Delaware County Bluebird Nestbox Trail 

DCCD first became associated with the Bluebird Trail when we awarded a minigrant to the Bluebird Nestbox Trail Association for additional nestboxes.  Presently DCCD monitors a nestbox outside of our office in Rose Tree Park.  Monitors log a journal and take pictures of the activity at the nestbox throughout the year.  

 

Key to Journal Entries                  

BL- Bluebird

TS- Tree Swallow

HS- House Sparrow

PN- Pine Needles

E- Eggs

 

Bluebird Nestbox Journal

Rose Tree Park- Hunt Club

2/03- Five BL seen at tree next to box.

3/14/03- Male BL sited at box, first sight of season

3/19/03- Male BL returned to nest today, female BL see

3/21/03- Pair of BL seen gathering pine needles (PN) for nest

3/25/03- 9:15am -Tree Swallow (TS) sited at nest, possibly removing BL nest, in the afternoon a pair of House Sparrow was seen at nest.

3/27/03- Bluebird was seen back at nestbox.

  Nest Inspection

4/1- 8/03- Bluebird seen at nest by Hawkwatchers.

4/14/03- BL seen at nest for the first time after a very cold week.

4/15/03- M and F BLs seen at nestbox.  No work has been done on nest building since 3/21.

4/16/03- TS seen at nestbox.

5/7/03- First BL seen at nest in weeks.  

single BL.JPG (54425 bytes)  Single Bluebird 

5/8/03- BL, HS, TS, Oriole, Goldfinch, Carolina Chickadee all seen at or around box.

TS and TS.JPG (54467 bytes) Tree Swallows fight for nest

5/12/03- Pair of TS seen at nestbox.

5/14/03- TS seen at nestbox, Chickadee nest seen in box, constructed out of moss and grass.

Cchick nest.JPG (41032 bytes)   Chickadee Nest

5/28/03- A dead TS was found in the nest, no sign of eggs. 

5/30- 6/4/03- Pair of TS seen at nest each day, one of the TS often seen peeking out of hole.

6/5/03- Nest box full of feathers, typical of a TS nesting area.  It was obviously converted from the Carolina Chickadee nest.  Two TS eggs were also in the nest. 

TSnest.jpg (53063 bytes)  Tree Swallow Nest

 

6/10/03- The TS continued to sit in the box opening closely guarding the nest.  The TS did not move when approached, so I thought it best not to open the box.

 

6/12/03- The TS was again sitting at the opening, but disappeared into the nest when approached. It hid in a corner as I fished for the eggs and found the two eggs still not hatched.

 

6/18/03- The TS eggs have hatched!

 

6/20/03- The adult TS left the nest and gave me a chance to really view the two hatchlings.  They were mostly pink with some feathers.  Their only movement was from breathing or their heartbeat.

 

6/26/03- The baby birds have eveloped feathers and seem to be doing fine.  The mother TS still sits in the entrance hole full time.

 

7/11/03- The two baby birds appeared to be full size, however they were dead in the nest.  I am unsure of the cause of death. The birds and nest were removed.