Below are photos taken on my trail during 2001. The boxes shown had early prenesting straws that were placed by western bluebirds which I refer to as "Claimstraws" because they seem to indicate bluebirds have taken possession (claimed the boxes). Many monitors have not noticed them or do not give them any significance.
Not all boxes on my trail have these early straws placed in the boxes. But when this does occur, first-clutch eggs (April timeframe) are usually laid in those boxes.
Below are 5 sites which had early claimstraws. During mid-February of 2001, I announced a prediction that first clutch eggs would most likely be laid in those boxes with early claimstraws.
Often, flat material (bark curls, ribbons, tissue, feathers or cellophane) is added to the floor shortly before nest building. Here is a good example from the trail of Susan Bulger, a nearby monitor in So. Calif.
LUPINE SITE: No eggs were laid at this site in year 2000. Claimstraws appeared during February 2001. An experimental skylight box is at this site.
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| Lupine, Claim Straws 2-17-01 |
Lupine Flat Straw 2-24-01 |
Lupine Nest Beg. 3-03-01 |
Lupine Finished Nest 3-11-01 |
Lupine Eggs 3-24-01 |
Because of the early claimstraws, I expected a nest to built and eggs laid in this skylight box during 2001.
EASTLAKE SITE: During the prior 2000 season, no nesting until the rest of the trail was in the (later) second clutch. Claimstraws appeared in the box February 2001. Roof is solid wood.
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| Eastlake Claim Straws 2-17-01 |
Eastlake Nest Beg 3-17-01 |
Eastlake Nestcup 3-28-01 |
Eastlake Eggs 4-26-01 |
Because of the early Eastlake claimstraws, I expected eggs not later than April 2001.
SHAPELL SITE: During the 2000 season, this site had a successful second nesting in an experimental skylight roofed box at the east end of the park. Winter cobwebs were in the box through Jan. 2001, so I added a second box at the west end of the park where bluebirds often forage. Claimstraws appeared in the east mid-Feb. Notice the slow collection of dotted ribbons on the floor and in the later nestcup. The west box remained empty until the end of April.
Shapell - East
Claim Straws
2-17-01Shapell - East
Thin ribbon;
2-24-01Shapell - East
Beg = same thin ribbons
3-18-01Shapell - East
Same ribbons in nestcup
4-5-01Shapell - East
Eggs in Ribbons
4-22-01Because of the early claimstraws in the east box, I expected eggs to be laid again in this skylight roofed box and the west box to remain empty (a nestcup was formed in the west box by the first week of May).
FAIRMONT -WEST SITE: During the 2000 season, this site had the first nesting at the west end of the park. A box at the east end of the park was used in 2000 for a later nesting. Claimstraws appeared in the west box during Feb. 2001.
Fairmont - West
Claim Straws
2-17-01Fairmont - West
Feather
3-24-01Fairmont - West
Beginning
3-28-01Fairmont - West
Almost Done
4-06-01Fairmont - West
Feather Finish
4-20-01Fairmont - West
Eggs on Cellophane Square Feathers on nest Rim
4-28-01Because of the early claimstraws, I expected this west box to be used again at Fairmont for an early clutch.
BROOKMONT - EAST: This site had two successful nestings during 2000. An experimental skylight box was put here in Jan. 2001. Claimstraws appeared in the skylight box during Feb. 2001.
Brookmont-E
Claimstraws3-24-01
Brookmont-E
Beginning4-20-01
Brookmont-E
Nestcup4-28-01
Brookmont-E First Egg
4-30-01Because of the early claimstraws, I expected this box to have an early nesting.
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