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.