Marvin Schwilling KANSAS Bluebird Nest Box Memorial Bluebird Program Bluebirds

1/4" holes 1/4" holes

Top 8" Sides 8"

Floor 4"

5 1/2" 5 1/2" 5 1/2" Marvin Schwilling was a long time employee Piviot nails Front and Back of the Kansas wildlife agency. Starting work in 2 1/4" Kansas in 1951, Marvin worked in several capac- 1 3/8" ities as a research biologist, an area manager, and 8" finally as the Endangered Species Specialist in Back 11" Lumber: the nongame program of the Kansas Department Front One 1" x 6" x 4' of Wildlife and Parks. Involved in many organi- zations, most prominently the Kansas 5 1/2" Ornithological Society, Marvin gained universal Note: respect and admiration for his work and for his Entrance hole 5 1/2" cooperative attitude. Some of his most passionate is 2 1/4" x 1 3/8" Waste Nail or screw holds side closed. work was related to helping to establish Eastern Bluebird nesting boxes and trails throughout the Two pivot nails allow side Bob Gress, BirdsInFocus.com BackFront TopSide Side Floor to swing out for cleaning. state. He retired from the state in 1990 and con- Use nail at bottom to close side. tinued work with birds, butterflies and moths Kansas Department of Wildlife, 11" 8" 8" 8" 8" 4" until his abilities were lessened by a debilitating Parks and Tourism stroke. Marvin Schwilling passed in 2008 and the 512 SE 25th Ave. memorial fund created in his honor continues Pratt, KS 67124 through this program to promote bluebird recov- Phone (620) 672-5911 ery in Kansas. Website: www.kdwpt.state.ks.us A contribution from the Chickadee Checkoff, E-mail: [email protected] Equal opportunity to participate in and benefit from programs described herein is available to all individuals without regard to Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism. race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, Sponsored by gender identity, political affiliation, and military or veteran status. Complaints of discrimination should be sent to Office of the Secretary, Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism, 1020 Chickadee Checkoff S Kansas Ave., Topeka, KS 66612-1327. 06 /11 KANSAS Nest boxes should be placed about 3-4 feet Marvin Schwilling Memorial from the ground, facing any direction. It is not nec- Bluebird Trails Program Kansas Bluebirds Bluebird Nesting Record essary to remove old bluebird nests unless they are very untidy. Wren nests composed of tightly By constructing bluebird trails, civic organiza- Name: ______packed twigs should be removed and discouraged tions, youth groups, and individuals can assist in Kansas Bluebird History Address: ______from using bluebird boxes since the male House efforts to help bluebird populations recover. Nest Telephone: ______Wren will build several nests and since wrens can boxes provide bluebirds The Eastern Bluebird, with its brilliant blue be quite territorial and competitive. Bluebirds may with nesting cavities and and rust colors and melodic song, is a bird appre- E-mail: ______have up to three clutches per year and will re-nest also give people a chance ciated and enjoyed by all who get the chance to see as well from earlier failed attempts. to remove the nests of or hear it. Unfortunately, many people, especially Location of nest box trail: County ______undesirable competitors. younger folks, have never seen a bluebird in the Total number of bluebird nesting boxes Bluebird Houses Bluebird trails consist of boxes mounted on fence wild. Once abundant in Kansas, the number of monitored this year: ______these cavity nesting birds has declined dramatical- The bluebird house plan shown in the accom- posts or pipes. Boxes ly since the middle part of the last century. This Date: ______panying diagram is a simple pattern which can be should not be placed in decline has resulted from a loss of natural nesting made from a 1” x 6” heavily wooded areas. holes, increased pesticide use, and competition Number of Number of cedar board that is four Boxes should be placed Nesting Young with the introduced House Sparrow and European Species Attempts* Fledged** feet long. Cedar is the 100 yards or more apart Starling for nesting cavities. But, thanks to nest Eastern Bluebird preferred wood because because bluebirds are box placement efforts by many citizens and organ- Tree Swallow it will last a long time. territorial. Bluebirds are izations, Eastern Bluebirds are on a comeback. The house can be left not a typical backyard House Wren unpainted or may be species, and will not usually nest near homes or Other Species painted a light color that buildings. Any organization may qualify to receive Biology and Management will reflect sunlight up to ten Bluebird boxes through the Marvin Eastern Bluebirds begin arriving in Kansas by which reduces interior Schwilling Memorial Bluebird Program. The coop- * An "attempt" is a bird building a nest early March. While some over-winter in the state, and laying at least one egg. heat in the summer. erator is required to place these boxes in appropri- this species is one of the earlier to return from the ** A young bird has "fledged" ate habitat (open country with sparse trees), check southern US to initiate breeding. The male bluebird, if it leaves the nest on its own. them through the nesting season from March which is the most colorful of the pair, entices a Pests through July to evict house sparrows or other female to a natural cavity or nest box. They look for ______unwanted guests, and to report nesting success with open country with sparse trees or shrubs. ______House Sparrow nests should be removed from the form on this brochure or on the listed website. The female will have from 4-7 light blue to white ______bluebird boxes immediately. House Wrens, chick- Contact your district wildlife biologist or email the eggs after building a grass-lined cup nest in the bot- ______adees, nuthatches, Tufted Titmice, and Tree department at [email protected] tom of the nest box. She alone incubates the clutch. Swallows may also use the boxes. If these species Hatching occurs in two weeks or a little longer. Please use the space above for additional comments begin to occupy too many of the boxes you can add Three Bluebird Species Female bluebirds are very tolerant of having the nest and to describe any unusual observation. Mail complet- more houses to the trail or double them at each site. box opened for inspection and sometimes will stay ed form by Oct. 1 to the address below or submit online To prevent predators like raccoons, opossums, and With its deep blue head and back and rusty col- on eggs during the disturbance. (However, boxes on the KDWPT website under "Kansas Bluebirds" in house cats from climbing the nest box poles, put tin ored chest, the Eastern Bluebird is the most com- should not be disturbed if there is the possibility of the Other Services/Wildlife Diversity web pages. around the pole at the base of the box up to 3 feet. mon of the bluebird species. The similar Western young fledging within a couple of days.) Hatchlings Grease can be placed on metal poles to prevent Bluebird rarely occurs in the extreme Southwest are brooded for several days and fed by both sexes. Kansas Department of Wildlife, predators and ants from climbing. Entry holes can corner of Kansas. The nearly all sky blue colored After about 2 ½ weeks, the young fledge. Parks and Tourism also be extended with wire mesh or wooden Mountain Bluebird is a winter resident in Kansas. KANSAS BLUEBIRDS columns to reduce predation. 512 SE 25th Ave. Pratt, KS 67124