The weather through most of April has been pretty awful, which means my records are rather sketchy. Kendal residents Marty and Burrell Fisher have been joining me on my walks since late April.
Bluebirds started nesting rather early. I found the first Bluebird eggs in Box 4 on March 30, nicely growing hatchlings on April 26, did not open the box on May 3 because we were afraid they might tumble out too soon, checked the box on May 6 and found a fat black snake in there, looking well-fed. This box hangs on a fence post and is unprotected, which is true of three out of four boxes where we have Bluebirds. I have tied bungee cords around them to keep the raccoons away, but have not been able to protect against snakes.
Box 12, as of last Saturday, had four Bluebird eggs, no hatchlings yet. Box 21 had four Bluebird eggs, one hatchling on April 26, but on April 29 the nest was empty. Box 24, on a pole with a baffle, has three growing Bluebirds.
Most of the other boxes on the Kendal Bluebird Trail have either Tree Swallow nests, some with up to 7 eggs in them, or are still empty. Burrell Fisher has made beautiful new sturdy boxes for us, but birds seem to be slow to move in. Two of the boxes on poles have had finches in them; one pair has already started a second brood.
Bluebirds started nesting rather early. I found the first Bluebird eggs in Box 4 on March 30, nicely growing hatchlings on April 26, did not open the box on May 3 because we were afraid they might tumble out too soon, checked the box on May 6 and found a fat black snake in there, looking well-fed. This box hangs on a fence post and is unprotected, which is true of three out of four boxes where we have Bluebirds. I have tied bungee cords around them to keep the raccoons away, but have not been able to protect against snakes.
Box 12, as of last Saturday, had four Bluebird eggs, no hatchlings yet. Box 21 had four Bluebird eggs, one hatchling on April 26, but on April 29 the nest was empty. Box 24, on a pole with a baffle, has three growing Bluebirds.
Most of the other boxes on the Kendal Bluebird Trail have either Tree Swallow nests, some with up to 7 eggs in them, or are still empty. Burrell Fisher has made beautiful new sturdy boxes for us, but birds seem to be slow to move in. Two of the boxes on poles have had finches in them; one pair has already started a second brood.