[Bluebird-babble] Hi

[Patrick Gould]

Hi

I am brand new to this server and I am also new to nest box monitoring.  I thought I would test my ability to post to this server by introducing myself and asking if what I am finding is typical.

I live in the Pygmy Forest of SE Fremont CO about 8 mi. ssw of Florence.  Last fall I put up 4 bluebird houses in juniper grassland with some Pinyon.  3 of the houses are in the open and one I put on a post within the canopy of a large juniper.  Two of the houses are currently empty but have been visited by MOBL's.  One house in the open has the following history

March 25 = MOBL's visit and inspect
April 8 = first piece of grass placed in box
April 12 = outer wall of grass = 2" high
April 16 = outer wall of grass = ~4" high but center is completely empty down to the wood floor.

This seems to me to be a long time to build a nest - might our high winds and very dry days be slowing the birds down?  Approximately what average date do MOBL eggs first appear in south central Colorado?

The nest box in the juniper canopy has a beautiful nest, small, compact and well woven mostly with what look like strips of Juniper bark.  The shallow cup has been filled with feathers and perhaps some other fluffy stuff but there are no eggs as of April 16.  I assume this is a Juniper Titmouse nest but I have not seen any birds around it (sneaky devils ).  I did capture a Titmouse in one of my mist-nets the other day and it was a female with a developing brood patch so she should be laying soon.

Hopefully I will be able to put up at least a few more boxes later this year.

Best Regards

Pat Gould
Florence, CO

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