Nest Box Update 7.9.19

There are now, as there was last week, three active nests. Two have eggs and one is occupied by four nearly ready to fledge bluebirds. The house wren nest at the Cow Pasture still has five eggs. I heard an adult calling in the nearby brush as I approached the nest box so it’s possible the eggs are being incubated. I may have come along as the adult was taking a break from that chore.   The Explore the WildRead more

Nest Box Update 7.2.19

There are now three active nests. One nest is full of bluebird nestlings, one with house wren eggs, and another with a fresh bluebird nest. The nest at the Cow Pasture has five house wren eggs. This is the second brood for this nest box as it has already fledged five house wrens. The Explore the Wild and Into the Mist nest boxes are empty. The nest box on the east side of the parking deck has twigs placed inRead more

Nest Box Update 6.25.19

A new nest and four new nestlings are the stories of the day. After discovering last week that the house wrens that had occupied the nest box at the Cow Pasture had fledged, I tossed the old nest, cleaned the inside of the box, and placed a new berry basket where the old one had been. When I opened the box this week it had a completely new house wren nest inside. I was surprised to see the new nest.Read more

Nest Box Update 6.18.19

One bunch of nestlings has fledged while another nest still has four unhatched bluebirds eggs. An empty nest has had nesting material place within. The five house wrens at the Cow Pasture nest box have all fledged. I could hear the birds off in the woods as I went about with my nest box inspections this morning. The Explore the Wild and Into the Mist nest boxes are both empty. For the past five to six weeks the nest boxRead more

Nest Box Update 6.11.19

We have two active nest out of six. One is full of fledgling size wrens the other bluebird eggs. A wren flew from the nest box in the Cow Pasture as I approached the box. It settled on the ground a dozen feet or so from the nest box and made its way towards a group of nearby shrubs. It’s nest mates sat tight as I opened the box’s side door and photographed them. I count five nestlings in theRead more

Nest Box Update 6.4.19

So far this season we’ve fledged 9 bluebirds and 8 chickadees from the 6 nest boxes on our bluebird trail. We currently have 5 house wren nestlings in one nest box and a new nest started for what may be a second brood of bluebirds. Though the house wren nest at the Cow Pasture originally held 6 eggs, only five have hatched. The nestlings look to be healthy but probably won’t fledge til after next week’s inspection. The nest boxesRead more

Nest Box Update 5.28.19

Since last week’s inspection of the six nest boxes at the museum, at least five eggs have hatched, four nestlings have fledged, and a new nest has been started. The house wren eggs that were in the nest box at the Cow Pasture have hatched. The nest held six eggs, but it’s difficult to determine if there are five or six nestlings in the nest. See for yourself at left.   There has been no activity in the nest boxRead more

Nest Box Update 5.7.19

All eight of our chickadee nestlings have fledged and nine bluebirds are still in the nests and doing well. The two house wren nests have seen no progress in the past week. The house wren who had been building a nest in the nest box at the Cow Pasture has neither laid eggs or added twigs to the nest. I did not hear a wren singing while at the nest site. Male house wrens are known for building more thanRead more

Nest Box Update 4.30.19

We now have 4 bluebird eggs and 4 bluebird nestlings. There are 8 chickadee nestlings. Two nest boxes have the workings of house wren nests. The Cow Pasture nest at the meadow next to the Train Tunnel is filled with twigs, the handiwork of a house wren. There are still no eggs in the nest. House wrens are famous for building nests they don’t use, but I heard the male singing back in the brush as I inspected the nestRead more

Nest Box Update 4.23.19

There’ve been additional eggs, hatchlings and a change in occupancy since the last nest box inspection. Bluebirds, chickadees and house wrens are all involved. Yes, house wrens have returned from their winter quarters and have very loudly made their presence known. I heard the rolling warble of a house wren as I approached the nest box at the Cow Pasture and immediately started to wonder, ”Had the wrens taken over the chickadee nest inside the box, the chickadee nest whichRead more