Winner Is Bluebird Or Chickadee?

IN THE PAST few years, the folks at the Battle Creek Nature Center maintain a series of bluebird nesting box trails around the county. A short bluebird trail, about eight boxes, is located on the walking trails around the Nature Center.

Last week I was leading a group through the meadow when I decided to open a box and give the folks on the tour a chance to see some bluebird eggs.  In case you have never been involved in a bluebird trail, the first thing one does is to stand to the side of the box and tap gently. Bluebird boxes are set to be at eye level so that what is going on in there can be seen easily. (Bluebirds at waterer by Tom Patrick)

No exit flight having occured, I opened the box...the front of the box opens bottom to top...there were 5 pretty pale blue eggs!  This means an ambitious pair of bluebirds were nesting in this box.  Good news!  I tipped the nest down for the shorter participants to get a look at the eggs and immediately noticed two smaller cream-colored eggs with brown flecks.  These are Carolina Chickadee eggs.  Wow!  I have never seen this before and pointed out the tiny eggs to the folks on the tour.

When I mentioned this to Andy, the Sr. Naturalist, he felt that the chickadees had driven off the bluebirds. Even though they are about half the size of bluebirds, chickadees are fiesty little dudes/dudettes.

The plot thickens. Yesterday, exactly a week later, I was leading a birding group from Southern MD Audubon and I wanted to show them this rarity. As I approached the box, someone mentioned that there were a pair a chickadees behind me, apparently very disturbed at my approach to the box.

You know the fuss they make, "DE-DE-DE-DE!"   I followed the general precautions and tapped on the side of the box. (You don't really want to stand in front of the box and have a frightened bird fly into your face.)  Gently, I opened the box....and there sat Ms Bluebird on her five eggs. As I pointed this out to the folks on the tour, the bluebird flew out. I peeked in, with the chickadees still fussing behind me, and discovered that there were now three chickadee eggs.

I have no idea what happens next. The five bluebird eggs will hatch in 10 to 17 days. (I'm thinking we have always said 15 to hatch and 18 to fledge.) Chickadees may lay as many as 11 eggs...and take just a day longer to hatch.

Obviously both the bluebirds and chickadees are using this box. Now who is incubating who's eggs?  Is there possibilty of a temperature/incubation variation? Will the bluebird eggs hatch first or the chickadees?  If the chickadee's hatch first, will the bluebird give up and abandon the nest?  If the bluebirds hatch first what happens to the chickadee eggs?

Here is one of those situations where we sit back and wait to see what Nature has to show us, I think.
Maybe some of you have experienced a similar situation. If you have, I'd really like to hear about it. And I'll keep you informed on the egg progress.

Jack Lewnes
WindStar National Master Naturalist
Port Republic, MD

Is Your Backyard An Oasis For Wildlife?

AS THE SNOW melts and the mud thaws, many people turn their thoughts from snow removal to gardening and yard work. Mind you, until the rest of the snow melts and the rest of the mud thaws, thinking about gardening is about your only option. But this gives time for the formation of well-laid plans.

Designing your property to attract wildlife does take a bit of planning, but even the simplest of actions may result in great rewards. The two categories of critters that most homeowners prefer are birds and butterflies, yet there may be other species that could benefit from a little physical manipulation of the old backyard.

Part of this planning process is to take an accounting of what you have, figure out what you want, determine what's missing, and insert the needed parts. See how simple that is? Allow me to add a bit more to the equation.

The key word to any wildlife management is habitat. This is important. Every living thing needs four key ingredients to its home: food, water, shelter and space. Just as the base line of knowledge for any engineer is that water always runs downhill via the path of least resistance, the starting point for wildlife assistance is to give 'em what they need to ensure good habitat.

The type of food offered depends on the species you desire to attract. Winter feeding stations are good examples of diversity in food needs, as woodpeckers like suet hung on a tree, grosbeaks like sunflower seeds in a hopper feeder, and mourning doves like millet on the ground. Now, apply that diversity to our summer residents. Hummingbirds will like liquid feeders, and jays and orioles will like an open shelf feeder with fruit bits.

One big difference you will notice is the number of birds at the feeder. In winter, there are no (or weak) territory boundaries, but in summer, the nesting grounds are defended vigorously. Instead of a dozen blue jays, as per winter months, you may be lucky to just have a pair show up. Same with chickadees and any other year-round resident; the need to defend territory ensures that the species is spread out around the neighbourhood and not congregated in just one woodlot or feeder.

If you wish to install nesting boxes, many species will readily take to this free real estate. Keep in mind that the nesting box is pretending to be a hollow tree, so whatever lives in hollow trees may also be attracted to your artificial cavity.

On the one hand, you could expect to see House Wrens, Tree Swallows, bluebirds and maybe chickadees using them. On the other hand, you may also find starlings, wasps, honey bees, bumblebees, mice or bats using the box, as they, too, find your artificial hollow tree most inviting. No matter who you get as tenants, you should be happy that you've added to the biodiversity of the local ecosystem... or at least feel good that the pretty birdie has a home.

When building or buying a nest box, there are a few things to keep in mind. One is the size, or diameter, of the entrance hole. Each species has a preferred size that it likes to squeeze through, so check with building plans as to the right hole for your intended resident. Next comes interior dimensions. Ensure that the inside of the nest box is large enough to accommodate Mommy bird's tail feathers, yet not so large that the eggs go rolling around the room.

A third consideration for nest boxes that, unfortunately, gets overlooked too often is that there has to be a way to get inside the box to clean it out. Many cheap houses are nailed shut from every direction, and therefore can be used one season only. If a top comes off, or a side swings open, the old nest can be cleaned out and the box reused for many years.

Another way to attract wildlife is with the placement of flowers and shrubs. Hummingbirds love jewelweed, cardinal flower and solomon's seal. Butterflies really like coneflowers, mustards and milkweed species. Chickadees and jays enjoy ripe sunflower heads, and bumblebees will visit these large flower heads.

Shrubs like cedar and spruce also provide shelter, while crab apple and other fruit-bearing trees provide blossoms and food almost year-round. One practice I discourage is the feeding of dog kibble to raccoons. These animals can cause a lot of damage if they take up residence in your building. Do not feed the raccoons!

There are many ways to attract wildlife to your yard, but it all goes back to that important concept of habitat. Food, water, shelter and space... what do you have, what do you want to attract, what's missing, and how can you fill in the missing gaps? Simple, really.

David Hawke
Orillia, Ontario, Canada

Mockingbird Flight School!

SEVERAL years ago, I was living in Idaho when I saw something I’ll never forget.

Looking out my sliding glass door, I spotted a Northern Mockingbird trotting down the street with three young birds behind it. They appeared to be in formation, walking side by side.

Suddenly all four birds stopped. The adult turned to face them and began chattering. The youngsters answered back. Then the adult ran forward a few steps, and the young ones followed. They repeated this several times.

Next, the adult flew off, and one of the youngsters followed. In a moment or two, the parent and juvenile returned, and the adult when through the same routine with the second youngster, then the third.

After each fledgling had a chance to test its wings, the parent faced the trio and appeared to offer directions before turning to fly away with all three young birds in tow.

I felt privileged to witness what appeared to be a mockingbird “flight school.” I’ll always remember the thrilling experience.

Iola Headlee
Midvale, UT

Am I Endangering My Feeder Birds?

I HAVE NOTICED a couple of time while walking in my yard clumps of feathers but no bird carcasses.  I was on the lookout for cats or any kind of evidence of tracks but could not find any. Until one day my wife and i pulled into our driveway and saw a falcon killing a dove in our back yard about 40 ft. from us. We sat in the car and watched the falcon wrestling with the bird and finally killing it. We then saw it pulling feathers and eating part of the bird before it flew off. This might explain the patches of feathers I am finding. I felt bad for the dove but I was really excited to see this happening. Since then I saw the falcon two more times perched in the tree above my shed. I also found a few more patches of feathers as the months have passed. The feeder I had at that time was located in a safe place for birds to eat, so I thought. I have looked into setting up bird feeders and placing them for safety and I can not see anything wrong. Am I creating a false feeding station for the falcon and also endangering the birds feeding? I guess i want to make sure I can feed the birds from my feeder with a clean conscience.

Mike Sturdevant

This is Great I Think to Myself

LAST FALL I took my 7 year old grandson on a nature walk in the nearby field and woods. He asked several questions as we spotted certain things along a well traveled deer path. We also spotted a few deer which topped off the afternoon.

I wanted to get him back out again before the wildlife impressions wore off. However, as was the case for several regions, winter was hard and long. West Michigan is finishing up the 2nd snowiest winter in recorded history and getting a now 8-year-old boy out in so much snow that would swallow him up, wasn't going to happen.

Well, here it is April and spring break time. Our daughter and the kids were visiting  and out of a young boy's mouth comes "Grandpa, when are we going out in the woods again?" Did I just hear that? This is great I think to myself. "Well, Davon, I think we can get out there today if you want to come with me."

Don't you just love the natural curiosity of a young child?

Off we went on our trek to the wild kingdom in the suburb. Our first visit was the local pond where we saw four Canada Geese and a pair of Mallard Ducks swimming around while they honked and quacked up some noise. I pointed to him a female robin with a bill full of dead grass. "Watch to where she flies, I'm sure she is building a nest close by." She took off to a nearby blue spruce.

"Okay Sparky (Davon) with all the rain we've had, Plaster Creek is flooded and some low spots in the fields and meadow have some huge puddles, so we will have to watch where we go. Stay close to me."

"Okay grandpa."

Davon remembers the deer trail and asks if we will see any deer today. I don't son, they may be on the other side of the creek, but I can show you where they would sleep during the winter.

"You mean they have a home and a bed" He asked me.

A silent chuckle and a smile crosses my face.

"Every where you look right now is there home and play ground. If you look at the wild Junipers over there you can see they were feeding on them this winter. See how the trees are trimmed all around and stop at a certain height." Davon looks and doesn't say a word.

"Look at the young trees and shrubs and see how the ends have been cut off, the deer have to eat something to survive. See how the pricker bushes have been chewed on and the trees over there with the bark missing all the way around. That is from the rabbits. The snow was so deep this past winter that many animals could find food so they chew on the bushes and trees" I told him.

We kick up what looked like a "Yellow Rail," Some what of a treat for me, as they aren't that common around here, but just another bird for Davon.

Deeper into the wooded field we went and to a small opening. "Hush" I quietly said . "Look over there," as I pointed to a pair of Wild Turkeys in a courtship ritual. "Watch and be quiet son." The huge male bird was strutting his stuff and showing off for all he was worth. Fanning his tail, fluffing up his body feathers and the head and wattle was a beautiful shade of blue.

We watched for a few minutes until the female walked out of view and as if in disapointment, the tom closed his tail and walked off behind her. I tell Davon that the turkeys sleep in the tall trees at night to stay safe. "You mean they can fly grandpa?"

"Yes they can, but they sure look silly when they do"

The creek is flooding the banks with muddy water and we do spot several deer tracks along the banks. We continue to walk until we come to a small stand of White pines. "Here Sparky, this is where the deer sleep during the winter. Several times I would come out here and see there matted down beds."

He walked under the trees and could see where the ground was matted down and noticed some hoof prints.

How do I continue to encourage a young boy?

I don't know who enjoys the walks more, Davon or me, but it sure gave me a warm feeling when he told his mom he had such a fun day when they were getting ready to leave.

What else can I say?  Hopefully to be continued.

Ronald Patterson
Kentwood, Michigan
Windstar National Master Naturalist
Michigan Certified Nurseryman
www.gardening-for-wildlife.com

Who Do I Call?

I LIVE in New Jersey and on my daily commute to work I drive on a patch of road located after the toll booth at 16E going to the on ramp of the New Jersey Turnpike North. This strip of road is bordered by wetlands on each side and i always see all kinds of wildlife living here. I notice during certain times of the year there are big turtles that cross the road. The only reason I know that big turtles cross the road here is because they are crushed by cars. I try to take a count of how many I see each year on average about 10. The thing that bothers me is that these turtles are so big that I find it impossible that people can not see them. I am not sure what kind of turtles they are but I know alot of old turtles are being killed. I would also note that the occasional Canada Goose and looks to me to be some kind of Muskrat get hit as well. There are no signs posted or any kind of warnings posted to alert drivers to the possible wildlife that maybe in the road. I am sure this is not the only area where this happens. I would also like to know if these water run off areas are considered wildlife areas? Who do I call?

Mike Sturdevant