2010 — 2012 Virginia Test Site

 

Eastern Bluebirds vs. apping)

Christine Boran of Woolwine, Virginia agreed to place a 2-holer at a site with House Sparrow and Eastern Bluebird competition.  As always, it is intended to be a three-year test with no trapping activities. 

Here are 2-Holed Box Plans and the Keys to Success,  

If anyone knows of any other box design that has been placed in areas with HOSP/Bluebird competition (no gadgets no trapping) to test box performance for at least three consecutive years, please email me (Lviolett at earthlink dot net).

 

 

  Installation of 2-holer on Post

NOTE:  There was a 1-holed box at this site during 2009.  Christine did not trap out House Sparrows from the 1-holed box.  Bluebirds were able to take control of the box later in the season and fledge chicks. 

 

Post-mounted test boxes are to be protected from ground-based predators same as is done with standard boxes.  The deeper test boxes with 8.5" drops will protect eggs and chicks from avian predation such as Starlings, crows, jays and hawks.

Christine's web page and notes : Woolwine 2-Holed Test /will be the basis of the tabled information shown below.  This is an interesting site because a 1-holed standard box was in place during 2009 and Eastern Bluebirds were able to take control of the box later in the season without the monitor having to trap HOSP.  Logs below start with historical 2009 logs of NABS 1-holed box. 

2009 (Historical)

1-Holer (Historical Logs) -   Site #1 (WHBB)
 

Historical Logs using 1-Holed Box (no trapping)
Date   Observation Action
3/7/09 Partial (HOSP?) nest  
3/8/09 HOSP Nest Removed HOSP nest
3/10/09 New grass (HOSP?)  
3/12/09 HOSP nest & 4 eggs Removed HOSP nest & eggs
3/18/09 New grass start no action / unkn species
3/23/09 Nest complete? no action / unkn species
3/31/09 Same -0-
4/4/09 Same -0-
4/12/09 Same -0-
4/16/09 HOSP nest & egg Removed nest & egg
4/23/09 HOSP nest & 5 eggs Removed nest & eggs
4/27/09 Part HOSP nest removed
BOX  HOLE  CLOSED
5/7/09
BOX  HOLE  CLOSED
BOX  HOLE  CLOSED
5/15/09 BOX  HOLE  CLOSED BOX  HOLE  OPENED BACK UP
6/2/09 EABL nest & 4 eggs -0-
6/3/09 EABL nest & 5 eggs -0-
6/9/09 EABL nest & 5 eggs -0-
6/18/09 EABL nest & 5 eggs -0-
6/20/09 5 EABL hatchlings -0-
6/24/09 5 EABL chicks -0-
6/27/09 5 EABL chicks -0-
6/29/09 5 EABL chicks -0-
7/1/09 5 EABL chicks -0-
7/3/09 Closed visit, OK -0-
7/4/09 Closed visit, OK -0-
7/5/09 Closed visit, OK -0-
7/7/09 Bluebirds Fledged, Wren Sticks -0-
7/13/09 Same wren sticks Removed wren sticks
     

 

2010

2-HOLED Box (First Test Year)

2010

FIRST TEST YEAR Monitor Action

February 2010

 Monitor Action 2-Holer installed for 2010 season
3/10/10 Partial HOSP nest Removed Partial HOSP Nest
3/17/10 Partial HOSP nest & pair seen Removed Partial HOSP Nest
3/24/10 Partial HOSP nest Removed Partial HOSP Nest
4/1/10 Partial HOSP nest Removed Partial HOSP Nest
4/8/10 Partial nest (ID not certain) Left nest for positive ID
4/11/10 HOSP nest (fem flew out), no eggs Removed HOSP Nest
4/15/10 Partial HOSP nest (no eggs) Removed HOSP Nest
4/22/10 Partial HOSP nest (no eggs) Removed HOSP Nest
4/27/10 Partial HOSP (huge w/trash, no eggs) Removed HOSP Nest
4/28/10 Partial HOSP nest (fem flew out) Removed HOSP Nest
5/6/10 HOSP nest & 2 eggs Removed HOSP Nest & Eggs
5/14/10 HOSP nest & 1 egg (egg under nest) Removed HOSP Nest & Egg
5/21/10 Partial HOSP nest (no eggs) Removed
5/29/10 HOSP nest & 3 eggs (egg under nest nest) Removed HOSP Nest & Eggs
6/1/10 -0- -0-
6/3/10 -0- Homeowner reported EABL & "brown" bird were on nestbox roof multiple times -0-
6/6/10 -0- -0-
6/12/10 Partial HOSP nest (no eggs) Removed
6/19/10 Appears to be completed EABL nest -0-
6/22/10 3 EABL eggs (fem foraging nearby) -0-
6/24/10 4 EABL eggs (fem foraging nearby) -0-
6/29/10 4 EABL eggs (fem flew out) Treated for blowflies w/DE
7/5/10 4 EABL eggs (fem flew out) -0-
7/6/10 1 Hatchling & 3 EABL eggs -0-
7/11/10 3 Hatchlings & 1 EABL egg -0-
7/13/10 3 Nestlings (looking weak) Fem feeding Male missing? (not mentioned in notes)
7/15/10 3 Nestlings (looking OK) -0-
7/20/10 3 Nestlings (about 14 days old)  
7/24/10 Fledged  
     
 
 

 

 

 

2011

2-Holed Box (2nd Test Year)
 

 

SECOND TEST YEAR

  Observation Monitor Action
2/18/11 Partial HOSP nest, no eggs Removed Partial HOSP Nest
3/11/11 Suspect Partial HOSP nest Left in place for positive ID
3/16/11 Partial HOSP nest. saw female leave.  Bluebirds in tree nearby Removed nest material
3/24/11 Partial HOSP nest, no eggs Removed Partial HOSP Nest
4/4/11 Partial HOSP nest no eggs Removed Partial HOSP Nest
4/11/11 Partial nest, no positive ID Left in place
4/19/11 HOSP nest, no eggs Removed HOSP Nest
4/25/11 HOSP nest, no eggs Removed HOSP Nest
5/2/11 HOSP nest, 3 eggs, fem flew out Removed nest/eggs,
5/9/11 HOSP nest, 1 egg Left nest so remaining eggs could be laid
5/16/11 HOSP nest, 5 eggs Removed nest/eggs
5/24/11 HOSP nest, 3 eggs Removed nest/eggs
5/31/11 Partial HOSP nest Removed partial nest
6/6/11 New nest started, no positive ID Left in place
6/13/11 Prev. material covered with 1" sticks.  Appears to be House Wren Left in place
6/20/11 Bluebird nest, finer dried grasses  
6/27/11 Bluebird nest & egg  
7/2/11 Bluebird nest & 3 eggs  
7/5/11 3 Bluebird eggs  
7/13/11 3 Bluebird nestlings about 2 days old Bluebirds had built their nest on top of wren sticks (see 6/13 notes).  Removed sticks from bottom.
7/18/11 3 Bluebird chicks about 7-to-9 days growth  
7/26/11 2 Bluebird chicks in box  (1 prefledged?)  
7/29/11 All Fledged  
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
 

Logs will be shown for three consecutive years.

2010 (1st Test Year) = Transition year (usually the most difficult year as Bluebirds learn they can safely escape from the box during HOSP battles and compete with HOSP outside the box).

2011 (2nd Test Year) = Bluebirds usually defend the 2-holers with more confidence and success.

2012 (3rd Test Year) = By the third year using 2-holers,  there usually are no further HOSP problems if there is just one Bluebird box (a 2-holer) on two acres of forage.

Here is the Construction link showing how to build these boxes.

 

 

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