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Bluebird Nest Box Project

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Project Description

For more than a decade, ECBA member volunteers have been monitoring more than 28 Mountain Bluebird (Sialia currucoides) and Western Bluebird (Sialia mexicana) nest boxes on two “bluebird trails” near Sisters.  In the ensuing years, other locations have been added, and include 25-30 new boxes.  This project provides a great opportunity for conservation and bird education.

Why We Do This and What We Have Learned

Bluebirds are not only jewels of the landscape but also play an important role in our ecosystem.  In recent times, there are far fewer snags in the forest, the traditional location of bluebird nest cavities.  Therefore, nest boxes play an important survival role for both the Mountain Bluebird and the Western Bluebird.

Nesting data is submitted each year to Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology’s Nestwatch program.

What Volunteers Do

In early April, volunteers clean out nest boxes to ready them for nesting.  During the nesting season, late April through the end of July, the boxes are monitored weekly, notes and any photos are taken, and observations are recorded:

Volunteers record the number of boxes used and unused, the number of eggs laid, the number hatched, and the number of fledglings.  Any second nesting attempts are noted as well as observations of predation, unusual weather, and food abundance.

 

Project Focus Areas

  • Population Monitoring
  • Bird Conservation

Would You Like to Volunteer?

The project leader and volunteers will continue to monitor the nest box trail near Sisters, however additional volunteers would be welcomed.  All training will be provided.

For more details about volunteering for the nest box trail, email your contact information to ECBA at ecba@ecbirds.org.  Please put “Bluebird Nest Box Project” in the subject line.

 

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