2017 Bluebird Trail Monitoring Results

Eastern Bluebird eggs and hatchlings inside nesting box – Judy Morr

Eastern Bluebird feeding babies – John Wells

Eastern Bluebird – Ed Konrad

Following is the 2017 Data from the Bluebird Trail Monitoring efforts.

Bluebirds:

•   Nest Attempts: 89 (vs 99 in 2016)
•   Eggs: 318 (vs 386 in 2016)
•   Hatched: 183 (vs 360 in 2016)
•   Fledged: 175 (vs 359 in 2016)

Carolina Chickadees:

•   Nest Attempts: 26 (vs 28 in 2016)
•   Eggs: 98 (vs 126 in 2016)
•   Hatched: 82 (vs 106 in 2016)
•   Fledged: 82 (vs 106 in 2016)

This year, predators (snakes and raccoons) destroyed 34 nests (nest building, eggs, young or parents) which although we had good numbers of nest attempts compared to prior years, would account for most of the drop in the number of eggs, hatched and fledged from 2014 thru 2016. There is no inexpensive solution to keeping predators out of our 73 monitored boxes, but it is being researched further.

There were 6 boxes with no activity this year (compared to 3 in 2016 and 7 in 2015). All boxes with no activity this year had activity last year.

Thank you to the 49 volunteers on the roster and especially to the 21 volunteers for their monitoring efforts and continued support of the Seabrook Island Bluebird Society. We look forward to a successful 2018 Season.

If you would like to learn more about the Seabrook Island Bluebird Society, please check out the information on our website.

Dean Morr
Seabrook Island Bluebird Society
SeabrookBluebirds@gmail.com

Author: sibirders

SEABROOK ISLAND BIRDERS / “watching, learning, protecting” Seabrook Island Birders (SIB) are residents, renters and guests of Seabrook Island, SC who have an interest in learning, protecting and providing for the well-being of the incredible variety of birds that inhabit Seabrook Island throughout the year. View all posts by sibirders