Nest Box Check - July 19, 2007

We have three nest boxes with Eastern Bluebird clutches remaining out of our 21 box trail.

• Box #1 - 5 eggs
• Box #4 - 4 recently hatched bluebirds with one egg remaining.
• Box #7 - 5 eggs
• Box #9 - nest box found down on the ground with roof destroyed, all 5 eggs gone. All the evidence indicates bear predation.
  

We are winding down cavity nest box trail activity here, but the onset of the monsoon rains are catalyzing our grassland bird species. One of my favorites are the Montezuma quail who can be heard singing to each other every morning, evening and before each storm. The quail are a species of concern due to loss of habitat to overgrazing and excessive hunting. One of our ongoing ranch projects has been reseeding the areas around two wildlife water ponds we established in 2001. The ground was so severely overgrazed during the years it was a working cattle ranch that each summer rainy season we battle to re-establish vegetation for our grassland birds. We have decided to try a technique used to seed steep eroded areas along highways. Straw mixed with seed are rolled into 25ft long sections, which are staked into the ground. This keeps the seed where you want it, not running off the hillside with the first really strong storm. Later this Fall, we plan on submitting a grant proposal for these "seed rolls" of native grass seed and mulch.

Nest Box Check - July 13, 85 degrees and cloudy

1. Female Eastern Bluebird on top of box with nest material. Male singing encouragement nearby.
   
2. Ash-throated Flycatcher in oak near nest box, but no new nest material present.
3. No new activity.
4. Mother Eastern Bluebird flushed from nest. 5 eggs present.
5. No new activity.
6. No new activity.
7. 5 Eastern Bluebird eggs present.
8. No new activity.
9. 5 Eastern Bluebird eggs present.
10. No new activity.
    

• Box #11-13 and 15 -21 no new activity.
• Box #14 has one Elf Owl nestling remaining to fledge in next day or so.

Nest Box Check - 95 degrees, thunder clouds, no wind

1. Elf owls fledged.
2. 4 partially feathered Ash-throated flycatchers.
3. Dusky flycatchers, 5 fledged.
4. Eastern bluebirds, 6 fledged.
5. Dusky-capped flycatcher, 4 fledged, 1 dead nestling.
6. Dusky-capped flycatcher, 5 fledged.
7. Eastern bluebird, 5 fledged. New nest, 3 inches in depth with one bluebird egg.
8. Ash-throated flycatcher, 2 dead nestlings, 3 fledged.
9. New bluebird nest material, 2 inches in depth.
10. Ash-throated flycatcher, 2 dead nestlings, 3 fledged.
11. No activity.
12. Dusky-capped flycatcher, 5 fledged.
13. 5 partially feathered Eastern bluebirds. Mother noted leaving nest box after feeding youngsters.
14. 2 partially feathered Elf owls. Mother looks up sleepy eyed not bothered.

Stations 15 - 21 no activity noted.

Nest-box Check: June 14, 2007

1. Elf owl resting peacefully on eggs.
2. 4 eggs, Ash-throated flycatcher pair noted foraging for insects.
3. 5 fully feathered young of Dusky-capped flycatcher.
4. 6 partially feathered young of Eastern bluebird. Mother flies directly at me in an angle of descent that forces me to duck!
   
5. 5 fully feathered Dusky-capped flycatcher nestlings.
6. 5 fully feathered Dusky-capped flycatcher nestlings.
7. 5 partially feathered nestlings of Eastern bluebird.
8. 5 fully feathered young of Ash-throated flycatcher.
9. Flattened empty nest, all 5 Eastern bluebird nestlings fledged.
10. 5 fully feathered young of Ash-throated flycatcher.
11. Empty flattened nest, no activity.
12. 5 partially feathered young of Dusky-capped flycatcher.
13. 5 Eastern bluebird eggs.
14. Elf owl looks up bleary eyed from bottom of box. Eggs out of view.
15. Cornell nest cam. Acorn woodpecker not in sight or box.
16. No activity.
17. No activity.
18. No activity.
19. No activity.
20. No activity.
21. Bewick's wren nest empty. 3 fledged. To date the Bewick's Wren pair have successfully fledged 6 youngsters.

Western Screech Owl Debut

10:30am, 75 degrees, few small clouds with little wind

1. 2 eggs under a sleepy Elf Owl mother.
2. A new nest attempt by unknown Flycatcher. To be determined if Dusky-capped or Ash-throated.
3. 1 egg, 4 hatching downy young of Dusky-capped Flycatcher. Mother watching in nearby oak.
4. 4 eggs, 2 hatching downy young of the Eastern Bluebird. Mother watching from nearby oak.
5. 2 eggs, 3 downy hatching young of the Dusky-capped Flycatcher.
6. 5 eggs, no parents present of the Dusky-capped Flycatcher.
7. 1 egg, 4 hatching downy young of the finally noted nest activity of the I-stay-on-my-nest-no-matter-what female Eastern Bluebird.
8. 5 downy hatching young of the Ash-throated Flycatcher.
9. 5 partially feathered Eastern Bluebird nestlings sleeping peacefully. Father bluebird singing softly in nearby oak.
10. 1 egg, 4 downy hatching young of the Ash-throated Flycatcher. Mother noted flying after ciccada for the next meal offering.
11. No activity.
12. 5 eggs, mother Dusky-capped Flycatcher flushed from nest.
    
13. 5 eggs, female Eastern Bluebird flushed from nest.
14. 2 eggs showing from underneath wide awake and looking straight at you Elf Owl.
    
15. Cornell Lab nest cam. Acorn woodpecker on nearby food storage pole.
16. No activity of this year's new nest box station.
17. No activity of this year's new nest box station.
18. No activity of this year's new nest box location.
19. No activity of this year's new nest box location.
20. Removed 2 Eastern Bluebird eggs of failed nest attempt. Note # 13 as this is their new nest site.

As I was preparing to go to town at 1pm (Mountain Standard Time) the Curve-billed Thrasher was making what we know around the ranch as her snake and/or owl present call. Sure enough, I look up into the very large, old Gambel's Oak tree to the west of our back porch and there partially out of his/her cavity entrance is the Western Screech Owl. Every year that we have been monitoring our nest box trail we have enjoyed a family of Western Screech Owls in this tree. Present only for about 20 minutes today, while I loaded my car and not in the least bothered by my comings and goings. Of course, I was being dutifully quiet and respectful. This confirmed the location for the songs and calls I have been hearing for some time.

Mexican Jays were building a nest when last noted, but today a pair was feeding two fledglings. Mexican Jays of the same family group will share feeding and looking after the young. They are quite cooperative in fact, in so far as they will forego mate selection if there are already senior members of the family to mate and not enough territory or food for the other members. They do not want to have to move and find new habitat, so will wait their turn and work together. You will always hear their arrival much like a carful of your noisiest relatives, singing songs and honking the horn as they drive up. Mexican Jay songs sound like very squeaky, loud car brakes being repeatedly stomped on and off. The fledglings songs are the same, but held out on one long pitch with a very earnest quality to it. Always fun to watch and chuckle at their clumsy antics.

Bewick's wren pair has chosen a decorative, but functional (everything has to be around here and this one is fine, but not what I'd choose with all we have to offer) nest box on my front door! Why I haven't noted this in my last two blog posts is beyond me. Guess, I was concentrating on my 'official' nest stations. To catch you all up, there are three partially feathered young resting peacefully with parents heard calling in the fields surrounding the ranch.

Eastern Meadowlark and Cicada Trail Songs

1. Elf Owl sleeping on the nest completely covering the eggs.
2. No activity.
3. 5 eggs, flushed female Dusky-capped Flycatcher from nest.
4. 6 eggs, flushed female Eastern Bluebird from nest.
5. 5 eggs, flushed female Dusky-capped Flycatcher from nest.
6. 5 eggs, flushed female Dusky-capped Flycatcher from nest.
7. Female Eastern Bluebird remained on nest, unknown number of eggs.
8. 5 eggs, flushed female Ash-throated Fycatcher from nest.
9. 5 downy covered Eastern Bluebird nestlings. No adults present at nest.
10. 5 eggs, female Ash-throated Flycatcher noted leaving the nest prior to opening the nest box.
11. No activity.
12. Dusky-capped Flycatcher nest. Unable to check nest box due to broken ladder!
13. Complete nest, Eastern Bluebird pair seen at nest site.
14. Elf Owl sleeping on eggs covering them completely.
15. Cornell Lab nest-cam currently unoccupied. Acorn Woodpeckers previously carved out nest box interior in preparation for nesting activity. Female Acorn Woodpecker seen roosting in box for three consecutive nights.
16. No activity.
17. No activity.
18. 3 White-breasted Nuthatch fledglings noted in the area of their natural oak tree cavity.
19. No activity.
20. Abandoned Eastern Bluebird nest with 2 eggs. Refer to nest box station #13 as this is the same pair beginning a new nest attempt.

Cicadas sing me along our nest box trail with their unexpected buzzing causing me to laugh out loud at their antics. This is a good sign for all our hard-working bird mothers, food for the table! Eastern Meadowlark not to be left out adds his beautiful lilting song of perfect intervals atop a mesquite tree.

Montezuma Quail female explored our front porch this morning, but unfortunately flew into one of our porch chairs. Good news, folks, she recovered completely and flew successfully after a brief snooze to the fields beyond our house.

Tuesday May 22, 2007 - Cavity and Cup-nesters

1. Elf Owl asleep on 2 or more eggs.
2. No activity.
3. 5 eggs, no adults seen. Unknown if Dusky-capped or Ash-throated Flycatcher nest.
4. 6 eggs, Female Eastern Bluebird flushed from nest. Male calling alarm song from nearby oak tree.
   
5. 5 eggs, female Dusky-capped Flycatcher flushed from nest.
6. 4 eggs, female Dusky-capped Flycatcher flushed from nest.
7. Female Eastern Bluebird remained on nest, unknown number of eggs.
8. 5 eggs, female Ash-throated Flycatcher flushed from nest.
9. 5 eggs, no adult bluebirds present.
10. 5 eggs, female Ash-throated Flycatcher flushed from nest.
11. No activity.
12. Incomplete Dusky-capped Flycatcher nest.
    
13. Complete bluebird nest, no activity.
14. Elf Owl sleeping, with no signs of eggs.
    
15. Cornell Lab nest-cam. Acorn woodpeckers seen roosting in box. No eggs present.
    
16. No activity.
17. No activity.
18. Natural cavity in oak tree. White-breasted Nuthatch brood within days of fledging the nest.
19. No activity.
20. 2 bluebird eggs, no adults present.

Cup-nesting species activity:

1. Curve-billed Thrasher remained on nest. Unknown number of eggs.
2. Canyon Towhee abandoned nest in oak tree for unknown new nest site. Noted feeding 1 fledgling on front porch.
   
3. Say's Phoebe singing at nest shelf locations on front porch and south side of garden shed.
4. Hepatic Tanager pair investigating last year's nest location on oak tree branch by back porch.
5. Mexican Jay bringing nest material to juniper tree located near water trough.
6. Female, Black-chinned Hummingbird collecting tufts of organic cotton from circular dispenser hung in oak tree.
   

Mother's Day Nest-box Check

1. Complete nest, Eastern Bluebird. Elf Owl found sleeping and has taken over as new occupant.
2. Complete nest, flycatcher, unknown if Ash-throated or Dusky-capped.
3. Complete nest, flycatcher, unknown if Ash-throated or Dusky-capped.
4. Complete nest, Eastern Bluebird.
5. Complete nest, flycatcher, unknown if Ash-throated or Dusky-capped.
6. Complete nest, flycatcher, unknown if Ash-throated or Dusky-capped.
7. Complete nest, Eastern Bluebird.
8. Complete nest, Ash-throated Flycatcher seen by nest site.
9. Complete nest, Eastern Bluebird, 5 sky blue eggs in nest.
10. Complete nest, flycatcher, unknown if Ash-throated or Dusky-capped.
11. Empty nest, 5 Bridled Titmice fledged. 3 on May 11, 2 on May 13.
12. Incomplete nest, Dusky-capped Flycatchers at site, both adults bringing nest material to nest box.
13. Complete nest, Eastern Bluebird
14. No nest material, Elf Owl sleeping.
15. Nest cam, unoccupied, Acorn Woodpeckers in the vicinity.
16. Unoccupied Bewick's Wren nest. 3 fledged May 8.
17. Unoccupied, no nest material.
18. Natural cavity in oak tree occupied by White-breasted Nuthatch.
19. Unoccupied, no activity.
    
20. Complete nest, 2 Eastern Bluebird eggs, no adults present.

Additional nesting activity noted:

1. Curve-billed Thrasher, female, began sitting on nest located on shelf installed under the eaves of the garden shed. No eggs present.
2. Canyon Towhee's nest in oak tree. No eggs present.