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Picture
Eastern Bluebird guarding BB9 on April 24, 2016
Bluebird
Monitoring sheet
Picture
July 30 2016, second breeding cycle of a pair of Bluebirds with 5 eggs. Photo Noeldner
Bird Checklists 
Breeding Bird Studies
Bird Observatory
​

   Bluebird Trail 
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       2016
       2015
       2014

   Green Heron
   Hawks
​
   Purple Martins
​       2018
​       2017
   Robin   
​ 
   Sandhill Cranes
   Swallows


Bird Migration
Picture
Tress Swallow nest with eggs, 5-24-2016. Photo P. Noeldner

Bluebird Trail Monitoring 2016

Picture
Location of bluebird boxes near Eagle Heights Community Gardens and Biocore Prairie. In June 2016 some of the BB boxes where moved from the 2015 locations to the current locations and some new ones were added, as shown on this map. Monitoring data for the previous months are adjusted to reflect new locations. Boxes formerly located within the boundaries of the community gardens, which were consistently populated by House sparrows, are now located in more open areas along the edges of the prairie. Boxes 10a and 10b are "paired".
Bluebirds suffered major population declines with loss of native forests. These losses have been reversed with the help of Bluebird Restoration of Wisconsin (BRAW). The organization developed successful Bluebird box designs, locations, and predator control. These Bluebird boxes have benefited Wisconsin’s Eastern Bluebird population and given enjoyment to thousands of people. 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.
PictureEastern Bluebird eggs. Photo Kutzbach
Estern Bluebirds, Tree Swallows and Wrens returned to the area in March and are now , mid- April, beginning to build their nests. They have strong competition from House Sparrows. The boxes mainly occupied by House Sparrows will soon be moved to locations more attractive to Bluebirds and Tree swallows. 


BB- Eastern Bluebird,   TS- Tree Swallow,   HW-  House Wren,   HS- House Sparrow
Box
Species
Nest
Eggs
Young
Fledge
August 20, Pat Becker
BB1
HW
Yes
-
-
-
Nest with no cup. Removed
BB2
BB
Yes

-
-
-
Nest removed.
BB3
HW
Yes
-
-
-
Dried up egg in the cup. Nest removed
BB4
HW
Yes
-
-
-
HW on top of TS. Nest removeved.
BB5
HW
Yes
-
-
-
nest with cup. Removed.
BB6
HW
Yes
-
-
-
Nest removed.
BB7
HW
Yes
-
-
-
1 dried egg. Nest removed.
BB8
HW
Yes
-
-
-
Beginning of a nest. Removed.
BB9
HW
Yes
-
-
-
On top of old BB nest. Removed.
BB10a
HW
Yes
-
-
-
Nest removed.
BB10b
-
-
-
-
-
Box empty.
BB11
HW
Yes
-
-
-
Paper wasp nest in the box. Nest removed.
BB12
HW
Yes
-
-
-
Nest removed.
BB13
-
-
-
-
-
Box empty
BB14
HW 
Yes
-
-
-
Dried up egg. Nest removed.
BB15
-
-
-
-
--
Value
Bb16
HW
Yes
-
-
-
Nest removed.
Box
Species
Nest
Eggs
Young
Fledges
August 14
Paul Noeldner
BB1
HW
Yes
-
-
-
-
BB2
BB
Yes
-
5
-
-
BB3
HW
Yes
-
-
-
-
BB4
HW
Yes
-
-
-
-
BB5
HW
Yes
-
-
-
-
BB6
HW
Yes
-
-
-
-
BB7
HW
Yes
-
-
-
-
BB8
HW
Yes
-
-
-
-
BB9
HW
Yes
-
-
-
-
BB10a
HW
Yes
-
-
-
-
BB10b
-
-
-
-
-
-
BB11
-
-
-
-
-
-
BB12
HW
Yes
-
-
-
-
BB13
-
-
-
-
-
-
BB14
HW
Yes
-
-
-
-
BB15
-
-
-
-
-
-
BB16
-
-
-
-
-
-
Box
Species
Nest
Eggs
Young
Fledge
August 8, 2016
​Paul Noeldner
BB1
HW
yes
-
-
4
-
BB2
BB
Yes
-
5
-
-
BB3
HW
Yes
-
-
-
-
BB4
HW
Yes
-
-
-
-
BB5
HW
Yes
-
-
-
-
BB6
HW
Yes
-
-
-
-
BB7
HW
Yes
-
-
-
-
BB8
HW
Yes
-
-
-
-
BB9
HW
Yes
-
-
5
-
BB10a
HW
Yes
-
-
-
-
BB10b
-
-
-
-
-
-
BB11
-
-
-
-
-
-
BB12
HW
Yes
-
-
-
-
BB13
-
-
-
-
-
-
BB14
HW
Yes
-
-
-
-
BB15
-
-
-
-
-
-
BB16
HS
Yes
-
4
-
-
Box
Species
Nest
Eggs
Young
Fledged
July 30, 2016
Paul Noeldner
BB1
HW
Yes
-
4
-
-
BB2
BB
Yes
5
-
-
Female on nest
BB3
TS
Yes
5
-
-
Bird on nest, nest on top of HW nest
BB4
HW
Yes
-
-
-
-
BB5
HW
Yes
-
-
-
-
BB6
BB
Yes
2
2
-
-
BB7
HW
Yes
-
-
-
-
BB8
HW
Yes
-
-
-
-
BB9
HW
Yes
-
5
-
-
BB10a
HW
Yes
-
-
-
-
BB10b
-
-
-
-
-
-
BB11
-
-
-
-
-
-
BB12
-
-
-
-
-
-
BB13
-
-
-
-
-
-
BB14
HW
Yes
-
-
-
-
BB15
-
-
-
-
-
-
BB16
HS
-
-
4
-
-
Box
Species
Nest
Eggs
Young
Fledge
July 20, 2016
Gisela Kutzbach
BB1
HW
Yes
-
-
-
Nest too high to see
BB2
BB
Yes
4
-
-
-
BB3
HW
Yes
-
-
-
Infested with 'cottonballs'
BB4
HW
Yes
-
-
-
Empty
BB5
HW
Yes
2
-
-
Parent heard nearby
BB6
HW
Yes
6
-
-
Parent flew out of box
BB7​
HW
Yes
-
5
-
Parent flew out of box
BB8
-
-
-
-
-
Empty
BB9
HW
Yes
-
4
-
Parent nearby
BB10a
HW
-
-
5-6
-
Parent scolding
BB10b
-
-
-
-
-
Empty
BB11
-
-
-
-
-
Empty
BB12
HW
Yes
-
5
-
Parent scolding, almost attacking me
BB13
-
-
-
-
-
Empty
BB14
HW
Yes
-
6
-
Parents scolding
BB15
-
-
-
-
-
-
TBB16
TS
Yes
4
-
-
-

Bluebird Trail 2016

Box
Species
Nest
Eggs
Young
Fledge
July 10, 2016
​Pat Becker
BB1
HW
Yes
3
-
-
-
BB2
BB
Yes
-
-
-
Pine needle nest on top of HW nest. Nest unfinished.
BB3
HW
Yes
3
-
-
-
BB4
HW
Yes
6
-
-
Parent flew out. Nest on top of old TS nest.
BB5
HW
Yes
-
-
-
-
BB6
HW
Yes
-
-
-
Parent flew out of box.
BB7
HW
Yes
4
-
-
Parent flew out of box.
BB8
-
-
-
-
-
-
BB9
Hw
Yes
4
-
-
Parent flew out of box.
BB10a
HW
Yes
6
-
-
Parent flew out of box.
Bb10b
-
-
-
-
-
-
BB11
HW
Yes
2
2
-
-
BB12
TS
Yes
-
-
-
Nest old. Removed.
BB14
-
-
-
-
-
-
BB15
-
-
-
-
-
-
BB16
HW-
yes
-
-
-
Parent flew out
Box
Species
Nest
Eggs
Young
Fledge
July 2, 2016
​Patricia Becker
BB1
HW
Yes
3
-
-
Nest infested w/tiny (<1cm) 'cotton ball' organism
BB2
BB
Yes
-
-
5
Last week 5 ready to fledge
BB3
HW
Yes
-
-
-
Nest of top of TS nest. 1 TS egg visible. Infested as BB2
BB4
HW
Yes
1
-
-
-
BB5
HW
Yes
-
-
--
Adult calling nearby
BB6
HW
Yes
-
-
Value
Adult calling. Need thiner nail.
BB7
HW
Yes
4
-
-
Adult flew off nest, scolding
BB8
TS
Yes
-
-
-
Nest old, disintegrating
BB9
HW
Yes
-
-
-
Nest on top of old TS nest
BB10a
HW
Yes
?
?
?
Can't open door.parent flew out
BB10b
-
-
-
-
-
Empty
BB11
TS
Yes
-
-
-
5 fledged, Nest disintegrating
BB12
TS
Yes
-
-
-
Nest disintegrating
BB13
HS
Yes
4
-
-
Nest discarded
BB14
HW
Yes
-
-
-
Nest infected with "cotton balls", as BB2
BB15
-
-
-
-
-
-
BB16
HS
Yes
-
-
3
Feldglings flew out after box closed. nest discarded
Box
Species
Nest
Eggs
Young
Fledge
June 20, 2016
​Gisela Kutzbach
BB1
HW
yes
yes
-
-
Parent flew out;
​nest too high to see
BB2
BB
yes
-
5
-
Almost ready to fledge; parents not seen
BB3
TS
yes
-
4
-
Almost ready to fledge;
​Parent flew off
BB4
TS
yes
-
4
-
Parents circling; angry
BB5
HW
yes
-
4
-
 parents heard
BB6
-
-
-
-
-
new box, empty
BB7
HW
yes
-
-
4
all, fledged, nest empty, adult heard
BB8
TS
-
-
3
-
ready to fledge, parents  flew off
BB9
TS
yes
-
-
-
new box, beginning of nest
BB10a
HW
yes
-
-
-
nest to rim, couldn't see
BB10b
HW/TS
yes
-
-
-
nest deserted, removed
BB11
TS
yes
-
5
-
parent flew out
BB12
HW
yes
1
-
-
parent flew off, new box
BB13
TS
yes
-
-
-
House sparrow flew off roof
BB14
HW
yes
?
-
-
nest too high to see
BB15
-
-
-
-
-
-
BB16
TS
Yes
-
3
-
Just hatched, no parent seen
Box
Species
Nest
Eggs
Young
Fledge
June 15, 2016
​Pat Becker
BB1
HW
Yes
-
-
-
Full nest. parent nearby
BB2
BB
Yes
3
3
-
Nestlings tiny
BB3
TS
Yes
-
3 (4)
-
Nestlings big, 3-4 inches
BB4
TS
Yes
-
5 (6)
-
Nestlings 3-4 inches
BB5
HW
Yes
-
6
-
Nestlings tiny
BB7
TS
Yes
-
3
1
Fledgling flew out after box closed
BB8
TS
Yes
-
at least 3
-
Near fledge size
BB10a
TS
Yes
-
4 (?5)
-
Near fledging size
BB11
TS
Yes
-
5(?6)
-
Nestlings 2-3 inches
BB 16
HW
Yes
-
5(?6)
-
Complete nest, adult callings 2-3 inches
BB Total
1
Yes
-
5 (?6)
-
Complete nest, adult calling
Box
Species
Nest
Eggs
Young
Fledge
June 4, 2016
​Patricia Becker
BB1
HW
yes
-
-
-
Nest complete
BB2
BB
yes
5
-
-
Adult flew off
BB3
TS
yes
2
3
-
Adult was on nest
BB4
TS
yes
-
5
-
Adult was on nest
BB5
HW
yes
4
-
-
Adult flew off
BB6
TS
yes
-
4
-
Adult flew off
BB8
TS
yes
2
4
-
Adult flew off Paper wasp nest in the box
BB10a
TS
yes
1
5
-
Adult flew off
BB11
TS
yes
6
-
-
Adult flew off
BB16
HW
yes
1
-
-
Adult heard
Second BB pair starting. Fewer HS and more TS than in 2015. TS doing well - 31 eggs May 28
Box
Species
Nest
Eggs
Young
Fledge
May 28, 2016
​Patricia Becker
BB1
HW
Yes
-
-
-
5" HW nest on top of HS nest
BB2
BB
Yes
2
-
-
Adult was on eggs
BB3
TS
Yes
5
-
-
Adult was on eggs
BB4
TS
Yes
6
-
-
Adult was on eggs
BB5
HW
Yes
5
-
-
No parents seen. Ants in box
BB6
YS
Yes 
4
-
-
Adult was on eggs
BB8
TS
Yes
5
-
-
Adults and several others flying over. Ants
BB10a
TS
TS
5
-
-
Adult was on eggs
BB11
TS
Yes
6
-
-
Adult was on eggs
BB14
HW
Yes
-
-
-
Very beginning of nest
BB16
TS
Yes
-
-
-
Very beginning of nest
Total 
BB
2
-
-
-
2nd BB pair starting. Hopeful
Box
Species
Nest
Eggs
Young
Fledge
May 24, 2016
​Paul Noeldner
BB1
HW
Yes
-
-
-
Adult nearby
BB2
BB
Yes
-
-
-
Adult nearby
BB3
TS
Yes
5
-
-
TS nest on top of HW nest, TS adult on nest
BB4
TS
Yes
5
-
-
Adult on nest
BB5
HW
Yes
1
-
-
Adult on nest
BB6
TS
Yes
4
-
-
Adult on nest
BB8
TS
Yes
5
-
-
Adult on nest
BB10a
TS 
Yes
-
-
-
-
BB11
TS
Yes
6
-
-
-
BB16
HS
Yes
-
-
-
Nest discarded
Total BB
1
-
-
-
-
-
Box
Species
Nest
Eggs
Young
Fledge
May 15, 2016
​Will Waller
BB1
HW
yes
-
-
-
full nest
BB3
TS
yes
1
-
-
female seen
BB4
TS
yes
-
-
-
bird in box, no eggs
BB5
HW
yes
-
-
-
lots of sticks
BB6
TS
yes
4
-
-
female seen
BB8
TS
yes
1
-
-
2 protesting adults
BB10a
TS
yes
2
-
-
female seen
BB11
TS
yes
-
-
-
adult on roof top
May 8 - BB have lost out to TS in Box 9. No active BB nest on the trail.
Box #
Species
Nest
Eggs
Young
Fledge
May 8, 2016
​Patricia Becker
BB1
HS
Yes
1
-
-
Discarded
BB2
TS
Yes
-
-
-
Dead TS on top TS nest, male HS flew off box. TS appears to have been attacked in the eyes.
BB3
TS
Yes
-
-
-
TS building on 3" HW nest
BB4
TS
Yes
-
-
-
2 adults defending box
BB5
HW
Yes
-
-
-
Nest not developed
BB6
TS
Yes
-
-
-
BB8
TS
Yes
-
-
-
Box was open, but nest that was incomplete on 5-5, when box also was found open, is now complete. Adults flying nearby.
BB10a
HW/TS
Yes
-
-
-
TS on toil of beginning HW. Adults flying nearby.
BB11
TS
Yes
-
-
-
TS on top of BB nest, adults flying nearby.
BB16
TS
Yes
-
-
-
-
Box
Spec
Nest
Eggs
Young
Fledge
May 1, 2016
​Patricia Becker
BB1
HW
Yes
-
-
-
Very beginning of nest
BB2
?TS
-
-
-
Neat grass nest, no feathers
BB3
HW
-
-
-
3" high nest, adult flying nearby
BB4
?BB
-
-
-
2" pine needle nest, not as tight as BB nest usually is
BB6
TS
-
-
-
Neat grass nest 1 1/2" high
BB8
TS
Yes
-
-
-
Typical nest, with feathers
BB10a
HW
Yes
-
-
-
3" high nest
BB11
BB
yes
-
-
-
Nest looks complete. No adults seen or heard
BB16
HS
Yes
-
-
-
Discarded
Box
Species
Nest
Eggs
Young
Fledge
April 23, 2016
​Monitor: Patricia Becker
BB2
HS
Yes
-
-
-
Nest removed
BB3
HW
Yes
-
-
-
Beginning of a nest
BB4
HW
Yes
-
-
-
Beginning of a nest
BB8
TS
Yes
-
-
-
Adult circling
BB11
BB
Yes
-
-
-
Nest looks complete.
​Adults seen later in day.
BB14
HS
Yes
-
-
-
Nest removed
BB16
HS
Yes
-
-
-
Nest removed
Box
Species
Nest
Eggs
Young
Fledge
April, 16 - 2016
​Monitor: Pat Becker
BB2
HS
Yes
-
-
-
Nest discarded
BB8
TS
Beginning
-
-
-
-
BB11
BB
Beginning
-
-
-
Parents present
BB14
HS
Yes
-
-
-
Nest discarded
Biocore Prairie Bluebird Trail consists of 14 Bluebird Boxes mounted on predator resistant steel poles around the Biocare Prairie and through the Community Gardens. The boxes are located near walking paths as shown on the map. They are easy to monitor and maintain. 

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. 
Friends of the Lakeshore Nature Preserve
 P.O. Box 5534
 Madison, WI 53705 

UW-Madison Lakeshore Nature Preserve website

Documents
Picture
Related websites:
UW Nelson Institute
UW Arboretum
Clean Lakes Alliance
Groundswell Conservancy
Pleasant Valley Conservancy
Pheasant Branch Conservancy
​
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