HOT Western Bluebird Nestbox Monitoring - June 18th, 2017

Sunday 2017-06-18 (9am): The Bay Area is tucking into a heat wave, so we went a bit early to try to beat the heat. I am wishing we had thought to install shade baffles for these boxes, but this is being a learning experience. The "batchelor button" flowers have come into bloom, and the grasses are very tall. The two Red-tail hawk fledgings were perched on the nearby utility poles, and we were serenaded by their constant calls during our entire visit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Box #1: A Tree Swallow exited the box as we approached, and there are now 5 perfectly white eggs inside. We added some ventilation holes along the top sides. This box may be advantageous in the warmer weather now, having some shade.

Box #1.

 

 

Box #2: Still empty. Some ventilation holes were added to the top and bottom.

Box #2.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Box #3: Still an abandoned nest. My Dad added some additional top ventilation holes.

Box #3.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Box #4: Western Bluebirds were seen nearby, and there are 4 beautiful blue eggs.

Near Box #4.

Box #4.

Box #4

Box #4.

Box #5. This box now has Tree Swallows in it -- and the adult did not leave during the nest check! She looked to be sitting on at least 2 eggs.

The Tree Swallow parent near Box #5.

Box #6: Empty.

Box #6.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Box #7: No longer occupied (hopefully the last clutch of Tree Swallow fledged), so we cleaned out the nest box.

Cleaning out Box #7.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Box #8: There is another Tree Swallow nest underway in this box -- with 5 eggs now.

Box #8. A Tree Swallow nest.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Box #9: The Western Bluebirds have decided to use this box again, and there are now 4 blue eggs.

Box #9. Four blue eggs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Box #10. Still unchanged, no eggs.

Box #10.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In addition to the Red-tails, this very large hawk was perched closeby in the trees near the creek ... can anyone identify it??

 

Western Bluebird Nestbox Monitoring - June 11th, 2017

Sunday 2017-06-11 (6pm): My Mom and I are still away at a conference in Boise, ID (and visiting the World Center for Birds of Prey -- we visited two days in a row!!), so my Dad once again checked the nests this week.

Box #1: The Tree Swallow egg count has increased from 2 to 5!
Box #2: Unchanged, still empty.
Box #3: Still an abandoned nest, no eggs.
Box #4: Wow, that did not take long at all for a second Western Bluebird nest to be started. And there are 3 eggs already!

Box #4. A new Western Bluebird nest has been started, with 3 eggs.

Box #5:  After long being empty, a nest of straw has finally been started in this nestbox (likely by Western Bluebirds).

Box #5. No longer empty.

Box #6: Empty.
Box #7: The (4 or 5) Tree Swallow nestlings are still in the nest, but they are fully-feathered and should fledge soon.

Box #7: Super-cute Tree Swallow nestlings.

Box #8: A new nest has been started, but there are no eggs yet.
Box #9: The mother Western Bluebird remained on her new nest during the box check, and there were 4 beautiful blue eggs.

Box #9. A new Western Bluebird nest, with mother and her 4 eggs.

 Box #10: Still the same; empty.

The two Red-tail hawk chicks have fledged and were spotted in a tree near their nest -- and one was eating a snake!

Red-tail Hawk fledglings.

Western Bluebird Nestbox Monitoring - June 5th, 2017

Friday 2017-06-26: The Jessops had other commitments over the weekend, so our Nestbox Monitoring Coordinator Jeff checked the nests for us:

Box #1: Still some sticks (probably from a Wren), but no eggs.
Box #2: Still empty.
Box #3: Still an abandoned nest, no eggs.
Box #4: The 3 Western Bluebird nestlings are continuing to do well.
Box #5: Still empty.
Box #6: 5 Tree Swallow nestlings.
Box #7: The 5 Tree Swallow eggs hatched recently.
Box #8: 5 Tree Swallow nestlings present, but they appeared sluggish.
Box #9: 3 Western Bluebirds have fledged, but there was 1 dead nestling. Jeff cleaned out the box.
Box #10: Still empty.

Monday 2017-06-05 (10am): I'm away at a conference in Boise, ID (and visiting the World Center for Birds of Prey!), so my Dad checked the nests this week.

Box #1: Wow, there is now a Tree Swallow nest with 2 eggs!

Box #1, A new Tree Swallow nest!

Box #2: Still empty.
Box #3: Still an abandoned nest, no eggs.
Box #4: The 3 Western Bluebird chicks hopefully fledged successfully (the nest is now empty). Dad cleaned out the nestbox.
Box #5:  Empty.
Box #6: The 5 Tree Swallow chicks hopefully fledged successfully (the nest is now empty). Dad cleaned out the nestbox.
Box #7: There are at least two Tree Swallow nestlings.

Box #7. Tree Swallow nestlings all huddled together.

Box #8: Hopefully the 5 Tree Swallow chicks fledged (the nest is now empty). Dad cleaned out the nestbox.
Box #9: Wow that did not take long!: A new Western Bluebird nest of straw has been started (no eggs yet)!

Box #9 with a new Western Bluebird nest of straw already started.