Top Photo: Eastern bluebird, male.

Only one of our six nest boxes is empty. One of them has the beginnings of a chickadee nest inside and there are 15 chickadee eggs and 5 bluebird nestlings in the remaining boxes. A word of caution, house wrens have NOT arrived on the scene.

The Cow Pasture nest box is empty. There’s been no sign of activity.

The nest box at Explore the Wild has 6 fresh chickadee eggs in among the moss, grasses and soft fibers of the nest.

The Sailboat Pond nest box contains 4 chickadee eggs (though one looks as though it’s cracked — below left).

The Into the Mist nest box is finally seeing some action, a chickadee has started a nest in the box.

The bluebird nestlings on the east side of the Parking Deck are developing quickly. Last week they were tiny, naked and blind hatchlings and now appear well on their way to fledging.

On the west side of the parking deck are 5 eggs in a moss and grass molded cup nest. Chickadees are the occupying avians.

Things are looking good for our bluebird trail, but as mentioned above, house wrens have not yet returned from their winter quarters. They have been known to wreck the nests of both bluebirds and chickadees by breaking and removing eggs, killing nestlings, and removing all of the nesting material in the box. They may then build their own nest inside the unfortunate former occupant’s cavity. We will have to wait and see what the next week and southwest winds bring our way.

Until then…

Ranger Greg