by Lou Ann Harris
The 54th year of the Bluebird Trail Project concluded with below average numbers of Mountain Bluebirds. A total of 467 bluebirds fledged from our five trails, compared to 587 last year. The two interesting observations of the season were a European Starling nesting in Box #1 on Dry Creek Rd., and a Violet-green Swallow successfully nesting in Box #75 on Rocky Mtn. Road. We have always assumed starlings were too big to enter through a 1-9/16” hole, but apparently not! There was also a flash flood this spring on Dry Creek Rd in April which washed away a section of fence and one of the nest boxes. Luckily the box was recovered and relocated across the road.
Janne Hayward & I banded a total of 328 bluebirds; 299 nestlings and 29 adult females. We also recaptured 12 adult female bluebirds. One female was banded as an adult in 2020 in the same box. That would make her at least four years old.
Tree Swallows had a good year on Pass Creek/Rocky Mtn. Road with 79 fledged from 18 boxes, including two pairs that nested in Box 52 & 52A. The boxes are just a few feet apart, and normally Tree Swallows will not nest that close together. But they got along well enough to fledge young. Three House Wren nests produced 11 fledglings. House Sparrows nested in four of our boxes. Each of these nests and eggs were legally removed (House Sparrows are not federally protected songbirds and are considered an invasive species).
There were many visitors on the trail this season, including the MSU Field Ornithology class, led by our own board member Ben Goodheart. It’s always fun to introduce the Bluebird Nest Box Program to new people.
Box sponsorship of the Bluebird Nest Box Program was the most successful to date, with over $3,400 raised for bird conservation. Many thanks to those members who sponsored a box.
For questions about the Bluebird Trail Project, please contact Lou Ann Harris at louann@sacajaweaaudubon.org.
