2003 OKLAHOMA BLUEBIRD NEST BOX RESULTS

 

Distribution map

 

 

The Oklahoma Nestbox Trails Project was initiated in 1985 to enhance habitat for cavity-nesting birds in Oklahoma and reverse the population decline noted for the Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis).  The project depends entirely upon volunteers to place the boxes in suitable habitat, monitor usage, control competition from House Sparrows, alleviate predation problems and report the nesting season’s results. The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation’s Wildlife Diversity Program would like to especially give credit to those trail reporters who take the time and have the dedication to establish extensive trails and report on them. 

 

The Wildlife Diversity Program would also like to express our sincere gratitude to the Oklahoma Bluebird Society (OBS) for promoting bluebird conservation in Oklahoma. Almost half (18) of the bluebird nestbox reports we received for the 2003 breeding season listed an affiliation with OBS.  The Oklahoma Wildlife Diversity Program was honored during the Fall 2003 meeting of the OBS by receiving a very generous donation of $1000 toward activities of the Program.  This donation will be used toward ongoing bird research in the shortgrass prairies of Oklahoma.  If you wish to learn more about your bluebirds please consider joining this important conservation organization.  They have already made a significant contribution to conservation by encouraging trail monitors to provide us with their data.  The database of the Oklahoma Nestbox Trail Project provides a “window” into the conservation of cavity-nesters- particularly bluebirds- in Oklahoma.  Membership includes receiving their excellent newsletter, The Hole Story, which provides good information about monitoring bluebird nesting activities and habitat enhancement.  Heart-warming stories and poems provided by members will offer inspiration!  A membership form is included in your packet.

 The staff of the Oklahoma Wildlife Diversity Program wishes to extend our sincerest “thank you” to all trail monitors who know the work, the joy and the frustrations of maintaining a bluebird trail.  Thank you for helping bring back the Eastern Bluebird.

 

 

RESULTS

 

The number of nestbox trail reports received for the 2003 breeding season (44) reflected an increase from the 2002 (40).  The number of nestboxes monitored increased (780) as compared to 2002 (750).  Twenty-one (21) counties are represented for the 2003 breeding season which is a slight decrease from 2002 (22).  Table 1 provides a list of nestbox trail variables from 1993 to 2003.

 

The top four species in frequency of nesting attempts and occurrence on trails were the Eastern Bluebird, House Sparrow, Carolina Chickadee, and the Tufted Titmouse.  Over 99% of nestbox usage was by Eastern Bluebirds and this species was reported on 100% of the trails. 

 

Nine (9) identified bird species and one identified mammal species were reported nesting in nestboxes.  A trail in Muskogee County reported flying squirrels nesting in three of the 11 nestboxes monitored.  Nesting attempts by year is provided in Table 2.  In 2003, the House Sparrow was again an unwelcome species on the list.  However, only10  chicks fledged out of 117 eggs reported.  Also reported for the second year in a row was a nesting attempt by a European Starling (Comanche County) which laid 12 eggs but none hatched.  This demonstrates how continual monitoring helps to alleviate competition from these non-native species.  Congratulations!

 

As in previous years, not all nesting attempts were monitored throughout the breeding season, and therefore, the number of eggs laid, hatched, and young fledged represent the minimums for the species (Table 3). Monitors reported at least 2,128 Eastern Bluebirds fledged from 641 clutches.  Figure 1 is a map of Oklahoma showing bluebird data by county for the 2003 breeding season.  Included are the number of monitored nestboxes and the number of fledgling bluebirds reported by county.

 

 

 

   

                                                  TABLE 1.  NESTBOX TRAIL VARIABLES FROM 1993 TO 2003

 

	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003
Total Trail Reports	90	83	53	54	40	52	46	47	47	40	44
Total Nestboxes	1112	1401	1173	1108	1081	1142	963	871	797	750	780
Average Trail Size	12	17	17	18	27	22	20	18	15	15	17
Number of Counties	36	33	29	31	24	31	21	24	25	22	21

 

 

  

TABLE 2.  NESTING ATTEMPTS BY YEAR

Species	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003
Eastern Bluebird	1087	1016	1072	1390	1075	879	686	690	664
Carolina Chickadee	125	48	59	53	36	47	49	39	40
House Sparrow	204	134	98	143	118	78	90	70	105
Unidentified Wren Species	10	0	5	7	12	5	11	7	0
Bewicks Wren	35	20	33	19	8	13	6	11	16
Carolina Wren	10	13	14	22	6	12	6	5	11
House Wren	13	5	0	6	3	3	2	1	0
Tufted Titmouse	18	17	41	45	31	71	20	18	40
White-breasted Nuthatch	0	0	0	1	0	1	1	0	0
Red-headed Woodpecker	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Red-bellied Woodpecker	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Northern Flicker	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Great-crested Flycatcher	1	2	3	5	7	4	6	5	4
Prothonotary Warbler	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Tree Swallow	1	1	0	0	0	1	0	0	0
Phoebe	2	1	2	0	0	0	0	0	5
House Finch	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	0	0
Eastern Wood Peewee	0	1	1	0	1	1	1	3	0
European Starling	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	4	4

 

 

 

 

TABLE 3. NESTING SUCCESS BY SPECIES IN 2003