2005 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. Twenty-two percent (16) of the bluebird nestbox reports we received for the 20045 breeding season listed they were affiliated with OBS.  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 Wildlife Diversity Program would also like to acknowledge the conservation work from the Kerr-McGee’s Mid-Continent area’s employees.  The employees constructed and installed 98 nestboxes on their facilities throughout northwest and western Oklahoma with great success as is reflected in the 2005 results.  The employees are continuing their conservation work with the construction and installation of Wood Duck nestboxes and more bluebird nestboxes on public lands.  Good job!

 

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 2005 breeding season (71) reflected a significant increase from the 2004 (51).  Accordingly, the number of nestboxes monitored increased (973) as compared to 2004 (767).  Twenty-seven (27) counties are represented for the 2005 breeding season, a definite increase over the 21 counties in 2004.   In addition, four new counties were represented for the first time in the Oklahoma Nestbox Project, the include Roger Mills, Harper, Beaver and Dewey counties.  Table 1 provides a list of nestbox trail variables from 1995 to 2005.

 

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 99% of the trails. 

 

Eleven (11) identified bird species were reported nesting in nestboxes including the first reported nesting of a Tree Swallow for Comanche County. Nesting attempts by year is provided in Table 2.  In 2005, the House Sparrow and European Starling was again an unwelcome species on the list.  However, absolutely no chicks fledged out of the combined 145 eggs reported!  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 2,708 Eastern Bluebirds fledged from 736 clutches.  Figure 1 is a map of Oklahoma showing bluebird data by county for the 2005 breeding season.  Included are the number of monitored nestboxes and the number of fledgling bluebirds reported by county.

 

 

 

 

  

                                              TABLE 1.  NESTBOX TRAIL VARIABLES FROM 1995 TO 2005

 

	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005
Total Trail Reports	53	54	40	52	46	47	47	40	44	51	71
Total Nestboxes	1173	1108	1081	1142	963	871	797	750	780	767	973
Average Trail Size	17	18	27	22	20	18	15	15	17	15	14
Number of Counties	29	31	24	31	21	24	25	22	21	21	28

 

 

Species	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005
Eastern Bluebird	1072	1390	1075	879	686	690	664	654	734
Carolina Chickadee	59	53	36	47	49	39	40	59	92
House Sparrow	98	143	118	78	90	70	105	89	59
Bewick's Wren	33	19	8	13	6	11	16	17	20
Carolina Wren	14	22	6	12	6	5	11	9	7
House Wren	0	6	3	3	2	1	0	0	7
Tufted Titmouse	41	45	31	71	20	18	40	27	32
White-breasted Nuthatch	0	1	0	1	1	0	0	0	0
Great-crested Flycatcher	3	5	7	4	6	5	4	4	2
Tree Swallow	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	4
Eastern Phoebe	2	0	0	0	0	0	5	2	0
House Finch	0	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	0
Eastern Wood-Pewee	1	0	1	1	1	3	0	3	0
European Starling	0	0	0	0	1	4	4	1	2
Ash-throated Flycatcher	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1

                                                                 TABLE 2.  NESTING ATTEMPTS BY YEAR