Como Park Bluebird Trail Update: August 14, 2013

Post contributed by Sharon, volunteer Bluebird Trail monitor, 

Only two boxes are in use this week.  Wrens were peeping loudly in their box, and three almost two-week-old bluebirds rested in theirs.

Four bluebirds fledged last week, bringing totals for the trail so far this year to 26 bluebirds, 12 chickadees, and 7 tree swallows.  An unknown number of wrens fledged from the first brood—on average wrens lay 6-8 eggs per brood.

Last three chicks ready to fledge

The mysteries of Highwood Nature Preserve

Post contributed by Tyler Polster, Saint Paul's Seasonal Natural Resource Technician:

Highwood Nature Preserve

While you are walking through a park, do you ever wonder what might be sharing the trail with you? Or what kind of secrets are happening that you can't even see? Recently, with the assistance and guidance of Carmen Martin from the Bell Museum, we completed a small mammal survey at Highwood Nature Preserve to help us understand the biodiversity of one of our more scenic parks.

Northern Short-tailed Shrew

        Highwood Nature Preserve is approximately 13 acres. It overlooks Pigs Eye Lake, and on a good winter day with no leaves on the trees, you can see the skylines of both Minneapolis and Saint Paul in the distance. Portions of the park are currently being restored to a native prairie, which it once was. Prairies historically are very diverse habitats that can host a wide range of creatures and our goal was to find out what lives here!
        To conduct our survey we used humane live traps baited with oatmeal and peanut butter. The smellier the bait is, the better! After four nights of trapping, our results didn't disappoint! We captured four species of mice, including a Meadow Jumping Mouse, which is not commonly caught in the area! Other species that we trapped include voles, moles, shrews, raccoons and gray squirrels. You can learn more about Minnesota's small rodents from the Department of Natural Resources. In addition to trapping, we observed a number of additional species. This list includes deer, three species of bats, signs of fox, and red squirrels. These results were amazing! It tells us that this particular area is home to a complex food chain which in turn lets us know that this is good habitat. The newly restored prairie flowers attract bugs which help pollinate and make more flowers, the new flowers and plants make more seeds and micro habitats for bugs, the mice, voles and squirrels eat the seeds, and the bats and shrews eat the bugs. All of these smaller animals allow the foxes, coyotes, and predatory birds to thrive.
        Next time you are in any park, take a couple minutes and look around and see what secrets you can uncover!

Como Park Bluebird Trail Update: August 8th, 2013

Post contributed by Sharon, volunteer Bluebird Trail monitor

Three boxes are still in use this week.  Wrens occupy one.  I could hear them peeping inside.  Four or five bluebirds near to fledging occupy another, and three recently hatched bluebirds occupy the last.

I took down three empty hanging nest boxes and will clean and store them for next year, and will remove the rest after the last birds have fledged.

The last Bluebird hatchlings of the season

Como Park Bluebird Trail Update: July 31st

Post contributed by Sharon, volunteer Bluebird Trail monitor:

Things are definitely winding down on the bluebird trail.  Seven nest boxes are now empty.

Wren pokes it head out to check its surroundings

      One box still has an empty new bluebird nest in it—as I approached a wren poked its head out of the entrance hole and flew away.  A second box has four bluebird eggs inside, and a third is occupied by at least four and possibly five week-old bluebirds.

      The wren is still using the box by the picnic grounds!

The seasons' last bluebird eggs