Troubleshooting . . .
Honeybee swarms will use nestboxes on So. Calif. trails.
Below is a partial list of predators, competitors, and pests.
Adolescent boys (bb-guns, rocks,) Vandals (theft, destruction)
People/vandals are biggest unsolved danger to nestbox families on my trail. Camouflaged (paint swirls) boxes in dense trees help; hanging them 20 feet high helps. Vandal-resistent hangers are used on all boxes so boxes can't be easily stolen out of trees. Copper federal law tags added to outside of box. Plastic info cards on inside boxes. Monitoring at dawn when troublemakers are sleeping. Rats/Rodents; see: http://home.earthlink.net/~lviolett/testmirada.html People putting out bird seed is the #1 source of the rat problem on this urban trail. All birds, not just those in nestboxes are in danger. Easy solution if homeowners stopped dumping seed into the environment. No known monitor remedy to counteract the threat. House Sparrows (trail had history of HOSP) People putting out bird seed is the #1 source of the house sparrow problem on this urban trail. HOSP problem can be eased by using 2-hole mansions and educating surrounding homeowners. Starlings (problem accompanied larger boxes) Solved with combo of guards/deeper boxes Scrub Jays/Crows/Hawks(?) Solved with combo of guards/deeper boxes House wrens (not much of a problem) Unsolved: experimenting with light/plexiglass but I'm trying to attract Bewicks wrens concurrently. Honeybees (many swarms in 2001) Considerably less with polyester batting on box ceilings—be sure all ceiling edges are covered. Ants Lessened with clean boxes and by adding tacky Tanglefoot - pipecleaners around hangers Mites Lessened by cleaning boxes after each fledge.
Female Western Bluebird
Yorba Linda, Calif.
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