Bluebird Trail Monitoring 2022
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Bluebirds suffered major population declines with loss of native forests. These losses have been reversed with the help of Bluebird Restoration Association of Wisconsin (BRAW). The organization developed successful Bluebird box designs, locations, and predator control. Although Bluebirds are the target bird for these boxes, other cavity nesting song birds in the Biocore Prairie also benefit from them, including Tree Swallows, House Wrens, Black-capped Chickadees.
The Biocore Prairie Bluebird Trail consists of 8 Bluebird Boxes, mounted on predator resistant steel poles around the Biocore Prairie. The boxes are located near walking paths as shown on the map. A Citizen Science team of 5 members of the Friends maintains the trail and monitors the boxes weekly. Data are tabulated below, with the most recent week at the top. The annual summary is submitted to BRAW. Over the winter months, 8 new boxes were installed along the trail, donated by Jeff Koziol, and renumbered consecutively (see map). 
5 very young bluebird nestlings. Photo G. Kutzbach
June 11.
Jeff Koziol reports that there are again 4-5 bluebird eggs in Box 5. The bluebirds are staging a second attempt to rear nestlings this season. 
June 7, 2022. BOX 5. Two new bluebird eggs on top of an old egg and one broken egg. Photo Laura Berger.
On May 23 there were still 5 eggs in Box 5. The poles are equipped with predator guards. How four bluebird eggs disappeared is a puzzle.
May 1. Jeff Koziol reported a Bluebird nest, 3/4 finished, in Box 5. That is good news during this cold and rainy spring.
Tree Swallows have moved into Box 8 along the community gardens! Photo David Liebl on 4-10-22
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The BRAW design Bluebird boxes are luxury boxes, considering that the cedar wood used for building them is more than 100 years old and from the attic floor of a Wisconsin home. The trail was established by the Friends in 2014. Below, click on earlier years of monitoring results.
Photo 4-8-19, Paul Noeldner
The Madison Bluebird Trails are an ongoing Madison Bird City Partners initiative. Annual summary report data is submitted to BRAW and to the Lakeshore Nature Preserve to document success and continually improve practices. Reports also go to the eBird database at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology for scientific analysis and application.
BRAW Information, Preserve Edition 2021 monitors: Primary Monitor: Jeff Koziol Monitors: Pam Fornell, Genevieve Murtaugh, Laura Berger, Maggi Christianson Support: Gisela Kutzbach |
