Bluebird Update 5.12.15

One nest has fledged its young, one nest will probably fledge its inhabitants this week, two nests may have to wait another week before fledging its occupants, one nest still has unhatched eggs, and one nest remains empty with no activity. The nest box at the Cow Pasture has four growing bluebirds. I’d been told a black rat snake had been seen the day before, moving in the direction of the nest box. I was apprehensive, yet confident the birdsRead more
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Bluebird Update 5.5.15

We’re into the eighth week of nest box inspections and we now have sixteen nestlings, twelve bluebirds and four chickadees. We also have six house wren eggs cooking. I haven’t been able to get an accurate count of eggs in the nest at the Cow Pasture over the past few weeks due to the female’s insistence at sitting tight on those eggs when I opened the nest box for a quick look inside. Likewise, she was reluctant to leave theRead more
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It Just Keeps Rolling Along

More springtime happenings.     Although there is some habitat available here on our 84 acres at the Museum, eastern kingbirds are annual stopovers, I’ve yet to see them nest here. In actuality, they prefer somewhat more in the way of open spaces for their nesting.         There’s is so much for you to see outdoors. The one requirement, you have to be there to see it!Read more
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Bluebird Update 4.28.15

This week’s inspection of the nest boxes has confirmed that there are now 3 species utilizing our modest bluebird trail here at the Museum. House wrens, after having been responsible for emptying two nests of chickadee and bluebird eggs at the nest boxes at the Sailboat Pond and Picnic Dome have decided to build in the Picnic Dome nest box. This bird, or birds, may later move on without actually nesting, but for now it has taken over full controlRead more

Bluebird Update 4.21.15

First, the good news (yes, there is bad to follow). We have two (maybe three) female bluebirds incubating, and four new bluebird eggs. And, at least two chickadee eggs have hatched. Now the bad news, two of the nests have been pilfered, all of the eggs which were once in the nests are gone. And I know who did it. The nest by nest: I was glad to see a female incubating in the nest box at the Cow Pasture.Read more

Bluebird Update 4.14.15

It was only one week ago when the nest box at the Cow Pasture contained a mere two pine needles. It now has a complete nest and one bluebird egg behind its wooden walls. It took these bluebirds a while to get started, but they wasted little time since the last time I checked this box. I suspect I’ll find more eggs in the nest box next week. Last week the nest box next to the Bungee Jump (Take Off)Read more

News From the Wild

Top Photo: Two young males and a female hooded merganser. It’s definitely spring and things are happening fast.  Here’s a handful of observations from Explore the Wild and Catch the Wind. Still hanging in there as part of our wetlands avifauna are three hooded mergansers. The trio consists of two males in juvenal plumage and a female (not sure of her age).         While the ducks were resting on an island just off the boardwalk in ExploreRead more

And Then There Were Two

Yesterday I reported a bufflehead in the Wetlands. Well, another bufflehead found its way into our little wetland.     The two diving ducks are sticking close to each other, swimming and diving as they go. They stick so close, in fact, that when swimming along together as in the photo, one will dive under the water to search for food while the other waits for it to surface before proceeding. Ah, togetherness.Read more