OUR NATIVE CAVITY NESTERS:
AMERICAN KESTREL, EASTERN BLUEBIRD, TREE SWALLOW, BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE
Many of our cavity-nesting birds are in need of supplemental housing for a number of reasons:
How you can help:
- loss of dead and dying trees in the landscape
- competition from non-native House Sparrows and European Starlings, also cavity-nesters
- loss of old man-made structures such as barns and sheds, which some species are able to utilize as cavity-like nesting places
- loss of open, non-forested landscape and the edges around them
How you can help:
- Join us for nestbox construction workshops
- Assist with supervised installation of nestboxes
- Assist with observation and monitoring of kestrels and nestboxes placed throughout central Worcester County
- Report kestrel sightings to eBird or warerivernatureclub@yahoo.com
American Kestrel nesting at Wachusett Reservoir property, 2014.
Photo by Emily Eaton
AMERICAN KESTRELS
Unlike the Eastern Bluebird, which has a healthy population here, American Kestrels have been in serious decline in Massachusetts for the past 10+ years. Kestrels need open grasslands for foraging and obtaining food. Efforts to assist with boosting their population include the placement of nestboxes in suitable habitat and/or where kestrels have historically nested or are observed. This effort has started to offer a glimmer of hope for attracting kestrels and increasing their nesting success, since the birds will utilize these structures when natural cavities aren't available.
Unlike the Eastern Bluebird, which has a healthy population here, American Kestrels have been in serious decline in Massachusetts for the past 10+ years. Kestrels need open grasslands for foraging and obtaining food. Efforts to assist with boosting their population include the placement of nestboxes in suitable habitat and/or where kestrels have historically nested or are observed. This effort has started to offer a glimmer of hope for attracting kestrels and increasing their nesting success, since the birds will utilize these structures when natural cavities aren't available.
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HELPING BIRDS:
CITIZEN SCIENCE PROJECTS CLOSE TO HOME by State Ornithologist Andrew Vitz, Ph. D. Click here to see Drew's outline/slides from the presentation at the annual meeting on February 8, 2015. |
BLUEBIRD TRAIL PROJECT SIGN AT HIGH RIDGE WMA
BLUEBIRD NESTBOX TRAIL
HIGH RIDGE WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA
GARDNER & WESTMINSTER
In the 1980's, under the direction of then-State Ornithologist Brad Blodgett, a bluebird "trail" was established at High Ridge Wildlife Management Area in Gardner/Westminster in the 1980s. Since then, Eastern Bluebirds have occupied 8 -10% of the nestboxes provided, with many of the rest being used by House Wrens, Tree Swallows, and the occasional Black-capped Chickadee. We are teaming up with MassWildlife to assist with the placement of
new boxes and maintenance and upkeep of the existing trail.
HIGH RIDGE WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA
GARDNER & WESTMINSTER
In the 1980's, under the direction of then-State Ornithologist Brad Blodgett, a bluebird "trail" was established at High Ridge Wildlife Management Area in Gardner/Westminster in the 1980s. Since then, Eastern Bluebirds have occupied 8 -10% of the nestboxes provided, with many of the rest being used by House Wrens, Tree Swallows, and the occasional Black-capped Chickadee. We are teaming up with MassWildlife to assist with the placement of
new boxes and maintenance and upkeep of the existing trail.
2015 - 2016 HIGH RIDGE WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA BLUEBIRD TRAIL
UPDATE
During spring and early summer of 2015, with the guidance and direction of Bill Davis and Mike Morelly of MassWildlife, WRNC volunteers began inspecting, repairing, and replacing the nestboxes placed throughout this WMA. Starting at the eastern end in Westminster, we immediately encountered a number of boxes and posts that needed various levels of attention. In some cases all that was needed was a good cleanout. A few boxes that were still solid were on leaning posts or in some cases had slipped down the post and were near ground level. A pair of Tree Swallows using a box near the Intervale Road fields were bonded to one box that had slipped to the ground; we like to think that they were grateful to us for raising the box and tightening the brackets so they could better avoid predation.
At the time of this first visit in May, one box appeared to be occupied by Eastern Bluebirds, and in several others House Wrens or Tree Swallows had already taken up occupancy. In the cases of occupied houses, only pole-straightening or bracket-tightening was attempted. Nevertheless, there were many unoccupied nestboxes--many due to disrepair--so we had plenty of opportunity to put Larry Duprey's tools to work. Many thanks to Larry and Joan Duprey and their friend, Anne--all members of Athol Bird & Nature Club--for assisting with the first few dozen boxes that needed attention. We were off to a good start!
In late spring, Roxann Banks and Wendy Howes made further inroads, re-checking the first efforts and continuing up to the ridge to assess and clean out many more boxes. It was noted that many of the boxes were unoccupied due to vegetation encroachment,
so future efforts could include vegetation clearing and/or
placement of the nestboxes in more suitable locations.
On a July 9th visit to the Intervale Road/east side of the WMA we found that many of the nesting House Wrens were apparently starting a second brood, while most Tree Swallows were off the nest. However, a check of one box revealed four recently-hatched (1-3 days) Tree Swallow nestlings and a pair of watchful parent birds. This is a late nesting date for this species, an event that could be attributed to a number of of factors, but likely assuring a more reliable food supply.
John and Kathy Egan of Westminster volunteered themselves and their well-stocked tool kit for the 2106 season. We found ourselves in need of heavy-duty loppers, mallets, and people-power as well as replacement clamps and assorted hardware.
Thanks again to MassWildlife for making it possible
for us to drive in the WMA with all of this paraphernalia!
Stocked with several new boxes made by MassWildlife staff, we quickly re-checked the work of 2015 and cleaned unoccupied boxes out--many were stuffed with winter mouse nests--and continued even further into the WMA. Armed with the proper tools and the strength of our participants, we were able to clear some vegetation that was encroaching on the nestboxes and the field edges, and/or move the support posts. Several boxes were repaired on-site;
eight new boxes were installed.
At least one pair of bluebirds was seen, but most boxes were occupied by House Wrens and Tree Swallows,
not unusual in our area and in this WMA.
Thanks to John & Kathy for many hours spent on this project!
With the onset of hot weather, volunteer work was suspended, but we have plans to return in the fall.
Contact warerivernatureclub@yahoo.com if you are interested in helping.
When restoration and repair of the trail has been completed, we would like to deploy volunteers to monitor the trail and gather information about the nesting birds. If this is something you can do, please let us know.
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Kathy and John Egan lend helping hands (and tools)to the High Ridge WMA Bluebird Trail project.
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FALL 2016 NESTBOX REPORT--HIGH RIDGE WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA
On October 16th three WRNC volunteers spent a final work day of the season at High Ridge WMA inspecting and cleaning nestboxes. Because of the weather and other factors this summer, there wasn’t a chance to do any monitoring during the season, but it was easy to figure out what went on with the boxes over the summer.
In spite of spring efforts to move some nestboxes away from deep "puckerbrush," and clean up overgrown vegetation at the base of many others, volunteers found evidence of an abundance of House Wrens. Considering how many wrens were encountered in the spring, this wasn’t a big surprise.
High Ridge is a terrific place for House Wrens, and uses of the boxes there by wrens is a natural response to the habitat. However, it was determined that in a few instances House Wrens had likely driven bluebirds or Tree Swallows from nests that had been begun by those species. There was no evidence of wrens killing adult or nestling bluebirds or swallows; however, wrens are known to destroy and carry off eggs of other cavity nesters, and there was no way to know if this had happened.
There are many nestboxes to choose from, so the evicted bluebirds and swallows found new homes. It was easy to determine the areas preferred by bluebirds and swallows, and evidence of successful nestings was found in many boxes. Next year perhaps 5-6 new nestboxes at the edges of the open areas preferred by swallows/bluebirds can be installed, and/or several unused nestboxes can be re-located to more suitable locations. A few boxes weren't being used by anything, not even mice.
On October 16th three WRNC volunteers spent a final work day of the season at High Ridge WMA inspecting and cleaning nestboxes. Because of the weather and other factors this summer, there wasn’t a chance to do any monitoring during the season, but it was easy to figure out what went on with the boxes over the summer.
In spite of spring efforts to move some nestboxes away from deep "puckerbrush," and clean up overgrown vegetation at the base of many others, volunteers found evidence of an abundance of House Wrens. Considering how many wrens were encountered in the spring, this wasn’t a big surprise.
High Ridge is a terrific place for House Wrens, and uses of the boxes there by wrens is a natural response to the habitat. However, it was determined that in a few instances House Wrens had likely driven bluebirds or Tree Swallows from nests that had been begun by those species. There was no evidence of wrens killing adult or nestling bluebirds or swallows; however, wrens are known to destroy and carry off eggs of other cavity nesters, and there was no way to know if this had happened.
There are many nestboxes to choose from, so the evicted bluebirds and swallows found new homes. It was easy to determine the areas preferred by bluebirds and swallows, and evidence of successful nestings was found in many boxes. Next year perhaps 5-6 new nestboxes at the edges of the open areas preferred by swallows/bluebirds can be installed, and/or several unused nestboxes can be re-located to more suitable locations. A few boxes weren't being used by anything, not even mice.
A small group of bluebirds and Cedar Waxwings were spotted close to the Barnstormers model aircraft area. There is plenty of fall fruit for them out there. There were probably at least three pairs of bluebirds nesting at High Ridge this season. We speculated that the bluebirds may not have attempted second nestings since the weather was so hot and dry. Nestbox contents reflecting second nestings --additional nesting material piled above a used nest—were not noted. On the other hand, there were many instances of wren nests built on top of previous bluebird or swallow nests.
Although Tree Swallows did nest all around the first large hayfield beyond the Overlook Street entrance, they didn't use boxes very much in the other areas, or had started nests in other areas but were “bumped” by wrens. Tree Swallow nestings appeared to be successful in that favored location, the discovery of two dead older nestlings and one unhatched egg notwithstanding.
Although Tree Swallows did nest all around the first large hayfield beyond the Overlook Street entrance, they didn't use boxes very much in the other areas, or had started nests in other areas but were “bumped” by wrens. Tree Swallow nestings appeared to be successful in that favored location, the discovery of two dead older nestlings and one unhatched egg notwithstanding.
Due to overall concerns about the about the status of Tree Swallow populations and their relatively low reproduction rate, we hope to place more boxes next to the largest open fields in 2017.
White-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus) had taken up occupancy in several boxes; some boxes had unoccupied mouse nests. Where mice were present, they were left. The area is a natural location for mice, and they're an important part of the diet of the carnivorous mammals and birds of prey that use High Ridge WMA.
In 2017 WRNC would like to begin to keep more formal records and try to update the box locations on the map maintained by MassWildlife. VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED! If you would like to help, contact warerivernatureclub@yahoo.com.
White-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus) had taken up occupancy in several boxes; some boxes had unoccupied mouse nests. Where mice were present, they were left. The area is a natural location for mice, and they're an important part of the diet of the carnivorous mammals and birds of prey that use High Ridge WMA.
In 2017 WRNC would like to begin to keep more formal records and try to update the box locations on the map maintained by MassWildlife. VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED! If you would like to help, contact warerivernatureclub@yahoo.com.
