Can a Bird Nest Be Used Again by Another Ird

Volunteer and long-time birder, Stan Wakefield, shares regular updates and pictures on bird nesting activity at BRLT's bird boxes monitored at Oak Point Farm, Singing Meadows, Lobster Cove Meadow and Penny Lake. Information is also reported to NestWatch, a citizen-scientific discipline monitoring program developed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and used nationwide to track the status and trends in the reproductive biological science of birds. We encourage readers to check back frequently from Apr-August to continue upwardly on all of the changes throughout the flavor.

(Review last year's nesting activity here)

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Baronial 28:

The bird breeding flavor, which began in April and was monitored on BRLT preserves, has come up to a close.  Our last active nest box (at Singing Meadows) fledged three young bluebirds on Tuesday, August 24th.  This season proved to exist very successful for five different bird species.

Nosotros monitored fifteen individual nest boxes on four BRLT preserves plus three other nests that were congenital on structures or in shrubs.  The nest boxes were located at Lobster Cove Meadow (2), Penny Lake (3), Oak Point Subcontract (5), and Singing Meadows (5).  The other three nests were located at Oak Point (ii) & Singing Meadows (1).

The bird species that bred (or attempted to breed) on our preserves include eastern bluebirds, tree swallows, house wrens, white-breasted nuthatches, eastern phoebes, and a yellow warbler.  The yellow warbler is the just species that failed to fledge any immature due to nest predation loss.

Once again eastern bluebirds were the almost successful species raising & fledging 43 young birds from 8 different nest boxes on all four preserves.   Firm wrens were side by side with 20 fledglings from three nest boxes (all at Penny Lake).  Tree swallows were right behind with 19 youngsters fledged on three preserves.  A white-breasted nuthatch raised and fledged a unmarried breed of 9 young for the second consecutive year at Oak Signal.  Eastern phoebes raised and fledged at least 4 immature each at Oak Indicate and Singing Meadows with the probability of 3-4 more than in a 2d brood at Oak Signal.

In all, the Boothbay peninsula had over 95 new birds of 5 species from xviii nest sites on BRLT preserves flying around and enriching our globe.  We promise to increase breeding opportunities next twelvemonth with a couple of nest boxes at Zak preserve with a goal of fostering 100 or more than new birds to the customs.

I want to thank Michael Warren and Carolyn Lanigan for their invaluable aid in monitoring nest boxes this year. We're e'er looking for more volunteers to help as nosotros expand our efforts to increase and meliorate breeding opportunities for our avian friends.

*BRLT would besides like to thanks Stan Wakefield whose incredible effort has fabricated our bird nest monitoring program so successful. Thank you Stan for your second year of endless efforts in monitoring and sharing the journey with readers.

August 19: Nesting Season at Penny Lake Wraps up

We are down to just one active nest box on the four BRLT preserves that we monitor for bird breeding activity. Every bit expected, six (vice five) young house wrens fledged at Penny Lake last Saturday.  We could run across only five youngsters in the nest each fourth dimension nosotros inspected, which led the states to believe 2 of the seven eggs hadn't hatched.  As information technology turned out, at that place was but i unhatched egg in the nest later fledging.  My thanks to Carolyn Lanigan who helped monitor the five nest boxes at Penny Lake this season.

Iii young bluebirds proceed growing speedily in their nest at Singing Meadows and are expected to fledge on Tuesday, August 24th.

Iii soon-to-fledge bluebirds at Singing Meadows

An interesting sighting at Singing Meadows after inspecting the active nest box was a male person bluebird "sharing" an apple tree with a cedar waxwing. Next calendar week nosotros will provide a full written report on nesting activity over the season.

Cedar Waxwing and Eastern Bluebird share the view atop an apple tree tree

August 15: Final Growing Chicks of the Flavour

Bird breeding activeness in the nest boxes at Penny Lake is well-nigh finished for the flavor.  Three immature bluebirds fledged on Baronial 12th and five piddling business firm wrens are expected to fledge today.

Five ready-to-wing young house wrens at Penny Lake

Singing Meadows has the distinction of having the last active monitored nest box amidst the four BRLT preserves with nest boxes.  Three out four bluebird eggs hatched on August 7th.  After the typical brooding period of 17 days we expect to meet the three youngsters fledge on or most August 24th.  The ane unhatched egg was probable infertile, which is not particularly unusual.

Three young & hungry bluebirds at Singing Meadows

Bobolinks have not been seen at Singing Meadows now for over a calendar week, which suggests that they take finished their breeding activity for the flavor.  In spite of not beingness able to monitor their nests (which are all only impossible to find in tall, weedy meadows) nosotros are hopeful they were successful and will return again adjacent year.

Every bit the bird breeding season comes to a close we will start turning our attending to the autumn migration, which is actually already started but is expected to pick up in the coming weeks.

August 6: Final bird eggs and chicks mature as other birds brainstorm their wintertime migration

The bird convenance season, at least for those bird species that utilise our nest boxes, has entered its concluding two weeks (give or take a few days). The two nest boxes at Penny Lake, containing bluebirds in i and house wrens in the other, should be empty fairly shortly. Three young bluebirds are growing quickly and are expected to fledge by the middle of adjacent calendar week. The house wren eggs hatched on July 30th so if all goes well their fledge date should occur on or about August 15th.

Iii sleepy, growing bluebirds at Penny Lake

Recently-hatched house wrens at Penny Lake

The only active nest box at Singing Meadows has 4 bluebird eggs in information technology today and they should be hatching this weekend. Following a typical 17-twenty-four hour period brooding period, they would be expected to fledge on or virtually August 24th.

Iv presently-to-hatch bluebird eggs at Singing Meadows

To be sure in that location is still bird convenance activity in progress on the Boothbay peninsula. One species in particular, American goldfinches, are late-season breeding birds and many of them are only just now starting to institute breeding territories. Male goldfinches are now at their most colorful in bright yellow with a blackness cap and blackness & white wings. Bobolinks at Singing Meadows (and elsewhere) appear to still be engaged in breeding activity as well.

Female bobolink at Singing Meadows

Many of the birds that nested on Land Trust preserves this season have already started moving s toward their winter ranges.  Tree swallows, which were quite numerous but a few weeks agone, are now seldom seen.  It'due south probable that some of the bluebirds that raised youngsters hither this spring and summertime take also departed our area, but it's also possible that some of them will spend the winter correct here. For those bluebirds that remain in Maine, the nest boxes they used this flavor to raise their immature may also serve as shelters for them on common cold winter days and nights. Keep an middle out for them.

July 31: As Nesting Winds Down, 2 Preserves Remain Agile

It appears nosotros are down to two (of four) BRLT preserves with active nest boxes for this bird breeding flavor. Penny Lake and Singing Meadows each accept two active nest boxes while the nest boxes at Oak Point and Lobster Cove remain empty.

Penny Lake now has recently-hatched bluebirds and business firm wrens. 3 "baby blues" hatched on July 26th and at least two (of seven) business firm wren eggs hatched on July 30th. The remaining five business firm wren eggs have probably hatched every bit of today (7/31). The parents of both species were seen nearby when the nest boxes were existence inspected. It will exist just over two weeks from at present that these little ones will be ready to fledge.

Three recently-hatched bluebirds at Penny Lake

Ii newly-hatched house wrens at Penny Lake

Singing Meadows saw one nest box fledge iv young bluebirds this calendar week leaving us with two active nest boxes. 1 of those boxes perhaps fledged another v young bluebirds on/about July 30th.  When they were seen on the 29th, all the youngsters were fully feathered and appeared gear up to become. The 2d active box at present has four bluebird eggs in information technology, two more than reported last week. These eggs should hatch by next weekend.

Ready to fledge young bluebirds at Singing Meadows

Bluebird eggs at Singing Meadows

One interesting bird sighting this calendar week occurred at Oak Betoken when two juvenile snowy egrets were seen on tide-exposed rocks.  Snowy egrets reach their northern breeding limit in Maine and are relatively common in southern and mid-declension Maine.  These two youngsters are likely preparing to migrate southward for the winter.

Juvenile snowy egret at Oak Point

Snowy egret at Oak Betoken Subcontract

July 23: Surprise nest extends season at Singing Meadows

Just when information technology looked like the bird breeding flavor on the Boothbay peninsula was winding downward, a pair of bluebirds at Singing Meadows accept started a new nest. During yesterday's nest box inspection Michael Warren noted a new nest with a single bluebird egg in it.  A few more eggs are expected over the next several days.  This is a bit later in the flavor than usual for bluebirds to offset a nest, but there is yet plenty of warm weather condition for them to incubate the egg(s) and enhance the young to fledge. The other ii bluebird nests at Singing Meadows are doing well with 4 and 5 youngsters, respectively. Both nests should fledge in a piffling over one calendar week from now.

New (but late) bluebird nest at Singing Meadows

5 baby bluebirds at Singing Meadows

The two agile nests at Penny Lake are progressing well.  The house wren nest with seven eggs should hatch out in only over 1 week, while the three-egg bluebird nest is expected to hatch out within the next few days.

House wren eggs at Penny Lake

Nosotros will finish today's study with some lamentable news. The one remaining agile nest at Oak Signal Farm containing 4 bluebird eggs has manifestly been abandoned.  We are non certain why this occurred. The eggs were expected to hatch several days agone. Failure to hatch tin can exist caused by a number of factors, but we'll never know the exact reason. The female had not been seen for several days during the latter stages of incubation and the male bluebird, which was seen almost the nest box recently, does not incubate eggs. This pair of bluebirds had successfully raised a clutch of four youngsters at this same location back in June.

Abandoned bluebird eggs at Oak Betoken Farm

July 15: Breeding slows as nesting season winds down

The only active nest box at Lobster Cove Meadow with young bluebirds will very likely be empty by this weekend. Of the five eggs deposited in this nest box in mid-June just three hatched and those three youngsters are ready to stretch their wings. At this signal in the breeding flavor we don't expect whatever farther activity in either of the two nest boxes at Lobster Cove this year.

Three soon-to-fledge bluebirds at Lobster Cove Meadow

Two Penny Lake nest boxes remain active with bluebirds and house wrens. There are now v eggs in the business firm wren nest box while the bluebirds take three eggs. Incubation has just gotten started so it volition be almost two weeks earlier we run across new hatchlings.

Bluebird eggs at Penny Lake (typical turquoise colour)

House wren eggs at Penny Lake

Breeding activity at Oak Point Subcontract has tapered off as would be expected at this time of yr. One of the two bluebird nest boxes is now empty later on 4 young "blues" fledged early this week. The 4 eggs in the other bluebird nest are expected to hatch past this weekend.

Bluebird eggs at Oak Indicate (very uncommon white bluebird eggs)

Finally, ii bluebird nest boxes at Singing Meadows now take nine recently-hatched young in them (4 in one box and five in the other). It volition be nigh 2 and a one-half weeks before these youngsters are gear up to wing. At least one pair (and peradventure two pair) of bobolinks are nesting at Singing Meadows equally well. They are being seen regularly in the same specific area of the preserve, but their nests are as well well-hidden for the states to notice & monitor them.

Fuzzy newly-hatched bluebirds at Singing Meadows.

July 9: Double-clutching

Many bird species that nest hither on the peninsula (and elsewhere) lay eggs but once in a convenance flavor while others will lay eggs twice. This year we are seeing evidence of "double-clutching" with ii species in particular: eastern bluebirds and house wrens. We're monitoring half dozen nest boxes used by bluebirds and 2 used by house wrens and in each case both species accept (or currently are) raising two clutches of eggs. Bluebirds typically have four or 5 eggs per nesting effort while wren nests accept between half dozen and 9 eggs.

Lobster Cove Meadow, Penny Lake, Oak Point Farm, and Singing Meadows each has i or two bluebird nests while Penny Lake has wrens with ii nests. So far this flavour we've documented 25 new bluebirds and 17 house wrens added to the local bird population. Similar numbers are predictable when the eggs or young in eight different nests successfully fledge. Nosotros don't like to count our chickens (or bluebirds & wrens) before they hatch, only we could see up to 50 new bluebirds and 30-35 new wrens added to the local population this season, and that's just from the nest boxes that we monitor on four BRLT preserves. This is in add-on to the 9 young white-breasted nuthatches and 20 tree swallows that fledged from BRLT nest boxes this year.

There are many more nest boxes for these species (and others) on individual property in the Boothbay/Edgecomb surface area that are successfully raising & fledging immature birds. Simply try to imagine how many young birds are existence added to the avian population this flavor.

This weeks nest box activity includes 5 immature bluebirds at Lobster Cove, three new nests (one bluebird & two wren) at Penny Lake, five young bluebirds in one nest and iv bluebird eggs in another at Oak Bespeak Farm, and nine bluebird eggs in two nest boxes at Singing Meadows. We also accept an eastern phoebe nesting for a second time (but non in a nest box) this year at Oak Betoken. It's a busy bird breeding flavor indeed!

July 1: Heat and Humidity present new Nesting Challenges

Baby birds are hatching, growing and fledging at all four of BRLT'south monitored preserves. Unfortunately, recent higher-than-normal air temperatures and humidity may accept had some touch on the viability of a few immature birds.

At Singing Meadows our two new bluebird nests take more than eggs since last weeks report. There are at present four eggs in one nest and five in the other. The young tree swallows in the third active nest at Singing Meadows all fledged early this week. Two other nest boxes remain unoccupied. The bobolink pair have withal been seen and are believed to have started nesting. No scolding red-winged blackbirds were seen this week, which suggests the young they were raising take fledged. Many pairs of song sparrows remain agile throughout the meadows.

Bluebird eggs at Singing Meadows

The 5 bluebird eggs seen at Lobster Cove Meadow terminal week hatched successfully this calendar week. These five hungry nestlings volition be keeping their parents very busy feeding them for the next two weeks.

Hungry young bluebirds at Lobster Cove Meadow

Several young birds in two different nests at Penny Lake fledged early on this calendar week, but both nests had survival problems.  8 of nine young firm wrens made it out of their nest just fine but one little bird did not.  Merely two of six young tree swallows fledged their nest successfully.  In both cases information technology'due south possible that high oestrus & humidity levels contributed to the demise of these youngsters.  Birds have no ability to sweat and must either bathe in water or pant to release excess heat.  Baby birds in the nest certainly can't bathe, and they may non be able to release enough heat by panting.

The v immature bluebirds that hatched last week at Oak Point Subcontract continue to do well.  The two nest boxes previously occupied by 13 young tree swallows are now empty since all of those youngsters "flew the coop" earlier this week.  Tree swallows can nest upwardly to twice per flavour so it's possible we'll see boosted nesting efforts again this summer.

V growing young bluebirds at Oak Signal Farm

June 24: Nesting activity moves full speed alee

Bird convenance activity is "total speed ahead" at the four BRLT preserves we monitor and elsewhere on the peninsula likewise. Iii bluebird pairs are at present incubating their second clutch of eggs or feeding their second breed of youngsters. A 4th bluebird pair just congenital their 2nd nest of the season. Young business firm wrens and tree swallows are growing fast and some of the latter are already fledging. A phoebe nest at Singing Meadows that had several youngsters in information technology just a few days ago was empty today indicating they fledged over the past 48 hours. And things are looking good for the bobolink pair at Singing Meadows.

At Oak Betoken Farm three out of five nest boxes are agile with growing youngsters. Three bluebirds hatched this calendar week with two more to follow soon. This is the second brood for this pair. The other two nest boxes have 7 fast-growing young tree swallows in each box.

The 5 new bluebird eggs discovered at Lobster Cove Meadow last week continue to be incubated. This is the second clutch of eggs for this pair. Hatching should occur inside the next week or so.

Bluebird eggs at Lobster Cove Meadow

Penny Lake's ii house wren nests remain agile with ix fast-growing youngsters in one box and half-dozen recently-hatched youngsters in the other while vi young tree swallows are expected to fledge this weekend.

Singing Meadows has 2 new bluebird nests. One already has 2 eggs in it, and we anticipate seeing eggs in the other, perchance as early on as this weekend. This volition be the second nesting attempt for both of these bluebird pairs. The third agile nest at Singing Meadows had two immature tree swallows fledge this week and the remaining three should have fledged by the time this report is published. The expert news nigh the bobolinks at Singing Meadows is that both were seen together again this week in first-class convenance habitat. We're confident they will be raising a family here soon.

New bluebird eggs at Singing Meadows

In that location has been strong circumstantial evidence that several other bird species are convenance in the iv BRLT preserves we monitor. Birds that are seen on a regular ground engaged in possible breeding activity include eastern kingbirds, Baltimore orioles, common yellowthroats, vocal sparrows, and red-eyed vireos. The nests of these birds can exist difficult, if not impossible, to locate so nosotros won't be able to monitor them the manner we do the birds that use nest boxes. Yet, this illustrates how our BRLT preserves promote & support our avian friends.

June 17: Bird calls diminish every bit couples settle into Nesting

Bird breeding activeness continues in high gear on BRLT preserves and all over the Boothbay peninsula while the spring migration is, for all applied purposes, over for this yr. One indication of only how decorated birds are raising new families is how much quieter it has become on the preserves. 3 weeks ago at that place were so many birds calling and singing it could exist a challenge to unmarried them out. At present with almost breeding birds paired upwards and raising their first (or second) brood, the woodlands and meadows have become well-nigh silent. To be certain there are notwithstanding some birds singing since they breed later in the season than others. Fifty-fifty some convenance birds go noisy if we humans inadvertently go too close to their nests. Scolding calls from carmine-wing blackbirds, song sparrows, tree swallows, and nuthatches are meant to distract or discourage us from getting too close to their nests containing eggs or immature.

Scolding male person crimson-wing blackbird

This calendar week's report starts on a distressing note: the nest at Oak Point containing a babe yellow warbler and a baby brown-headed cowbird was lost due to an unknown predator. The nest was undamaged so it is thought that the predator may accept been another bird. Unfortunate though this is, information technology'due south also office of nature'southward life cycle. Hopefully the female xanthous warbler will try to enhance some other brood this twelvemonth. Other nests at Oak Indicate are doing well: the tree swallow eggs in two nest boxes have hatched out and the bluebirds go on incubating their 2nd clutch of eggs.

One of the two nest boxes at Lobster Cove Meadow has go active once again. 5 new pale blue eggs were seen this week in the nest box used by bluebirds earlier this season. This is very likely the same pair of bluebirds that successfully raised & fledged five young "blues" just two-3 weeks agone.

New bluebird eggs at Lobster Cove Meadow

9 new infant house wrens hatched early on this week at Penny Lake and 6 more should hatch out every bit early as this weekend. Half dozen young tree swallows keep growing fast and could fledge around the 4th of July.

New house wrens at Penny Lake

The only active nest box at Singing Meadows at present has 5 recently-hatched tree swallows in it and the eastern phoebe nest discovered last calendar week is doing well with four fast-growing youngsters. Only the really Skilful news at Singing Meadows is that the lonely male bobolink who has been singing his heart out for the past two weeks has apparently succeeded in attracting a mate! Today a female bobolink was seen right next to the male in what is considered excellent breeding habitat. Since bobolinks nest on the ground in weedy or grassy fields their nest will be all but incommunicable to locate and monitor. We'll still try to monitor their presence and hopefully run into the results of a successful pairing in a few weeks.

Male bobolink (left) and female bobolink (far right) at Singing Meadows

June 11: Bird Baby Nail

Although the spring bird migration is effectively over for this year, there are probably still a few late-arriving birds. Breeding activity is hitting total stride now with lots of new fledglings and some birds already working on their 2d breed of the season.

Oak Betoken Farm was quite busy this week with 17 new fledglings: 9 white-breasted nuthatches, 4 bluebirds, and 4 eastern phoebes were unleashed into the globe! The yellowish warbler nest now has a newly-hatched warbler and a newly-hatched brown-headed cowbird. The noticeably larger cowbird chick will undoubtedly become the lions share of the nutrient brought to the nest by the adult warbler to the detriment of the infant warbler. Hopefully it will get enough to swallow and then information technology can fledge later this month.

Recently-hatched cowbird chick with smaller yellow warbler underneath at Oak Signal

Tree swallows in two nest boxes continue incubating their eggs and the bluebirds which fledged several youngsters nearly three weeks agone have already deposited v eggs en road to their 2d brood this flavour.

Five new bluebird eggs at Oak Point Farm

At Penny Lake the two nest boxes with house wrens, incubating 15 eggs between them, are expected to hatch out this coming week, while the nest box with tree swallows now has six newly-hatched youngsters.

Newly-hatched tree swallows at Penny Lake

Five new bluebirds fledged at Singing Meadows this week. That leaves only one currently active nest box at this preserve. Tree swallows are incubating five eggs which should be hatching any day now. Crimson-wing blackbirds are convenance at Singing Meadows likewise, but their nests are besides inaccessible to monitor. A well-hidden eastern phoebe nest with 4 youngsters was a surprise discover at Singing Meadows this week.

Eastern phoebe with nutrient for her young at Singing Meadows

And so far this breeding season over 40 young birds have been added to the Boothbay area from merely four BRLT preserves, and there's still time for as many, if not more than, to go.

A lonely bobolink continues calling for a mate at Singing Meadows

June 3: Fledging and more

The 2022 spring bird migration is winding down but will continue for another week or so earlier ending in mid- to tardily-June.  Many of the birds that have returned to the Boothbay peninsula have been busy raising new youngsters and that activity isn't slowing down at all.  Hither's a summary of the weeks activity at two BRLT preserves:

At Singing Meadows, a existent highlight of the calendar week was being able to notice firsthand the fledging of young birds (in this case young bluebirds).  This event is not ofttimes seen, but timing is everything.  On the day in question, I thought something was up when I heard the adults making a loud fuss in a tree near the nest box.  Five of 6 young bluebirds had already exited the box merely prior to my arrival, only #vi departed right in front of me!  The adults were trying to distract me from getting too shut to their immature who were scattered on the ground nigh the nest box.  The youngsters could fly a short distance, but for the most part remained on the ground close to "dwelling."  The adults will continue to feed them for a while (even after they are able to wing well) before weaning them.  Sighting highlights at Singing Meadows include a bobolink, Baltimore oriole, and a bully crested flycatcher.  The tall grasses at Singing Meadows are an ideal breeding habitat for bobolinks.

Bluebird fledgling #6 at Singing Meadows

Bobolink at Singing Meadows

Male person Baltimore oriole at Singing Meadows

At Oak Point Farm, the yellow warbler nest with two eggs found concluding calendar week has been visited past a brown-headed cowbird.  The cowbird is known equally a "parasitic nester" because it deposits its own egg in the nest of a unlike species and leaves the egg to be incubated past the nest owner, in this case the yellow warbler.  The cowbird left 1 of the warbler eggs in the nest but ejected the other.  When the eggs hatch, the young cowbird, beingness larger than the warbler, ends up getting almost of the food brought by its foster mom, which oftentimes results in the loss of the young warbler.  Many "foster" moms don't recognize the cowbird egg equally an imposter nor the young cowbird as anything but a rima oris to exist fed.  Note the size divergence between the 2 eggs in the photo.

Cowbird egg (top) and yellow warbler egg (below) at Oak Signal Farm

In other news at Oak Point, a new bluebird nest is under construction in the nest box that fledged several young bluebirds merely a couple of weeks agone and nine immature white-breasted nuthatches should be ready to go out the nest in near a week.

Young soon-to-fledge white-breasted nuthatches at Oak Point

Interesting sightings this week at Oak Point include a male person yellow warbler, a male indigo bunting, a male person American redstart, and a large (40+) flock of cedar waxwings.

Male person yellow warbler at Oak Betoken

May 28: Peak Migration passes every bit Breeding kicks into High Gear

The spring migration here in Maine may have peaked this past week just breeding activity has really kicked into loftier gear. The migration will go on just volition dull downwards over the next couple of weeks, simply convenance activeness on BRLT preserves (and all over the peninsula) has really picked up and will be the primary topic of today's blog.

Oak Point Farm witnessed bluebirds both hatching and fledging, phoebe eggs hatching, more tree swallow eggs, white-breasted nuthatch youngsters growing, and the discovery of a yellowish warbler nest (with eggs). 4 new bluebirds hatched this week and are beingness fed and guarded by their parents while five young bluebirds fledged early in the week and are probably hanging out somewhere around Oak Point. Ms. Phoebe'south 4 eggs hatched this week and she'due south busy feeding them all day, every day. Tree swallows are incubating eggs in 2 nest boxes. 1 nest has vi eggs, but the number of eggs in the other nest is unknown because Ms. Eat is a protective parent and won't leave when the nest box is opened for inspection! The 9 young white-breasted nuthatch youngsters continue to abound rapidly, simply with an average 26-24-hour interval nestling catamenia, they won't fledge for some other two weeks.

Young white-breasted nuthatches at Oak Point Farm

The almost unexpected find of the week was a yellow warbler nest with 2 eggs in it. This was a lucky break because their nests are then tiny they can be very difficult to find. The female warbler was spotted flying away from a shrub where the nest was ultimately located. A yellow warbler nested in the same surface area a couple of years ago, but the nest failed due to predation. Hopefully this one volition fare better.

Lobster Cove Meadow saw the fledging of 5 young bluebirds this week, 3 of which were seen in nearby trees existence fed by Ms. Blue. The other 2 youngsters were probably nearby but out of sight. Other probable breeding activity includes a pair of Baltimore orioles that have been seen together in the same area consistently for the past 2 weeks. Two species of vireos (blue-headed & cerise-eyed) were heard singing which suggests breeding activeness was in progress.

Male Baltimore oriole singing at Lobster Cove Meadow

V bluebird youngsters at Penny Lake fledged last weekend and probably remain in the surface area. Two nest boxes are now occupied by tree swallows and house wrens and a tertiary nest box has the beginnings of some other business firm wren nest. While these are the kickoff house wren nestings seen on land trust preserves, they are fairly mutual around our area.

House wren eggs at Penny Lake

Tree swallow eggs at Penny Lake

Singing Meadows has two nest boxes with 11 growing young blue birds and ane nest box with at to the lowest degree 4 tree consume eggs. All of the immature bluebirds will probably fledge by late next week. The parents in i of these bluebird nest boxes are particularly aggressive toward the volunteer who monitors the Singing Meadows nests. He reports being "attacked" each mean solar day he visits this nest. We hope he will successfully weather the "attacks" of these small birds!😁

Baby "dejection" at Singing Meadows

Finally, I've seen bird convenance activity in my own yard this season. A pair of northern cardinals accept already raised and fledged several youngsters, dark-eyed juncos are tending to youngsters, and a chipping sparrow was seen collecting material for a nest she was edifice nearby. I'll bet at that place are many instances of this kind of activity in yards all over the Boothbay area.

Female chipping sparrow collecting nest material

May xx: First Fledglings ready to take Flight

Local bird breeding activity is really picking upwards speed and the spring migration is nearing its elevation for the yr. Four BRLT preserves remain very active with 15 total nest boxes, and almost all of them currently occupied. Oak Bespeak Farm has the most active nest boxes with five (plus a nest on a edifice), followed by Penny Lake and Singing Meadows with three each, and Lobster Cove Meadow with ane.

Half dozen nest boxes currently have bluebird eggs and/or youngsters, four nest boxes are occupied past tree swallows, one has a white-breasted nuthatch, and one has a new resident: a firm wren. The nest on the building at Oak Point has a phoebe incubating eggs.

The commencement fledgling bluebirds of the season are expected to get out their nests this weekend at Penny Lake & Oak Bespeak Subcontract, with more following a few days later at Lobster Cove Meadow.

Shortly-to-fledge bluebirds at Oak Point Farm

The nine white-breasted nuthatch eggs just hatched this week while the tree swallow and phoebe eggs should outset hatching adjacent week. No house wren eggs accept been deposited withal but that could happen side by side calendar week.

Newly-hatched white-breasted nuthatches at Oak Point Farm

Mother Nuthatch feeding her new babies at Oak Betoken Farm

Other possible convenance activity observed this calendar week includes a pair of Baltimore orioles at Lobster Cove and red-wing blackbirds at Lobster Cove & Singing Meadows.

Red-wing blackbird at Lobster Cove Meadow

Some of the more interesting migration observations this week include black-throated blue warblers and black-throated green warblers, spotted sandpiper, American kestrel, Cooper's hawk, and the tiny chimney swift. Hummingbirds too go along to arrive in our surface area and then exist sure to put upward nectar feeders to assist these "flying gems" regain their strength subsequently a long migration.

Not bad blue heron at Oak Point Farm

Turkey vulture over Lobster Cove Meadow

May xiv: Tiptop Migration Nears

The spring migration and bird breeding are picking upward.  The migration for Maine will summit over the next two weeks and then this is a good time to get out to BRLT's preserves (or your own backyard) to see what's moving through.

Although we're seeing some new convenance activity, we've also had a couple of setbacks.  On a sad note, two of the bluebird nests (with eggs) at Singing Meadows were patently abased recently for unknown reasons.  In that location was no sign of predation and all the eggs were left undamaged.  This happens on occasion and in this case resulted in 10 less infant bluebirds this season.  Hopefully the adults volition try again.  There are withal two bluebird nests at Singing Meadows that have very attentive parents taking care of their nests.  Tree swallows are now showing interest in nesting at Singing Meadows in two nest boxes, and nosotros should accept confirmation about that next week.  Red-wing blackbirds are too preparing to nest in the marshy expanse at Singing Meadows.

Red-wing blackbird at Singing Meadows

Eastern phoebe at Singing Meadows

The bluebird nests at Penny Lake and Lobster Cove Meadow remain agile & feasible.  The Penny Lake youngsters should fledge in the coming calendar week while the eggs at Lobster Cove should exist hatching very before long.

Baby blues at Lobster Cove Meadow

Oak Signal Farm remains quite active with breeding activeness.  All five nest boxes have developing nests, incubating eggs, or growing youngsters.  Tree swallows appear to be taking up residence in two boxes and a female person white-breasted nuthatch continues to faithfully incubate her nine eggs.   One of the two bluebird boxes has fast-growing immature while the other has 4 eggs being incubated past an attentive mother.  Mrs. Phoebe continues to incubate her 4 eggs in a nest she built on the side of one of the Oak Betoken Farm's  buildings.  Song sparrows seem to be nesting everywhere and the always-present Canada geese have already fledged several goslings on the pond.

Eastern bluebird pair at Oak Indicate Farm

Firm finch at Oak Bespeak

Some of the intere sting migratory birds seen & heard this week include several warbler species (northern parula, black & white, black-throated green, blackness-throated blueish, xanthous-rump, pino, and ovenbird).

May half-dozen: Chicks are hither!

Well, it was another eventful week in the world of BRLT birds! Bluebird babies have hatched at three of the iv land trust preserves with nest boxes; Penny Lake, Oak Bespeak Farm, and Lobster Cove Meadow each have five new hatchlings.

Newly hatched Eastern Bluebird chicks

Upward to 10 bluebird babies are expected to hatch at Singing Meadows this weekend.  In add-on, nosotros at present have new eggs in nests at Singing Meadows and Oak Point. Ane Singing Meadows nest has 5 new bluebird eggs while Oak Point has one nest with iv new bluebird eggs and some other nest has nine new white-breasted nuthatch eggs (of note, this nuthatch nest also had 9 eggs which hatched & fledged last year).

Tree consume guarding a nest box at Singing Meadows

I very unusual affair about the new Oak Point Farm bluebird eggs is their color. Instead of the typical sky-blue nosotros're familiar with, these eggs are white. This phenomena occurs in less than v% of all bluebird eggs!

Unusual white Eastern bluebird eggs

White-breasted nuthatch eggs

Other land trust bird breeding activity includes a new gaggle of 7 fiddling Canada goose goslings at Oak Betoken and 2 Canada goose nests at Lobster Cove.

Young goslings and parents at Oak Point Subcontract

Interesting spring migrant sightings this week include palm & yellow-rump warblers, chipping & white-crowned sparrows, neat blueish herons, and a ruby-throated hummingbird.  Many more migrant species are expected in the coming days & weeks.

White-crowned sparrow

April xxx: Nest building and Bound Migration

Migration action continues to pick upward.  The highlight from this week was seeing a beautiful male palm warbler in full breeding plumage at Oak Point.  Barred owls are heard calling 24-hour interval & night, osprey's are pairing up, and tree swallows are being seen in increasing numbers.  And there are all the same many more than birds to follow!

Palm Warbler

Osprey'south over Oak Point

Oak Betoken Farm

Oak Signal at present has iii nest boxes with nests: 2 bluebirds and 1 white-breasted nuthatch.  One of the bluebird nests has 5 eggs while the other 2 could have eggs in them by adjacent week, if not sooner.  The 5 bluebird eggs could hatch this weekend.  In addition, an eastern phoebe has re-occupied a nest used last year.  This nest is built on a narrow ledge on a building at Oak Indicate and is difficult to run across and inspect.  More on that next week.

Lobster Cove Meadow

One of 2 nest boxes at Lobster Cove is currently occupied by a bluebird incubating 5 eggs which should hatch in the first calendar week of May.

Penny Lake

The Penny Lake nest with 5 bluebird eggs is expected to hatch next week.  Nosotros recently welcomed a new volunteer, Carolyn Lanigan, to monitor the iii Penny Lake nest boxes.  Welcome aboard, Carolyn!

Singing Meadows

Singing Meadows is currently in the lead (not that this is a contest!) for the number of agile nest boxes.  All 5 nest boxes now have nests in them, although i nest is simply partially completed.  Three of those nests have eggs in them and one more could have eggs as before long as this weekend.  The nest with 6 bluebird eggs could hatch this weekend.  The other two nests with iv bluebird eggs in each should hatch from early to mid-May.

April 22: Earth Day Update

In spite of some unseasonably cold & windy atmospheric condition, bird migration & breeding activity was on full brandish at three BRLT preserves today.  One of the five nest boxes at Singing Meadows provided a large surprise: 6 light blue eggs! This is slightly to a higher place the norm for bluebirds who typically deposit iv or 5 eggs per clutch.  A second bluebird nest at Singing Meadows now has eggs (4) inside and a 3rd bluebird nest may be under construction.

Singing Meadows box with half dozen bluebird eggs

The Lobster Cove Meadow nest box with a single egg in information technology last week now has v eggs in it. "Dad" was watching closely equally I inspected his nest box!

Male bluebird closely watching as nosotros inspect the nest box at Lobster Cove Meadow

The Oak Indicate Subcontract bluebirds have likewise been busy.  Today there were 5 eggs in the nest to the right of the universal access trail (an increase of 2 since last calendar week) and a new, consummate bluebird nest has been built in a nest box near the pond.  The possible white-breasted nuthatch nest in the apple orchard has grown in size and could have eggs in it equally shortly as next week.

Interesting sightings of returning migrants this week included several hermit thrushes and white-throated sparrows at Oak Point & Lobster Cove Meadow. The jump migration should really begin to pick up in some other week or so which is when we'll outset seeing many colorful wood warblers from Body of water Point to Edgecomb and beyond.

White-throated sparrow

Hermit thrush

April xv: Eggs appear across Preserves

Yesterday'south walk through Oak Bespeak, Penny Lake, Singing Meadows, and Lobster Cove Meadow revealed new and exciting activity (and 1 big surprise) in 4 nest boxes. After watching 2 weeks of nest building by bluebirds at Oak Bespeak they accept started to deposit eggs! 3 low-cal blue eggs were seen in the nest box to the right of the universal access trail. A possible white-breasted nuthatch nest was seen in a nest box in the apple tree orchard. Further ascertainment will ultimately decide who is using this box.

At Lobster Cove Meadow i of the nest boxes now has i light blueish egg in it. More eggs will probable exist deposited in the coming calendar week.

Penny Lake provided the big surprise of the day, and information technology didn't involve either of the 2 new nest boxes recently installed there. Later inspecting both of those boxes, I noticed an old nest box I hadn't seen before, so I decided to take a quick look inside. As I approached the box I saw a female person bluebird fly out of information technology, and when I opened it I saw 5 light blue eggs in the nest! This is going to be a busy pair of adult bluebirds when that clutch of eggs hatch!!

Michael's inspection of the nest boxes at Singing Meadows revealed a complete nest (but no eggs yet) in one box and 4 light blue eggs in another box.

Other observations of local bird activity reveal that male red-wing blackbirds are claiming territories at Lobster Cove & Singing Meadows while vocal sparrows are doing the same at most BRLT preserves. Ospreys have returned to Maine and volition soon begin nesting activity along the declension and some inland sites. Crimson-breasted mergansers and common loons are appearing in larger numbers in our area in preparation for moving a bit further north to embark nesting & breeding action. The migration of many smaller, colorful birds has gotten started and will increase in intensity over the adjacent several weeks.

April 5: Early on signs of Nesting

It's still a bit early for the spring migration hither in Maine simply there are a few signs that breeding activeness has gotten started on some BRLT Preserves. Eastern bluebirds started nest building at Singing Meadows and Oak Point Farm final week then eggs in the nests shouldn't be too far behind, perchance this week. Song sparrows arrived in abundance over the 2 weeks and are already claiming breeding territories in every preserve with the advisable habitat.

Song sparrow at Oak Point Farm

Black-capped chickadees have been seen investigating potential nest sites on all of our preserves, including some nest boxes already claimed past bluebirds. The bluebirds typically react to these unwelcome visits by vigorously chasing the chickadees away!

Bluebirds defending their house at Singing Meadows

Male person American goldfinches have molted into their bright summer breeding plumage, simply they don't typically start convenance activeness until after in the year. A belted kingfisher was seen over the pond at Oak Point terminal week, turkey vultures are appearing in the heaven afterward their winter vacation down south, and returning red-fly blackbirds accept started challenge breeding sites in freshwater marshes.

Kingfisher at perched over pond at Oak Signal Farm

Many of the sea ducks that spend the winter in our region can nonetheless be seen in the harbor and littoral waters but every bit spring advances they will showtime to movement northward toward their traditional breeding areas. Buffleheads, mutual goldeneyes, blood-red-breasted mergansers, common eiders, hooded mergansers, and surf scoters are yet being seen but will gradually disappear over the next month or so.

Bufflehead on pond at Oak Signal Farm

March 23: Birds are Dorsum

Spring is here and that ways that birds are returning to our region and some are beginning to gear up for nesting. At BRLT preserves, our nest boxes have been cleaned out of debris and are gear up for bird couples to move in. The historical data I have from terminal year will give me a good idea of when I should kickoff watching for signs of nesting activity at each of our preserves. Late April is when I recorded the first nesting activity at Oak Point when I institute eggs in two nest boxes: the Bluebirds southwest of the farmhouse and the Nuthatches over in the apple orchard. Like activity was noticed in one nest box at Lobster Cove in April. The bluebirds are definitely getting interested in procreating.  This morn I watched a male vigorously chase an unidentified bird away from a nest box (see the film taken only subsequently the hunt).  This strongly suggests the pair take laid merits to this nest box for the coming breeding season. Throughout the bound activity will pick up. I'll exist documenting the flavour here on Bird Discussion so bookmark the page and check back ofttimes.

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Source: https://bbrlt.org/the-bird-word/

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