It's kinda like listening to the pied Piper Walt; the new boxes must be mad=
e
too bloody well for them to be moving in so quickly, what's the recipe?
I had put boxes up here last year (Not for bluebirds) and up to now, nothin=
g
doing!!!
We have had that spring feel about this area too, up in the high 50's and
low 60's and they say global warming is not a threat!!!
In the mountains we have no snow and it's still January!!
I must admit though, I do love the spring and all the new voices that come
with it.
I am thinking of going up to Alaska this coming spring to record on the
refuge before the Government gets their way with drilling.
I have had many people asking if I have recordings from ANWR.
I think it will be one of those places lost forever :(
I too would like to see your diagrams for the Bluebird houses Walt.
Martyn
Martyn Stewart
Bird and Animal Sounds Digitally Recorded at:
http://www.naturesound.org
N47.65543 W121.98428
Redmond. Washington. USA
Make every Garden a wildlife Habitat!
425-898-0462
-----Original Message-----
From: Walter Knapp
Sent: Tuesday, January 25, 2005 2:31 PM
To:
Subject: [Nature Recordists] Bluebird Mania
I was out today replacing bluebird nestboxes on our front "lawn". I
retired 4 20 year old boxes that were beyond repair, 4 of the original
boxes remain, though two are in areas too brushy for bluebirds and are
used by other birds. Then we were working our way along setting new
posts and new cedar boxes.
We attracted a crowd, a group of male bluebirds that were following
along supervising. The moment we would move from a new box there would
be a dash to check it out. Not a lot of fighting yet, but they are
warming up. By the time we finished putting up the four new boxes we had
made they all had bluebird males on them. And one woodpecker who tried
out each one for sound effects. They even followed as we put up 8 more
posts for boxes we have not made yet. I've had bluebirds grab boxes only
a day or two after I put them up, but never following around and
grabbing as we got done like this.
There were also a group of meadowlark following us looking for what the
tractor might stir up. Lots of singing getting going down here from all
kinds of birds. Spring is coming. Though another "Alberta Clipper" is
due this weekend. I hope to make the rest of the nest boxes and get them
up tomorrow.
Our field is only about 7-8 acres of open land, but we have in the past
had as many as 7 active nests. And nearly always double or triple
broods. Last year was kind of a low point, only 3 active nests, probably
because of the condition of the boxes. They took the 3 boxes that were
in the best condition. This year I'm putting boxes in some new
locations. My original set had some locations that had more flying
squirrels than bluebirds.
Walt
"Microphones are not ears,
Loudspeakers are not birds,
A listening room is not nature."
Klas Strandberg
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