Tenants

There may be tenants in one of the nestboxes! This morning a male and a female were observed at one of the boxes. The male was perched on the roof and the female came out of the box, perching briefly at the entrance. They both flew to a nearby perch as I walked by.
Eastern Bluebirds display this behavior as part of their "courtship." The male will perch at a possible nesting sight, as if to say "look at this great home I've picked out for us." The female will check it out and decide whether the home will meet their needs. If she decides it is a good place, she will then begin nest building activities.
I will be watching this box carefully to see if this pair has decided to use it as their home. 
Several other pairs of Bluebirds were seen in the area this morning as well. 
I hope to get some good photos soon.

Activity Continues

Male and female bluebirds continue to be observed perching on or near the nestboxes. Nest-building should be starting in the coming weeks, so perhaps a pair or two will choose one of the boxes for their nest.  The arrival of Tree Swallows is imminent, so look for them around the boxes as well. They readily utilize these type of boxes for their nests.  Spring is on the way!

Possibilities

There have been signs of activity around the nestboxes and this morning a male bluebird was perched on one of the nestboxes. A female sitting on the fence close by seemed to be communicating with him. Male Eastern Bluebirds will display at possible nest sites to attract a female. They may carry nesting material into the cavity, or box in an effort to show what a great home he has picked out. Does this mean the two birds I saw today will claim this box?  The only way to know is to keep watching. If you are walking in the park, take some time to see if you can spot any bluebirds around the boxes. Please do not disturb the boxes, but watch from a distance. Remember, photos of activity will be posted here. Keeping your distance gives these birds the best chances of success! 

Free Mealworms!

Bluebirds, along with other birds, LOVE to eat mealworms. Mealworms can be purchased from bird seed stores, feed stores, or from many online sources. However, if you join the North American Bluebird Society, you will receive a coupon or two for some free mealworms (you do have to pay for the shipping, which is about $6).  So, if you are interested in supporting bluebirds, and you would like to try feeding mealworms, click on the link and get started.

First Box Check

I checked the boxes today to see if there were any signs of roosting, or signs of mice invasions, but came up empty. The boxes are clean and ready for some tenants. There were several bluebirds flying around the area, so hopefully, they will pick out their preferred boxes in the coming weeks.

New Tenants?

Today I observed two Eastern Bluebirds sitting in close proximity to one set of the nestboxes. Will they use the boxes? Only time will tell.

If you happen to be in the park and notice any bird activity near the boxes, leave a note under comments, please.

Spring is on the way.

The Boxes

Here are some looks at the boxes, in case you have not braved the snow, cold and wind to go see them.  Some people have asked why the boxes are in pairs.  The reason the boxes are "paired" is that there are also Tree Swallows in this area, and they will use the same boxes as Eastern Bluebirds.  When boxes are paired, such as this arrangement, Tree Swallows will use one box and Eastern Bluebirds will use the other. By arranging the boxes this way, we up the chances of Bluebirds nesting and not being crowded out by the Tree Swallows. Hopefully, we will see both of these species using the boxes this year!

A special "thank-you" to the Peters Township Parks & Recreation Department and Department of Public Works for working with me on this project.