OKLAHOMA NESTBOX PROJECT

 Summary for the 2007 Season

 

Distribution map

 

 

 

INTRODUCTION

 

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. Thirty-three percent (10) of the bluebird nestbox reports we received for the 2007 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 provided by members will offer inspiration!  A membership form is included in your packet.

 

Of special note to the Oklahoma Nestbox Trails Project are the nestbox trails monitored by state and federal agencies.  Since 1995, the Natural Resources Branch of Fort Sill has been monitoring 2 trails with a total of 110 nestboxes (more or less).  Kevin McCurdy, wildlife biologist on Fort Sill performs the monitoring task with enthusiasm in the arid region the trails are located and his trails have yielded new confirmed breeding species for the region including Ash-throated Flycatchers and Tree Swallows to the Oklahoma report.  Three nestbox trails are monitored and maintained on Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (ODWC) installations by employees and volunteers.  The 26 nestbox trail, located at the Oklahoma Fishery Research Laboratory on south base at the University of t Oklahoma, was established in 1991 and has been faithfully monitored by Fisheries Technician Keith Thomas.  (More about Keith later!).  The second trail, located on the new Arcadia Conservation Education Area (ACEA), was established in 2005 and includes 25 nestboxes provided by boy scouts.  Damon Springer, ACEA manager, coordinates the placement of the trail and repairs and/or relocates nestboxes as needed.  Damon also coordinates the monitoring of the trail which is conducted jointly by the Oklahoma Master Naturalists and ODWC staff. The 15 nestboxes at the Byron State Fish Hatchery is maintained and monitored by volunteers from the Byron Hatchery Watchable Wildlife Area.  During 2007, volunteers Darold and Maella Hunter, documented the first nesting of Tree Swallows since 1997 in Alfalfa County.  The previous documented nest had been confirmed at the Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge.

 

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 2007 breeding season (31) reflected a significant decrease from the 2006 (48), which was down significantly from the previously year (71).  Accordingly, the number of nestboxes monitored decreased (545) as compared to 2006 (744).  Fourteen (15) counties are represented for the 2007 breeding season, a decrease over the 21 counties in 2006.  Table 1 provides a ten year comparison (1997-2007) of survey results.  Please note that the comparison focuses primarily on Eastern Bluebird breeding activities.

 

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.  Twelve (12) identified bird species were reported nesting in nestboxes. Nesting attempts of these cavity-nesting bird species by year is provided in Table 2.  In 2007, the House Sparrow was again an unwelcome species on the list.  However, only 3 chicks fledged out of the 76 nesting attempts reported with a total of only 6 eggs laid!  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 1,133 Eastern Bluebirds fledged from 367 clutches.  Figure 1 is a map of Oklahoma showing bluebird data by county for the 2007 breeding season.  Included are the number of monitored nestboxes and the number of fledgling bluebirds reported by county.

 

DISCUSSION

 

For many years to come, Oklahomans will remember the rainfall during the summer of 2007.  Between June 1 and July 30, statewide rainfall amounts were at a 187% departure from normal. Though the rainfall was needed to end a 2-year drought the resulting flooding caused unusual problems for those not expecting to be unable to get to bluebird trails because of washed out roads and low-water crossings!  However the good news is that the data, based on submitted reports, reflects the Eastern Bluebird breeding success rate for 2007 (3.1 fledged per clutch) is not significantly lower than in previous years.(See Table 1.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TABLE 1.  Ten year comparison of breeding success reported for Eastern Bluebirds using monitored   nestboxes.

	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007
Counties Reporting	24	31	21	24	25	22	21	21	28	21	15
Reports Submitted	40	52	46	47	47	40	44	51	71	48	31
Species*	9	12	11	11	11	7	9	10	12	10	12
# Nestboxes Monitored	1081	1280	963	871	803	714	780	767	973	744	545
Nesting Attempts	1072	1458	1075	879	703	650	664	110	734	754	386
Clutches	980	1290	1053	811	649	588	641	612	736	715	367
# Eggs	4221	5958	4622	3592	2847	2611	2863	2676	3309	3253	1653
Eggs/Clutch	4.3	4.6	4.4	4.4	4.4	4.4	4.5	4.4	4.5	4.5	4.5
# Chicks	3731	4444	3704	3002	2019	1998	2250	2165	2708	2519	1203
Chick/Clutch	3.8	3.4	3.5	3.7	3.1	3.4	3.5	3.5	3.7	3.5	3.3
Chicks/Eggs	88%	75%	80%	83%	71%	76%	78%	81%	82%	77%	73%
# Fledged	3655	4395	3383	2789	1907	1879	2128	2092	2551	2317	1133
Fledged/Clutch	3.7	3.4	3.2	3.4	3	3.2	3.3	3.4	3.5	3.2	3.1
Fledged/Eggs	87%	74%	73%	77%	67%	72%	74%	78%	77%	71%	68%
Fledged/Hatched	97%	98%	91%	93%	94%	94%	94%	97%	94%	92%	94%

 

* Includes all species reported using the monitored nestboxes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TABLE 2.  Nesting Attempts by Year.

 

Species	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007
Eastern Bluebird	1072	1390	1075	879	686	690	664	654	734	634	386
Carolina Chickadee	59	53	36	47	49	39	40	59	92	60	38
House Sparrow	98	143	118	78	90	70	105	89	59	38	76
Bewick's Wren	33	19	8	13	6	11	16	17</