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I’ve finished my bluebird trail monitoring for 2025 except one late BB pair with five hatchlings that will probably fledge this week. In addition I’m waiting for a pair of House Wrens (Little stinkers) with seven hatchlings. I’ve removed all other nest boxes and will go through the process of cleaning and disinfecting them later in the week when I remove the last two boxes.
It was a productive season. Not as productive as last year but a good one anyway.
35 nest boxes
13 breeding pairs
52 eggs
44 hatchlings
39 fledglings (44 if the last pair have full success)About 85% success of eggs to fledglings (counting my last BB box with 5 hatchlings). 81% in 2024 and 94% in 2023.
8 boxes were occupied with Tree Swallows, 3 boxes with “Little Stinkers” and 2 with Chickadees. I keep records of those but don’t usually take the time to total the numbers of eggs, hatchlings and fledglings. I report those BB numbers and occupied TS, CH and HW to BRAW (Bluebird Restoration Assoc. of Wisconsin) in the fall.
Next year I think I will retire a few wood boxes as the location I have used doesn’t seem to have occupants in more than half of them. As the wood boxes become deteriorated I will replace them with PVC style boxes. I know they aren’t the favorite of some landlords but I’ve found them to be easier to install, monitor, clean and remove. I walk over a mile to one trail with 15 or so boxes and the wood boxes are more difficult to carry.
I may try to find someone locally that will adopt a few of the wood boxes. In March of 2024 I spoke about my first year’s experience at our library hoping to get someone to take over some of my boxes. It was well attended (about 15 locals) but no-one bit on my request.
Happy Bluebirding!
WI/MI Border, about 100 miles north of Green Bay
Tim C. WI/MI border.
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