Eastern Bluebird guarding BB9 on April 24, 2016

Bluebird
Monitoring sheet

July 30 2016, second breeding cycle of a pair of Bluebirds with 5 eggs. Photo Noeldner

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   Sandhill Cranes
   Swallows

Bird Migration

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

Bluebird Trail Monitoring 2016

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.

Eastern 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. 

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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.