Monitoring a Bluebird Trail

Object:

• To provide nest boxes for mountain bluebirds in order to increase the numbers of this beautiful but threatened species. Tree swallows are also welcome species which often use the nest boxes.
• To have the satisfaction of seeing this happen.
• To provide scientific data such as clutch size, number of young fledged, nesting dates, fledging dates, etc.

Procedures:

1. March 15 to April 15 - Set up new nest boxes. For existing trails, replace any nest boxes which are vandalized or missing, and repair boxes as needed. In April, the weather is more likely to be favorable, and the ditches more likely to be dry.
2. May 25 plus or minus one week - Count bluebird eggs (and band adult bluebirds).
3. June 12 plus or minus one week - Count (and band) bluebird young, and count tree swallow eggs (and band tree swallow adults).
4. June 30 plus or minus one week - Count (and band) tree swallow young. Look for second broods of bluebirds.
5. July 15 plus or minus one week - Count (and band) second broods of bluebirds. Check on late broods of tree swallows. If young have fledged, you may clean out the nest boxes, if desired.
6. August 1 plus or minus one week - Check for late brood of bluebirds or tree swallows. Look for infertile eggs previously missed. Nest boxes where young have fledged, or which are inactive, may be cleaned out at this time, if desired.

Dates for 2. to 5. above are average dates only. Each year may vary plus or minus about one week from the above, depending on the weather. A warm spring will result in an earlier start, whereas a cold spring will result in a later start.

The above time table allows for monitoring approximately every two weeks. Monitoring may be done weekly (or even more often) if desired. Some monitors who monitor weekly check only those nest boxes where changes are expected, e.g. changes from incomplete nest or partial clutch to full clutch, eggs to young, or young to young fledged.