, Permits Chief, Migratory Birds, Jack Bartholmai approaches included using PVC USFWS Region 3, Ft. Snelling, MN and K-Box models—they failed. We 55111 on Dec. 27, 2006. Ms. Kirk 7) Problems encountered while mon- have tried sparrow “spooks” of tin- has determined that nests and/or itoring boxes sel & pin-wheels, plastic covers over eggs of any songbird are inactive a) Nest boxes occupied by other bird entrance holes and fishing line hung in the following situations and can species. from the roof in front of the box open- therefore be destroyed. For specific Swallows, wrens & chickadees are ings. They failed. We have tried wait- removal criteria, see Table 4, Nest, Egg “good guys”, i.e., songbirds. They ing until the hens lay eggs, removing and Chick Removal, Pg. 6. should be treated with respect as the nests and crushing the eggs on the Five years of data collection from described above. The best technique platform. That failed. Audubon led to this ruling by Ms. Kirk to keep song birds other than blue- The best approach for sparrows is of the USFWS. It is our experience that birds out of your boxes is to put them to stay away from properties heavily when empty, partial or complete nests, in habitat preferred by bluebirds, not infested with them (cattle farms and or nests with unhatched eggs are left other species. homes which feed millet and cracked in the box, it “blocks” nesting attempts Swallows prefer habitat with water corn). If that fails, use Van Ert traps from individual hens that started the over the drier, upland habitat preferred to remove sparrows (details in Table nest or from new hens. Although we by bluebirds. Keeping boxes away 4, Pg. 6). do not know which “type of bluebird” from water (including marshland) will b) Wet nests. is being blocked, our data indicate increase the chances of attracting blue- Rarely do nests get wet in boxes. If that removal of the nests using the birds to them. they do, the most common reason procedure listed above, leads to a new Wrens love short & dense, brushy is a “leaky box”. The first consider- nest being built and/or clutch of eggs vegetation with shading. Keep boxes ation, therefore, is to repair the box laid by a bluebird, within one or two 100’ away from such vegetation and by replacing boards, tightening them weeks in most boxes, when this pro- usually only a dummy nest is built. It or caulking leaks. Sometimes, under cedure is followed in the months of is best to move the box another 50-100’ extraordinary conditions, winds will April through June. Leaving the nests away from the dense vegetation if nest- blow so strongly, that an otherwise or eggs in place delays further nest ing is attempted. “water-tight”box will “take on water” attempts by up to 6 weeks. Chickadees are the least likely to and produce a wet nest. occupy a bluebird house. They prefer Songbird hens, including the blue- On December 2, 2006, the BRAW edges of conifer woods and shaded bird, incubate their eggs at about Board voted 12 to 0 to establish the nesting habitat. Keeping boxes 100+ 97F. A wet nest quickly drops the egg 14 temperature below this level, causing ever, that you will discover starving about ½” long and are usually not very arrested development. Wet nests also chicks by finding them largely unre- active when you find them in the nests. cause abandonment of nests prior to sponsive to your typical pishing/kiss- It is true that blowflies are ectoparasites egg laying. If there are young in the ing/whistling noises. In addition, if no on nestlings, attaching to the abdomens nest, especially less than a week old, adults are seen around the nest box, it for nourishment. Typically, these “feed- they will quickly die of hypothermia is likely that one or both parents are ings” occur at night and the larvae from a wet nest, especially in cold dead or have abandoned the chicks. return to the safety of the nest during weather. The chicks must be lively enough the day. The bottom line is, replace all wet that they can still “gape”. Otherwise, I advise monitors to use nests with dry material. It is best to fostering them will not work. If it is Permethrin-10 sprays on nests prior begin the season with a small sack cold weather, wrap the young in tis- to egg laying or by using a glass cover of dried vegetation, good enough for sue or toweling that will keep them after eggs are laid (see Table 4, Pg. 6). making up to 6 nests. We carry a bag warm. If chicks are cold to the touch, Some researchers have suggested that of white pine needles. they should be placed in a cloth and the survival of House Sparrow chicks All too often, when you experience warmed with your breath. This was reduced after blowfly parasit- finding a wet nest, all other vegetation approach might be necessary until ism. If that is the case, bluebird and around the box is wet. “Plan ahead” you can find a nest where the body other cavity nesting bluebird chicks is a good policy when it comes to temperature of the hen and chicks can might be surviving but weakened by wet nests. Once the hen completes a raise the temperature naturally. blowflies and have a higher mortal- nest, she will tolerate any kind of cup- You should try to locate a nest with ity after fledging. Treatment of nests shaped vegetation that might be avail- chicks in it that are somewhat younger with Permethrin-10 should kill the able to make a “humanly-constructed” than the age of the chicks that are blowflies and prevent any deleterious nest. starving. This strategy is important effects due to these ectoparasites. Preferred materials, however, include because the starving young are retard- iii. Ants. white-pine needles and any dead but ed in their physical development and Ants are rarely a problem in nest soft, short-leaved grasses. after being adopted by the new parents boxes in central WI, although they All the monitor has to do is form a will grow at about the same rate as the have been known to attack, kill, and cup-shaped nest approximating the younger chicks. devour newly hatched nestlings on dimensions of the nest in the box. Often, however, trails are so small occasion. They may even attack and Remove the eggs or chicks from the that not many choices are available to kill the young birds by entering the wet nest and place them in the dry use for adoptive nests. I have success- eggs as soon as the shells are cracked nest. Put the dry nest with eggs or fully fostered chicks into nests in which in the hatching process. (Zeleny 1976). chicks, back into the box and pat it the occupant chicks were 6 days older To control ants use Permethrin-10 down a bit to approximate the size than the adopted chick(s). This places spray as per the use with black flies & shape of the previous nest. Do not a hardship on the parents, however, as and blowflies (Table 4, Pg. 6). Another worry about this part of the process, they have to cope with juveniles out- approach is to use an “ant & roach” however, as the hen will quickly side the box and a chick(s) inside the powder that can be purchased from arrange the new nest to her liking. box. But the technique will still work. any Lawn & Garden supply store. To Audubon monitors have done this pro- Another rule of thumb is to put no apply, lift the nest with a paint scraper cedure dozens of times and it is 100% more chicks into the adoptive nest than and spread dust over the surface of successful if the nest can be replaced will total 5 or 6 (6 only if absolutely the nest platform. Insecticide dusts soon after it gets wet. It should be necessary). Two healthy adult birds can are contact poisons, so do not aspirate noted that it is common for hens to use raise 5 chicks in most cases, but coping it into the area of chicks and adults or damp grasses while building nests. with 6 is stressful and can lead to the they will be able to breathe it. Using These dry out quickly. Don’t change loss of the adoptive chick. these applications techniques, we have wet nests unless they have eggs or d) Critters invading the box. noticed no harmful effects to nesting chicks in them. i. Blackflies. birds. Wear a rubber glove for applica- c) Starving chicks in the box. See treatment approachs in Table 4, tion of Permethrin-10 or insecticide During the 11 years with the Pg. 6. powders. Audubon Trail, we have found over ii. Blowflies. iv. Mites 100 nestlings stressed so badly that In the 11 years that the Audubon In our 11 years of monitoring nest they had to be fostered to other nests. Trail has been collecting data, we have boxes, we have recorded no known We have succeeded in saving 85% of produced 36,384 bluebird fledglings fatalities from mites. In fact, it is them if they were not already past the from 7,961 boxes active during this rare that they occur in numbers large point of no return. time. I am unaware of any deaths enough to be detectable by humans. The first step is to identify starving of bluebird chicks due to blowflies. But sometimes, they overrun a nest chicks. If there is a dead chick in the During the months of June-August, we and must be dealt with when removing nest already, that is usually a good find their maggots in up to 50% of our the old nest. It is best to use gloves as sign that other chicks in the nest are nests. they are “creepy crawlers” of the worst stressed as well. It is more likely, how- Blowfly larvae are gray-brown and kind. They do not harm humans (and 15 apparently the birds in the box), but & Phillips]) 2) Non-vented boxes are monitors do. This is a sacred experi- they are uncomfortable if they get on warmer in spring and cooler in sum- ence that should be shared with as your skin. Just rub them off and try to mer than vented boxes. Eliminating many people as possible. “dust out” the box as best you can so vented nest boxes during springtime It is likely that in this modern age of the next brood will not start with a bad has led to improved bluebird produc- technological marvels, fewer and fewer mite infestation. It is our experience tion by BPCA and 3) painting nest children have the chance to “experi- that mites are more common in Tree boxes dark colors increases heat stress ence nature”. Take adults & especially Swallows than other songbirds. in bluebird chicks in the months of July children, with you on your monitoring v. Wasps and August and should be avoided. trips. Explain to them the wonders Rarely, wasps attach inside the nest Painting is not necessary, but if it must that you see each time you go out on box but more commonly they attach be done, light colors should be used. your trail. Good luck finding, raising and fledg- underneath it. It is always possible to The Well-Equipped Monitor. get stung by them, so caution should ing “the blues” and other cavity nest- The following suggestions are only ing songbirds. be used when removing the nest. To guidelines and include materials for prevent their further attachment to the repairing nest boxes, something that LITERATURE CITED same site, spread vasoline or bar soap you might have to confront. It all Berger, C., K. Kridler, and J. Griggs. 2001. over the place the nest stalk attached starts with a container of some kind. I The Bluebird Monitor’s Guide to Bluebirds and Small Cavity Nesters. Harper Collins to the box. Peterson nest boxes are par- use a small bucket, others use a knap- ticularly prone to wasp infestation. Publishers, Inc., New York, NY. sack, still others a fanny pack or fishing braw.org/BRAW Articles e) Climatic Effects. tackle box. Below is a list of items that can be Close, W. Bluebird Houses: Round or oval In northern latitudes, cold has proven entrance holes? to be the most limiting factor during useful when you monitor nest boxes: the reproductive season, much more Marking, L.L., F. Craig & C.A. Koperski. 1) Form 22, #3 or #4 pencil (corrections 2006. Effects of shade, insulation and Heat so than heat (as reported by bluebird do need to be made on occasion) reflective Materials on Temperatutres of monitors across the state). Bluebird Nest Boxes. Wisconsin Bluebird, In 2006, for example, an intense 2) Clipboard or notebook for data Vol. 21, #4. low pressure system dominated the forms (I prefer a three-ring binder) Marking, L.L., F. Craig & C.A. Koperski. weather throughout Wisconsin during 2008. The Effects of shade and Ventilation the week of May 11 & 12. For 48 hours 3) Flat, paint scraper to remove old Combinations to Alleviate Temperature on those two days, cold, wind-driven nests; plastic sack for old nests Problems in Bluebird Houses. Wisconsin rain fell and caused hens to abandon Bluebird, Vol. 23, #1. 4) Brush to clean out nest box eggs and/or chicks in order to survive Davis, W.H. and P. Roca. 1995. Bluebirds themselves. 5) Pilers & screwdriver and Their Survival. The University of In the two days of May 11-12, a total Kentucky Press, Lexington. of 286 eggs & chicks were lost on the 6) Hammer & caulking for repairs Dhonbdt, A.A. & T. Phillips. 2001. A Audubon trail. That 2-day number Question of Preference: Does the orienta- represented 26% of the total loss of 7) Fence post driver and cordless drill tion of a nest box affect the breeding suc- 1098 eggs & chicks for the entire season for putting in posts/attaching boxes cess of cavity-nesting songbirds? Birdscope and exceeded the total loss of eggs & from Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology. chicks in the two hot months of July & 8) Permethrin-10 solution in an aspira- Spring, Vol. 15, #2. August. This is an extreme example tor bottle for controlling, blowflies, Ehrlich, P.R., D.S. Dobkin, and D. Wheye. of the underlying principle that the ants & black flies (when present) and/ 1988. The Birder’s Handbook. Simon & majority of egg & chick loss occurs in or ant & roach powder. Schuster, Inc., New York, NY. the colder months of April & May. So Why Else Should We Gill, F.B. 2007. Ornithology, 3rd Edition. The most sophisticated temperature W.H. Freeman, Co., New York, N. Y. studies done by BRAW members are Monitor Bluebird Boxes? At the start of this “Informational Gowaty, P.A. and J.H. Plissner. 1998. those by Marking, Craig & Koperski Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis). In The Birds Packet”, I indicated that a major reason (2006, 2008) and other members of the of North America, No. 381 Poole and F. Gill, Brice Prairie Conservation Association for developing bluebird trails is to pre- eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., (BPCA). In two studies on tempera- serve bluebirds and other cavity nest- Philadelphia. ers. But bluebird trails are more than tures in nest boxes, they made these Kight, Caitlin R., Margaret S. Saha and John just for conservation of the creatures important observations: 1) east fac- P. Swaddle. 2012. Anthropogenic noise is ing nest boxes showed increased of creation. It is for us. It is vital for associated with reductions in the produc- temperatures as they were hit by the us to be associated with a conservation tivity of breeding Eastern Bluebirds (Sialia morning sun (this temperature spike project. sialis). Ecological Applications 22:1989- supposedly explains in part why blue- Few persons in the world have the 1996. bird production in northern latitudes chance to experience the wonder and Zeleny, L. The Bluebird: How You Can increases when boxes are placed in mystery of the reproductive develop- Help its Fight for Survival. 1978. Indiana ne, e or se-facing directions [Dhondt ment of a wild creature. But nest box University Press, Bloomington.

16 FORM 22 Individual Nestbox Weekly Field Record Bluebird Restoration Association of Wisconsin, Inc. Name Year ______Box design name (See sketches on back Mailing address Height of hole: ______of form for some of the City ______(distance to ground in most productive box nearest 1/2 foot) State ______Zip ______designs) Phone ( ) ______County

Location of box ______(including distance from reference points) Box support (circle one): 1. T metal post 2. U metal post 3. Conduit rebar 4. Other (list) ______Was a predator guard used on this box? (circle one) 1. PVC tube 2. Rain gutter 3. stove pipe 4. Other (list) ______Habitat (circle best description): 1. Grassland 2. Pasture 3. Orchard 4. Fence row 5. Cultivated field 6 Forest edge 7. Surburban 8. Building site 9. Wetland Other ______

Date Check Is nest Number Est. Number Number Bird Comments: (Condition of young, parasites, predation, of made present of date of of fledged species banding, future box repair, encroachment of woody visit by eggs hatch young vegetation, observation, etc.)

____ The U.S.F.W.S. guidelines for active nests were followed while monitoring the nests of all songbird species during my/our study. Please send in your data on a BRAW Form 21 by September 1 to: Kent D. Hall, Ph. D., Box Number 200 Pine Bluff Rd. Stevens Point, WI 54481

Form 22 - Individual Nestbox Weekly Field Record (Revised 1/07) 17 BRAW Form 21 Revised 1/13/12 Bluebird Restoration Association of Wisconsin YEAR ______ANNUAL BIRD NESTING SURVEY SUMMARY For two years the BRAW Form 21 has been modified to attempt to eliminate problems related to recording data, but 10% of the reports are still being turned in with mistakes. We are therefore altering the form once again to attempt to eliminate these mistakes. We are asking that you record all eggs laid and chicks hatched that resulted in the first successful set of fledglings in Column 1 (includes eggs laid but not hatched and eggs hatched but not fledged) and only then move on to Column 2. In column 2 put all eggs laid and chicks hatched that resulted in a second set of fledglings (includes eggs laid but not hatched and eggs hatched but not fledged) and only then move on to Column 3. In column 3 put all eggs laid and chicks hatched that resulted in a third set of fledglings (includes eggs laid but not hatched and eggs hatched but not fledged). A worksheet example is found on the reverse side of this sheet. We ask that you provide complete data (including eggs and hatchlings). Moreover, BRAW monitors are expected to collect data from each of the songbirds below and to protect their nests. Data sheets with incomplete information on either bluebirds or other songbirds will not be included in the BRAW Annual Report.

Please return this completed form by September 15 to BRAW, Inc., c/o Dr. Kent Hall, 200 Pine Bluff Rd., Stevens Point, WI 54481. Any reports received after Oct. 10 will not be included in the Annual Report. Total Boxes Monitored: (Sum of used & unused) Name ______Number of bluebirds fledged: Address: ______Number of boxes unused by any species (includ- City ______State______Zip______ing House Sparrows) during the current season: Telephone (______) - ______Number of boxes with at least one Email Address: ______bluebird egg laid in them: County where boxes are located? ______Number of boxes with a House Sparrow Problem: Use a separate Survey Summary form for each county. All Bluebird Nesting Attempts Tree House Black-capped Songbird Data* All 1st Fledged All 2nd Fledged All 3rd Fledged Swallow Wren Chickadee Nests of Chicks Nests of Chicks Nests of Chicks All Nest Attempts: Number of nests in which at least one egg was laid. Egg Count: Total number of eggs laid for all nests, including those that don’t hatch.

Hatchlings: Total number of eggs hatched for all nests.

Fledglings: Number of young birds that fledged from all nests.

Successful Nest Attempts: Number of nests in which at least one young bird fledged from a nest (Usually is less than all nest attempts)

* Put data TOTALS only in the above data rectangles Type of mounting system used: _____ T-shaped fence post ____ U-shaped fence post Many box types are be- ____ Conduit/Rebar ing used by Wisconsin bluebirders. But only Do you use predator protection for your mounting the following box types system? _____ PVC _____ Aluminum had averages above the _____ Other _____ None 3.5 bluebird fledglings ____ The USFWS guidelines for active nests per box for the 2006 season: NABS-Style, were followed while monitoring the nests of Peterson and K-box. all songbird species during my/our study NABS style Peterson K-box (please check). 18 Worksheet Example of Form 21

Last year the BRAW Form 21 was modified to eliminate errors that had been repeated for the previous two years. We received feedback from monitors during this transition year and have improved the Form 21 based on their suggestions. To make this season even easier to record, all persons submitting data in 2012 will be sent information on Aug. 1. We ask that you provide complete data (including eggs and hatchlings). Moreover, BRAW monitors are expected to collect data from each of the songbirds and to protect their nests. Data sheets with incomplete information on either bluebirds or other songbirds will not be included in the BRAW Annual Report.

Please return the completed Form by Sept. 10

Songbird Data* All Bluebird Nesting Attempts Tree House Black-capped All 1st Fledged All 2nd Fledged All 3rd Fledged Swallow Wren Chickadee Nests of Chicks Nests of Chicks Nests of Chicks All Nest Attempts: Number of Box #1: 4 Boxes #1, #2 and #3 Boxes #1, #2, #3 have Box #2: 3 have no data for this no data for this column nests in which at least one egg Box #3: 1 column Box #4: 1 Box #3: 1 was laid. Box #4: 1 Box #4: 1 Box #5: 1 Total: 10* Total: 1* Total: 1* Total: 1* Egg Count: Total number of Box #1: 4,4,4,4 = 16 Box #2: 4,4,4 = 12 Box #4: 5 Box #4: 4 eggs laid for all nests, including Box #3: 3 those that don’t hatch. Box #4: 6 Box #3: 6 Box #5: 5 Total: 42* Total: 5* Total: 4* Total: 6*

Hatchlings: Total number of Box #1: 4 Box #4: 5 Box #4: 3 Box #2: 4,4,4 = 12 eggs hatched for all nests. Box #3: 3 Box #3: 6 Box #4: 5 Box #5: 0 Total: 5* Total: 3* Total: 24* Total: 6* Fledglings: Number of young Box #1: 4 Box #2: 4 birds that fledged from all nests. Box #4: 5 Box #4: 2 Box #3: 3 Box #3: 5 Box #4: 5 Box #5: 0 Total: 5* Total: 2* Total: 5* Total: 16* Successful Nest Attempts: Box #1: 1 Box #2: 1 Number of nests in which at least Box #4: 1 Box #4: 1 Box #3: 1 Box #3: 1 one young bird fledged from a nest Box #4: 1 Box #5: 0 Usually is less than all nest attempts) Total: 4* Total: 1* Total: 1* Total: 1*

*Only TOTALS from rectangles are to be put on the front page of the report; do not list individual boxes

Box #1: Bluebird: 4 eggs failed; 4 eggs failed; 4 eggs failed; 4 eggs hatched & fledged Box #2: Bluebird: Clutch of 4 eggs hatch but 4 chicks die; clutch of 4 eggs hatch but 4 chicks die; clutch of 4 eggs hatch and a brood of 4 chicks fledge Box #3: Tree Swallow: 6 eggs, 6 chicks, 5 fledglings; Bluebird: 3 Eggs; 3 chicks; 3 fledged (monitors often put this information under the 2nd column, but it is the first bluebird nest in the box and goes in column #1) Box #4: Bluebird: 6 eggs, 5 chicks, 5 fledglings; 5 eggs, 5 chicks & 5 fledglings; 4 eggs, 3 chicks & 2 fledglings Box #5: Bluebird: 5 eggs only; this was not a successful nest, as no fledglings were recorded.

BRAW Form 21 Revised 5-16-11

19 Fence post mounting system Brice Prairie Conservation Association uses the “T” post method to mount NABS Style nest boxes on their trails in the LaCrosse area. The “T” post method by Leif Marking

• Nest box lumber is 7/8” western cedar with rough side exterior

• 7 ft steel T-type fence post to NABS Style nest accommodate the 1 1/2” PVC box mounted on predator guard T-type fence post with PVC pipe. • 5 ft section of 1-1/2” PVC cut par- tially for U-bolt-see photo (drain pipe or electrical conduit available in 10 ft sections)

• U-bolt that measures 5/16” x 2” x 3-1/4” available at Farm and Fleet

These photos show how the single U-bolt though the slotted PVC fastens the predator guard and box to the steel T-type fence post. The common T-type fence post is cheaper, stabler, sturdier, and removable without mutilation.

3/4” Conduit Mounting System By Bob Tamm 1. Using a standard 10 ft. section of ¾” EMT conduit (available at Menard’s, Home Depot, etc.), cut off about 2 – 2 ½ ft. ( hack saw) and discard. 2. Flatten tip of the 7 ½ ft. or 8 ft. section with hammer or sledge. This makes it easier to pound pole into ground, and prevents it from turning. 3. Loosely attach ¾” EMT conduit 2-hole straps to back of box using ¾” deck screws. ( Note: ¾” deck screws are hard to find. I get mine at Menard’s.) 4. Using post pounder, pound long conduit section into ground, allowing about 6 to 6 ½ ft. above ground. 5. Slip box with straps onto conduit and adjust box for height. Then tighten screws.

Note: If you would like to use the entire 10 ft. section, try this: Measure two sections to 6’-8” and cut. You will have two left over 3’4” sections, which will make a third 6’-8” section if you use a coupler. If you drive these sections about 14 inches into the ground, you will still have enough conduit above ground to mount a box on the 5 ft. above ground conduit. You then have three mounts from two 10 ft. sections.

20 Recommended Oval Hole Plan NABS style Bluebird Box Drill two 1-3/8" 5-1/2" Cedar, 7/8 " lumber preferred. holes & chisel 8" wide for top sides flat to oval 6" wide for back, front, sides & bottom All angle cuts are 10 degrees Roof is 7-1/2" wide x 10-1/2 " long 2 to 2-1/4" Sides 9-7/8" long x 5" wide Floor is 5" x 3-3/4" Back & front 5-1/2" wide

1-3/8" Front View

9" 9-7/8" Entrance 1-3/8"oval (see above)

Side 5" Side 9"

6-5/8" Front Drainage corner cuts 3-3/4"

Roof 7-1/2" Back 5" Floor

10-1/2" approx. 1' 1-3/4"

Alternative option if desired

Pivot screws Pivot screws 6-5/8" Saw cut Recess bottom 1 inch

Recess bottom Recess bottom 1/2 inch 1/2 inch Bottom opening side Pivot screws Drill hole through back and side of door to hold door closed with nail Top opening side

21 Peterson Nest Box (Unvented) 9-1/4”

13” 4 4 63 3 4 3-3/8” 45 3 90 5 45

Nail 17-1/2” Side back 1 (Loose pin lock) 2 5 kerfs 14-3/8”

63 12-1/2” 5 24” Back 6 2 6 5 5

2 2-3/4” side Oval entrance bottom Nails 1 1 7/8” 2-1/4” Door pivot points (predrill holes) Drill two Materials List 1-3/8” holes 1. Back: Wood - 1-1/2” x 3-1/2” x 24” Chisel out extra 2. Front: Wood - 3/4” x 3-3/8” x 12-1/2” 3. Inner Top: Wood - 1-1/2” x 3-1/2” x 8-3/8” The Peterson Box is more difficult to build but is an attractive design and 4. Top: Wood - 3/4” x 9-1/4” x 13” makes an excellent bluebird nest box. Read the plans carefully before deciding 5. Sides: Lap Siding - 10-1/4” x 2-3/4” x 17-1/2” x 14-3/8” to build this box. Make sure your skills are up to the task. Two sides are required. Because of the size and weight a “T” post mount is recommended. 6. Bottom: Wood - 1-1/2” x 3-1/2” x 3” Nails: 26 required Peterson Nest Box (Unvented)

Nail (Loose pin lock)

Nails

Door pivot points (predrill holes)

Materials List 1. Back: Wood - 1-1/2” x 3-1/2” x 24” 2. Front: Wood - 3/4” x 3-3/8” x 12-1/2” 3. Inner Top: Wood - 1-1/2” x 3-1/2” x 8-3/8” 4. Top: Wood - 3/4” x 9-1/4” x 13” 5. Sides: Lap Siding - 10-1/4” x 2-3/4” x 17-1/2” x 14-3/8” Two sides are required. 6. Bottom: Wood - 1-1/2” x 3-1/2” x 3” Nails: 26 required 5. Bottom:4” x4” 4. Sides(2):7”x4-1/2” x6-7/8” 3. Top: 8”x8-1/2” 2. Front: 7” x 5-1/2”3/4” 1. Back:9”x5-1/2“ 3/4” Materials List back. small hingeat roof witha Top opening By TerryGlanzman The “K”BluebirdNestBox roof inplace. Use hooktohold conduit/rebar system. Mount boxonaGilbertson

9” back 6-7/8” side 4 of sparrows. Sparrows are aproblem. As always,monitoring isamustforbestcontrol Some membershavefound thisdesigntobe75%effective whereHouse • theroofhasabackward tilt • noventilationslot/holes • • The “K”boxfeaturesthatmakeitlessattractive to HouseSparrowsare: oblong openingsetflat against roof shallow box,discouragesdomednest 1 3 of hole. from toptoedges then sawdown Drill 2-1/4”hole, 2 8” U shapeentrance

1-5/8” for drainage. Notch corners entrance. drops 4”from 5 entrance below Kerfs Bottom 2-1/4” (do not send cash)madeout to BRAW, Inc. for thefollowing: Wisconsin, Inc. and receive itsnewsletterWisconsin Bluebird. Enclosed is mycheck/moneyorder Yes! Iwould like tojoin/renewmymembershipwiththeBluebirdRestoration Association of by theIRSasa501(c)(3)organization). tion andotherfinancialsupportofBRAW, Inc.isatax-deductiblecharitytotheextentallowablebylaw(recognized recoveryto continuethebluebird membership support your program. Convention withtheattendantgoodfellowshipoffriendsandfamilies. annual bluebird populationtrends; bluebird videotapeandmovieeducationalservices; and, anannualautumnState of localbluebird workshops;safebluebird nestboxconstruction; where toobtainsupplies,boxesandbooks;report of of countycoordinatorshouses; astatewidenetwork whoassistlocalresidentsbluebird with problems;importance the identifying nestfailures andwhattodo;the impactandsignificanceofotherbird speciesthatmaynestinbluebird monitor abluebird trail;howtospotnaturalenemiesofbluebirds, howtodefendbluebirds againsttheirenemies; members andotherauthorsworkingtoincrease localbluebird populations. BRAW publishesaquarterlynewsletter, Wisconsin Bluebird,toshare initspagesbothsuccess and failure storiesbyits BRAW Form 10 (Revised January,(Revised 2013) 10 BRAWForm P.S. I would like further information about volunteering for BRAW as a: BRAWas for volunteering about information P.S.further like would I printed is issue Spring the before renewed not is membership your if sent issue last the of issue) (December issue winter the that stipulate bylaws Inc. membership. obtain to wish who all for nience **Annual membership/subscriptions run from January through December. Please note: This form appears as a conve- County of residence: ______residence: of County ______) Telephone: ( ______Email Address: ______Code: ______Zip State: ______City: ______Address: ______Name: clearly Print contribution: Subscription/Membership** BRAW isanonprofit organization incorporatedunderthelawsofStateWisconsin. Your membershipdona- Please takeafewminutestorenewmembership ortobecomeanewmemberofBRAW your today. BRAW needs BRAW stresses: How torecognize bluebirdhow toplacenestboxesonabluebird habitat; trail;whyandhowto The Bluebird Restoration Association of Wisconsin, Inc. (BRAW) isWisconsin’s voice forbluebird conservation. { }Writer Coordinator County } { Director } { [ ] $300 Life Membership Life $300 ] [ Corporate Annual $100 ] [ Contributing Annual $25 ] [ Individual Annual** $20 ] [ Wisconsin Bluebird Subscription and BRAW, Inc. Membership Contributions to BRAW, Inc. are tax deductible BRAW,tax to are Contributions Inc. { } Photographer } { Coordinator County Assistant } { Officer } { Membership renewals are due as of January 1 each year.each BRAW,1 The January of as due are renewals Membership 22 to: request membership/subscription this Mail ______$ check my find please Enclosed address of Change ] [ subscription. GIFT a is This ] [ subscription renewal a is This ] [ subscription new a is This ] [ boxes: appropriate Check to BRAW(Contributions are taxdeductible) ] [ trail box nest for [ ] $100 [ ] WisconsinBluebird predator guard $15 tonestboxconstructionwithpost& to contribute: $______contribute: to wish I contribution, membership my to addition In Plover,54467 WI Dr.Cheryl’s 5221 Schultz Sue c/o BRAW,Inc. { } Other: ______Other: } { lumber,etc. box nest of Donor } { TrailMonitor } { newsletter of the new year will year new the of newsletter .

be ✁ BRAW Elected & Appointed Officers President: Joe Schultz, 5221 Cheryl’s Dr., Resources for bluebirders Plover, WI 54467 • 715/341-5521 joeschultz54@ County Coordinators are charter.net School and Youth Outreach Vice President: Dr. Kent Hall, 200 Pine Bluff Ready to Help You Want to help expand bluebird Rd., Stevens Point, WI 54481 • 715/344-8081 Once each year, Wisconsin Bluebird populations and promote environ- [email protected] newsletter publishes a list of BRAW mental awareness among young Secretary: Patricia Heiden, W399 S5484 County county coordinators to help the pub- people? Road Z, Dousman, WI 53118 • 262/495-8595 lic locate their local bluebird program Consider contacting your local [email protected]. contact person. You can also find them school principal about a program Treasurer: Mike Helgren, 1013 Georgetown listed on www.braw.org. sponsored by BRAW. This program Circle, Beaver Dam, WI 53916 • 920/885-4050 Some BRAW county coordinators encourages school and youth groups [email protected] conduct one or more late winter or to establish and monitor a bluebird Director: Fred Craig, 807 Judith Ct. Holmen, WI spring bluebird workshops that are trail. A trail can be as small as a few 54636 • 608/526-2221 [email protected] publicized locally. Most bluebird work- nest boxes or dozens. The School Director: Sue Hall, 200 Pine Bluff Rd., Stevens shops are informational. Bluebird lit- and Youth Outreach Committee will Point, WI 54481 • 715/344-8081, kentsue@ erature and data recording forms are on provide the BRAW Informational charter.net hand, and questions are answered. Packet (which you are now reading) Director: Leif Marking, W7917 Co. Hwy. ZB, BRAW county coordinators are your to the interested group, which will Onalaska, WI 54650 • 608/781-0323 • lcmark- source for BRAW forms, although many help them get started. [email protected] people now photocopy the more com- A packet can be requested from Director: Patrick Ready, 1210 Oakwood Ct., mon forms that are printed in the pages Lowell Peterson, 1860 45th St., Stoughton, WI 53589 • 608/239-0791 • ready- of this booklet. BRAW also prints these Somerset, WI 54025. [email protected] forms in the Wisconsin Bluebird newslet- Director: Claire Romanak, 7175 Nehrbass Rd.; ter throughout the year and the are on Athens, WI 54411 • 715/257-1905 • ribriver2@ Recommended Reading wildblue.net our website at www.braw.org. The Bluebird Monitor’s Guide Director: Carol McDaniel, 14953 State Road 23, to Bluebirds and Other Small Darlington, WI 53530 • 608/776-3379 • lafayette- Where to buy nest boxes Cavity Nesters by Jack Griggs, [email protected] The following vendors offer nest boxes Kieth Kridler, Cynthia Berger Director: John McDaniel, 14953 State Road 23, and traps for sale. Listing here does not HarperResource Publishers 128 Darlington, WI 53530 • 608/776-3379 • lafayette- imply endorsement or knowledge by pages, ©2001. (Paperback) [email protected] BRAW, Inc. of quality of workmanship of these boxes, etc. Prices and ship- Appointed Officers and Committee Gowaty, P.A. and J.H. Plissner. 1998. Chairpersons: ping costs are subject to change without Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis). In notice. The Birds of North America Coordinator of Data Collection and Analysis: , No. 381 Dr. Kent D. Hall, (see above) Peterson Nest box Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia. County Coordinator Chair: Joe Schultz (see Morgan Woodworking above) 304 Saint Rose Road Zeleny, L.W. 1976. The Bluebird. Funding: Mike Helgren (see above) Cuba City, WI 53807 How you can help its fight for WI Bluebird Editor: Patrick Ready, (see above) Ph. 608/744-8798 [email protected] survival, Indiana University Press, Membership: Sue Schultz, 5221 Cheryl’s Dr., Bloomington. 170 pages. This pub- Plover, WI 54467 • 715/341-5521 • sueschul- Peterson Bluebird Houses lication is out of print but is worth [email protected] Don Klecker Bluebird Houses looking for in a public library. Nest Box Designs: Leif Marking, (see above) N4593 – 810th St. Student and Youth Outreach Committee: Ellsworth, WI 54011 Grussing, D. How to Control House Co-Chairpersons: Lowell Peterson, 1860 45th Call 715/792-5277 Sparrows. Roseville Publishing St., Somerset, WI 54025 • 715/247-3243; and, House, Roseville, Minnesota. Send Mary Holleback, 720 Madison St., West Bend, WI PVC Gilbertson 53095-4136 • 262/335-9843 Steve Gilbertson $3.50to BRAW, 4303 Timber lane, Rhinelander, WI 54501 to receive Publicity: Claire Romanak, (see above) 35900 Dove St. Aitkin, MN 56431 the booklet, How to Control House Website: Ellen Lafouge, 9154 N. Fielding Rd.., Sparrows. Mention the booklet by Bayside, WI 53127 • 414/352-6697; wibluebird@ Ph. 218/927-1953 gmail.com www.gilbertsonnestbox.com name. VanErt Sparrow traps BRAW Liaisons: Bureau Of Endangered Res. Liaison: Sumner 22684 US Highway 69 For more information about Matteson, DNR, 101 S. Webster St. PO Box Leon, Iowa 50144 bluebirds go to: 7921, Madison, WI 53701 • 608/266-1571 641-446-6471 WSO Liaison: William P. Mueller, 1242 S. 45 St. [email protected] www.braw.org Milwaukee, WI 53214 • 414/643-7279 • iltlawas@ www.vanerttraps.com earthlink.net 23 Bluebird chick development - first 14 days by Jack Bartholmai This series of images uses “wing development “ as an aid in age estimation. Condi- tions such as food supply, temperature, number of siblings and other factors might alter the development time a +/- of at least one day for each image after day one. When chicks first hatch they are naked, eyes are closed and they barely can raise their head but they are able to open their mouths to be fed. Between the 5th and 10th day the chicks are most vulnerable to cold temperatures when the female stops brooding them. If they get too chilled and listless they won’t raise their heads when the adult birds bring them food and may starve. Both adults may stop feeding them and abandon the nest if they don’t respond. Monitoring should stop after the 12th day to prevent premature fledging. Normally by the 16th-18th day they are fledged.