Beyond Your Backyard "Nesting Boxes for the Bluebirds" 🏚🐦
By Kimberly J. Epp
Last year, the Moose Jaw Nature Society took over the care of the bluebird trail at Buffalo Pound Provincial Park.
Mountain Bluebirds have been expanding their range in the province because people started building bluebird trails. These lines of nesting boxes are put up on fence posts near brush lines, and are found across much the prairies. The reason why these birds nearly went extinct was due to the lack of nesting habitat.
Male Mountain Bluebird (photo by Michael St. Laurent)
Just like the Peregrine Falcon, the return of the Mountain Bluebird is a success story because of humans. It is rare that we can take credit for the return of a species, as it is usually the other way around. But this is a story we can take pride in. It is important, however, that these nesting boxes be maintained.
At the beginning of the month, 17 volunteers helped to put together over 30 bluebird houses and a brownie troop put the finishing touches on about 20 more a few days later. Thanks to Moose Jaw Nature Society President, Rich Pickering for cutting out all of the pieces and organizing the programs.
This was a nesting box one of the young volunteers had made for her yard - with a strict warning to any and all cats! It is painted and made for wrens. - (photo by Kimberly Epp)
While cleaning out nesting boxes last March, we saw that many of the boxes were on their last legs, and could use replacing. So we decided that this year when we went out to clean the boxes, we would replace the ones that were near the end of their lifespan. Noticing that many were built more than 30 years ago, it was definitely time.
One of the new bluebird houses we put up last Sunday after removing a house more than 30 years old (photo by Kimberly Epp).
🐦Learn more about bluebird mating and nesting habits here,
https://www.mjindependent.com/…/countdown-to-spring-day-eig…
So, last Sunday five of us went (in two groups) to get the boxes ready for the bluebirds.
You might wonder why it is necessary to clean out the boxes. Mountain Bluebirds will only nest in clean nesting boxes. In addition, if they are not cleaned out, mites can infest the nests. Tree Swallows will keep building on top of old nests, but bluebirds won't. Mites, however, can kill these birds and/or their young.
Baby bluebird sitting calmly in my hand, waiting to get banded. These nestlings are banded at a young age as it is more difficult to do when they are fledgelings. The parents merely watch and wait, then fly directly into the box once we leave. It is a myth that they will abandon their young if touched by a human. (photo by Kimberly Epp).
Last year, we found a box that had not been cleaned in a few years. There was a nest on the bottom of the box with a dead Tree Swallow in it. On top of this nest was a second nest with two dead Tree Swallows on top. This is why the boxes must be cleaned and disinfected. When you sweep out the nesting material (a heavily bristled paint brush works to sweep out the bottom thoroughly), you then sprinkle some sulfur on it as well. This will kill any mites. This must be done every Spring.
This is typically the kind of debris you will find within a nesting box. It must all be swept out, then sulfur sprinkled on the bottom (photo by Kimberly Epp).
Last year, we cleaned out the boxes during the last weekend of March.
The bluebirds had already arrived, and were patiently (or rather, impatiently) waiting for this important real estate to get flipped! In fact, after one house was cleaned out, a male bluebird promptly claimed it for his bride. This year, we wanted to be there prior to their arrival. Bluebirds will likely be back by this weekend. With some new houses now out there, they will likely be the first to be claimed. If the bluebirds don't claim them, swallows likely will. Or, as had happened last year, perhaps a chipmunk will. These nesting boxes are prime real estate.
Western Bluebirds set up house in a nesting box (photo by John Campbell).
If you want to build one and bring it to the park, it must be at least two fence posts away from another nesting box as these birds require this space for their territory. Please remember to NOT paint a bluebird nesting box as they will not use it. Future plans are to possibly put up a bluebird trail out at Tatawaw Park.
Plans for building your own bluebird nesting box. If you would prefer to build a wren house for your own yard, just make the entry hole slightly smaller. Please remember not to paint a bluebird nesting box as they will not use it.
If you are feeling like a caged bird yourself, why not go for a drive out to the park and see if these beautiful birds have arrived - and if they have claimed their nesting boxes. You can either check out the nesting boxes by the bison paddock or the boxes along the trail past the boardwalk.
Female Western Bluebird (photo by John Campbell)
While out last Sunday, we did see more people than what you would expect on a cool, windy day. At the same time, everyone kept their distance. While we have a serious virus spreading amongst the human population, nature doesn't sit idly by. Life continues on. The birds and other animals are busy looking for mates, mating, and looking for nesting sites and burrows for their young. In our province, we have the luxury of space, so going for a walk in nature is never a bad idea. Nature never disappoints when one is feeling down.
Patti Kosteniuk uses a drill to remove the screws so she can open the front panel for cleaning (photo by Kimberly Epp).
🐦Read more on bluebirds here,
https://www.mjindependent.com/…/beyond-your-backyard-nation…
Male Western Bluebird (photo by John Campbell)
If you cannot make it out to Buffalo Pound, Tatawaw and Wakamow are some local parks one can explore.
Last year, our nature society also began caring for the feeders at Wakamow, filling them, and buying seed and suet. If you haven't already checked out the bird feeders, bring some pine nuts to hand feed the birds with. The feeder area is large enough so that you can keep yourself at a good distance from others. It never fails to cheer me up when those cheeky little nuthatches and chickadees start taking pine nuts from my hand. Spread some peanut butter on the tree, and you can attract the squirrels and woodpeckers. One time, a Mule Deer doe quietly snuck up on us. Another time, it was a raccoon. Take a bird book, and learn to identify the birds with your children. As long as you are careful, there is no reason not to enjoy the beautiful outdoors. Welcome in the new Spring season and the daily arrivals. Why not even try some bird watching in your own backyard? Listen to the chickadee mating call as they sing their, "Spring's Here!" song.
Female Mountain Bluebird (photo by Rich Pickering)
🐦Read more on how you can train the birds in your own yard to hand feed here,
https://www.mjindependent.com/…/yiz0talhkaklv78vu3jxu55epv8…
Epp is an Environmental Educator and writer. She is also the Past President and Field Trip/Workshop Director for the Moose Jaw Nature Society.
🐝*Kid's, stay tuned in the coming weeks for a weekly online nature tutorial which will feature a new critter or theme each week along with a craft - to make education fun. All materials for the crafts you will be able to find in your own home and yard.
The first tutorial will be on bees, and we will make bee compound eyes and bee watering stations. To prepare, gather up any extra plastic or paper straws you can find, elastics, marbles, rocks and leftover plastic containers from frozen meals. Learn about the many species of bees, bee nesting houses, and neat bee facts.
Future tutorials will be on backyard birding where we will make milk carton bird feeders, backyard tracks where we will make homemade plaster and plaster cast tracks, planting your own butterfly and bee garden, endangered species where you will meet Sanmy the ferret and make a Black-footed Ferret craft, and much more.