Como Park Bluebird Trail Update: July 27, 2017

Post contributed by Sharon, volunteer bluebird trail monitor:

In the past two weeks, 4 bluebirds and 7 tree swallows fledged. Eight nest boxes are now empty as the

Damaged bluebird eggs

nesting season winds down. There are 12 bluebirds in the remaining three occupied boxes, 8 likely to fledge soon. Vandalism is unfortunately a recurring problem on the trail—two weeks ago a pinecone put into a box prevented bluebirds from laying eggs. Those bluebirds moved to another box, built another nest, and laid 5 eggs, only to have another pinecone put into their box—this time two eggs were destroyed, the rest could not be incubated, and the pair gave up for the season. A predator guard in the same area of the trail was also broken.

The last four bluebirds of the season

Como Park Bluebird Trail Update: July 12, 2017

Post contributed by Sharon, volunteer bluebird trail monitor:

Male bluebird on a sultry morning in
 the park

The bluebird trail is still very active. Five boxes are occupied by bluebirds—two have a total of 9 bluebird eggs in them and three have 12 nestlings (4 each) both newly hatched and almost ready to fledge. Two boxes have at least 7 tree swallow nestlings in them. In the past two weeks 6 chickadees and 2 tree swallows fledged. Four boxes are now empty, including the one that had a pinecone stuffed into it. The bluebirds who used that box quickly moved to another one, built a nest, and laid five white eggs.

Newly hatched bluebirds

Female with her week old tree swallows in the nest

Como Park Bluebird Trail Update: June 26, 2017

Post contributed by Sharon, volunteer bluebird trail monitor:

Ten more bluebirds fledged in the past two weeks, bringing the total for the first round of bluebird nesting to 19. Round 2 has begun with 9 bluebird eggs in three boxes. A fourth box has a bluebird nest in it that probably would have had eggs in it, if not for a thoughtless person stuffing a pine cone through the entrance hole and blocking the nest. With the pine cone removed we shall see if the birds return to use that nest, or find another box to use.

    A tree swallow nest with at least four week-old chicks in it failed—the chicks were dead and covered with flies. It may be that this pair of tree swallows began another nest right away on top of an old bluebird nest in another nearby box—the new tree swallow nest has four eggs in it. Another two boxes have at least 5 tree swallows at various stages of development.

Three bluebird eggs from round 2 of nesting.

    There are 6 healthy chickadees approaching two weeks old in another box. Two weeks ago mom was on that nest, and a week ago, she was also on the nest along with her nearly week-old chicks! Next time I checked, the 6 youngsters had feathered out and filled up the nest and mom would have been hard put to find room to fit on the nest with them.