Top Photo: Eastern bluebird eggs.
There seems to have been a take-over of one of the nest boxes, and one bird, a bluebird, was found dead in the vicinity of that box. I think the dead bird was a coincidence, but am not sure.
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The Cow Pasture nest box is still empty. It is untouched.
The Explore the Wild nest box is also empty. Historically, chickadees use this nest box but so far no activity has been seen in or around the box.
A take-over is occurring at the Sailboat Pond. Feathers and fur and a touch of moss have been piled atop the pine straw and grass initially placed in the box by bluebirds. The new material is a sure sign of chickadees.
Curiously, a dead male bluebird was found about forty feet from this nest box. I did not see any marks or blood on the dead bird.
Disputes over nesting sites are common in the bird world, especially among cavity nesters where nest sites are at a premium. However, bluebirds are much larger in size and weight (.95 oz – 1.2 oz) than chickadees (.3 oz – .4 oz). I don’t think the chickadees killed the bluebird directly. Perhaps the bluebird flew into an object (tree) while engaged with the chickadees. Or, it could be a coincidental fatality. Given the fact there was no blood or other marks on the bird, I still think the bluebird flew into something (tree trunk) regardless of any other activity it may have been involved in.
Though the Into the Mist nest box has a complete bluebird nest inside, it still has no eggs.
The Parking Deck East nest box looks like it did at last week’s inspection, complete bluebird nest but no eggs.
There is still a partial nest in the Parking Deck West nest box, no further work has been done in the box.
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While most of our nest building birds have taken the week off, there has been a take-over at the nest box behind the Sailboat Pond. Chickadees have commandeered the bluebird nest that was, and still is, inside the nest box. There has been at least one fatality, an adult male bluebird was found dead nearby, though cause of death is speculative.
Until next week.
Have a good one!
Ranger Greg