Leanore Wiancko provides this update for the 2022 season on the 29 Bluebird boxes that she maintains and monitors along the 12th Concession in Oro Medonte and Bass Lake Sideroad.
Without doubt, this was the worst year for bluebirds at 16 fledged. The cold nights prior to May 24 left four dead and very little laying. The house wrens were booming at 30, there were seven robins, and a very good number of 26 tree swallows. This is the first time their numbers have been higher than bluebird numbers; however, as they are a threatened species, this is a good thing. I’ve monitored these boxes for more than ten years and was disappointed with this year’s results.
Dr. Kiff’s Bluebird Trail
Four dedicated volunteers monitored 44 boxes once a week from April 3 to August 24 with the following results: 65 bluebirds, 40 tree swallows, 8 chickadees and 7 house wrens. Thanks to Alan Thompson, Marilyn Clark, Julia Smith and Anne Bolger for their commitment to this citizen science project.
Annual results are reported to the Ontario Eastern Bluebird Society. The objectives of the OEBS are (1) to increase the number of managed nest-box trails in Ontario, (2) give expertise and guidance to new trail operators and (3) monitor population trends from year to year by surveying the number of fledged young from nest boxes.
