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Anesthesiologist, and Healthcare IT Exec. I have never even considered “relocating” a snake. :)
See? I am learning to be honest, just like you Lisa! :)Randy
Bedford, New HampshireLisa, I have never spent any time with snake traps, but I can imagine they are a pain to both make and administer. I feel for you. I did my residency training in Gainesville, Florida, and routinely killed snakes in my house. When I was on call one day, my wife killed a coral snake with a shovel in the driveway while holding our 7 month old daughter. In NH we are virtually snake-free…
Randy
Bedford, New HampshireGin, I think I like it better with mama owl gone. I fear her as a hunter most of all. Plus, I am almost certain she is still around; I just haven’t spotted her in a long while. Susan, owlets supposedly rely upon their parents for up to 4 months, and the little girl on my property DEFINITELY needs some additional seasoning. I imagine I will see mama owl again, soon enough. Ugh. For now, I need to deal with the Broad-winged Hawks, and what looks to be an infertile egg. It will be 72 hours, tomorrow evening. Poor mama blue…
Randy
Bedford, New HampshireLisa, you are so funny! You remind me of the TV commercial which asks: “Wouldn’t it be great, if everyone said what they mean…?” Just telling it like it is. Love it!
Your snakes are my hawks & owls! Our summer resident Broad Winged Hawks have returned (nesting pair), and they are terrorizing mama and papa blue. Awful scene, 5 or 6 times a day. They hunt in pairs and large groups. Very good at what they do. Very bad for my blues. Hoping for the best. The owlet has learned to fly, but not well. Lands on the nest box every day, but papa blue barely pays her any mind at this point, as it is clear she has no idea what she is doing. Mama owl has gone missing…Randy
Bedford, New HampshireCongratulations! I thought I had 3 new hatchlings, today, but only two of the three have hatched. Hopefully my last one hatches tomorrow.
Randy
Bedford, New HampshireI understand your point of view, Gin, and I am certainly a fan of cross-ventilation. I consider drainage holes “insurance” in the event of water accumulation DESPITE a generous roof overhang, and as such they provide a meaningful function, in my opinion. I would never suggest that one allow a roof to be substandard because a box has drainage holes. I simply disagree that drainage holes serve no purpose. A secondary benefit of drainage holes is their participation in air circulation (if they are not blocked). Yes, I have seen them blocked by chickadee, titmouse, and nuthatch nests. I utilize hardware cloth as a raised floor to minimize the chance of the drainage holes being blocked. I imagine we can all agree that cross-ventilation, is better than poor ventilation, is better than no ventilation.
Randy
Bedford, New HampshireRemember, Gin, many boxes have single ventilation slots across the front of the structure, and above the entrance hole. Although they do not promote “cross-ventilation”, they serve to allow hot air to escape the box. This important air flow is supported by the “drainage hole(s)” in the floor of the box, which allow for water drainage, but also air flow into the box, and then out the slot at the top. Slot vents at both sides are an improvement, to be sure, but the single slot is better than nothing.
Randy
Bedford, New HampshireLisa, personally, I would not hesitate to deploy it. I simply don’t think experienced blues care. Besides, do you want your baby blues raised by some parents who are afraid of a little red mylar? They make balloons out of it… BALLOONS! :)
Randy
Bedford, New HampshireSusan, I am so sorry for your heartache and pain. I can only hope that it begins to ease soon. Please know that you have been wonderful to your bluebirds, and I will always believe that they know when we care. The outcome is often not what we would wish for, but the outcome is not the joy we seek. The joy happens every day. We give to them, and they give back to us. Without question, bluebird “chatter” represents complex communication between our favorite birds, but I am convinced that on occasion, they do it for our benefit, alone. They know it makes us smile. The joy happens every day, indeed.
Randy
Bedford, New HampshireCrazy. Good. Risky. Congratulations! (just typed the first four words that came to mind…)
Randy
Bedford, New HampshireSomething is up. I use IE, and it is acting strangely for me, as well. Often I cannot post, and I no longer receive email notifications for threads to which I am subscribed. I have yet to try any of the “work-around” solutions. Instead, I use the interruptions as an opportunity to return to what I am supposed to be doing… :)
Randy
Bedford, New HampshireThanks, Cari! Good information. I especially love the educational aspect of the program! We certainly share the concerns of the PBRP, back here in the East, with our EABLs. Deforestation, competition from non-native species, and pesticides are our greatest threats, as well. IMO, recovery seems to come down to three things: suitable habitat, suitable habitat, and suitable habitat. :) My point being, while banding may provide interesting data (lifespan, range, etc.), the “actionable insight” still centers upon providing as much suitable habitat as we possibly can for our blues. A monitored nest box and the avoidance of pesticides within its territory, combat the three major risk factors, and band or no band, those are the corrective measures we must take. Just a thought. I congratulate you and your colleagues for the impact you are having on your western beauties!!
Randy
Bedford, New HampshireHi, Cari! I do not band my bluebirds, and I have no experience in wildlife tracking. What benefits do you ascribe to the practice of banding, and are you comfortable and confident that the banding is causing no harm? The mortality rates you quote, over the past two years, in that nest box (50% and 40%) are somewhat alarming. Obviously, it could be completely unrelated to the banding, but uncovering the actual causes of death in these instances would be important to know.
Randy
Bedford, New HampshireToo funny, Gin. I got the garage habit from my father. He passed away 15 years ago, but when he was alive, his garage was his favorite place to work on things and relax. Always clean, always organized, and “sports-talk radio” on, all day long! I do the same thing… just not as well as he did.
Randy
Bedford, New Hampshire
