In March of 2008 MVSS started a songbird nestbox program primarily to assist nesting Eastern bluebirds and tree swallows. Our first 4 boxes were erected that year in Rabis's field. In 2009 we were granted permission from Mt Southington Ski Area and put up 6 boxes that year. In March 2010 we added boxes both to Rabis's field and Mt Southington. We have recently been granted permission to put up nesting boxes at Lincon Technical Institute (formerly Briarwood College). They were put into place on May 23, 2010, check back for a status update.
Below are nestbox results as of 5/23/2010
Rabis Field Mount Vernon Rd, Southington
BOX Species Status
1 Eastern Bluebird 5 fledged 2 Tree Swallow 4 eggs 3 Eastern Bluebird 3 nestlings 4 Tree Swallow 6 eggs 5 Tree Swallow 6 eggs 6 B C Chickadee 8 nestlings 7 Tree Swallow 5 eggs
Mount Southington Ski Area Mount Vernon Rd, Southington
BOX Species Status
8 B C Chickadee new nest 9 House Wren 6 Eggs 10 Tree Swallow 1 egg 11 unknown partial nest 12 Tree Swallow nest 13 unknown partial nest 14 Eastern Bluebird 5 eggs 15 Eastern Bluebird 5 nestlings 16 Tree Swallow 6 eggs 17 Tree Swallow 5 eggs 18 Tree Swallow 5 eggs 19 Eastern Bluebird 5 nestlings
Lincoln Technical (formerly Briarwood) Mount Vernon Rd, Southington
Box Species Status
20 21 22 23 24 25
Songbird Preservation
Habitat - The most important step in preservation is protecting or providing their habitat. Plant trees, shrubs, vines, flowers and grasses that provide food, cover and nesting sites. The added benefit to this is it beautifies your property, most have beautiful flowers, decorative berries or cones and great fall color. (Above) Viburnums, azalea, weigela, holly, amalancheir, maple.
Top Plant Choices For Attracting Songbirds
Trees:
Mulberry
Cherry
Crabapple
Dogwood
Eastern Red Cedar
Hawthorn
Amalanchier
Shrubs:
Viburnums
Elderberry
Spicebush
Pokeweed
Dogwood
Holly
Bush Honeysuckle
Vines:
Grape
Virginia creeper
Pyracantha
Poison Ivy
Honeysuckle
Morning glory
Trumpet creeper
Reduce negative impact:
As more land is developed , our contact with songbirds is also going to grow. Unfortunately this increases the risk of songbirds becoming injured. The majority of songbirds coming into rehabiliation are a result of contact with humans and our possessions.
Heres some tips to help reduce this impact:
Window stikes -Pull the blinds/shades, place window decals or suncatchers
Cat and dog attacks -Please keep your cat indoors (for more information see www.abcbirds.org/cats ) and your dog on a leash
Entanglement -Avoid using glue traps, tanglefoot, and flypaper. They can and do catch songbirds. Fishing line and sixpack holders not diposed of properly also pose serious hazards to songbirds.
Poisoning - Yard and garden chemicals that are toxic to us are to wildlife too! Use organic, songbirds cannot read that keep off sign!
Car collisions - Watch for songbirds on roadsides or flying into the road. Never assume the bird will get out of the cars way. Many songbirds are killed by cars each year.
Tree/shrub cutting - Avoid cutting during the spring/summer months when nesting occurs. Even if a nest is not visible there could be a nest inside the tree limb (cavity nester). Prune during late winter when plants are dormant.
Chimney caps and liners - Please do not cap or line your chimney. Chimney swifts have evolved to use brick/stone and mortar chimneys as a nesting and roosting site. They are rapidly declining as more people cap and line chimneys. For more information on chimney swift conservation www.tpwd.state.tx.us/nature/birding
Barns/out buildings- Please allow birds such as barn swallows to nest inside barns and other out buildings. These birds do not build nests in trees, instead, build them under or inside structures. As CT farmland continues to diminish, our barn swallow population is decreasing rapidly due to habitat loss (loss of nesting sites and open land to forage).
Trash - Please take care when disposing of trash, and other items that can be left behind - especially fishingline andhelium filled balloons (of which many species of wildlife get entangled and trapped in). Also fishing lures and rubber bands, many birds may mistake these items for worms or fish, ingest them, then die from starvation.
Tips for attracting beautiful songbirds
Provide Water- Water is essential for birds, not only for drinking but also for bathing. Clean, healthy feathers are a must for all birds. It helps keep them free of parasites and helps to regulate body temperature, especially in cold weather. TRW's waterfall, seen to the right, has attracted beautiful songbirds since it was first built. Birds can be seen drinking from and bathing in it daily. The sound of flowing of the water has attracted many birds from Bluebirds, Orioles, and Grosbeaks to finches, sparrows and warblers. During migration we are sure to see passing birds stop in for a visit to the waterfall. It is simply built with a bucket and pump in the ground and rocks found in the property. Please remember birds are small and the water only needs to be about an inch or so deep, with a shallow end for smaller birds. Most of all keep it clean. Regularly refresh the water so bacteria does not grow, especially in the hot summer months.
Eastern Bluebird bathing
Orioles - In late April to early May when orioles have just arrived, they are easily attracted to orange halves spiked on branch tips. Baltimore (left) and Orchard orioles can be attracted and their beautiful colors and song will brighten the garden. To encourage them to nest nearby, place 2-3 inch pieces (no longer) of brightly colored string out by the feeders. Baltimore orioles seem especially attracted to them, and each year build their nest on our property with it. Flowering crabapples, cherry trees and quince are visited often by them.
Eastern Bluebirds - Beautiful sky blue backs and orange breasts, a sweet melodic song, one of our favorite birds! Bluebirds can be attracted to your yard by placing a nestbox in an open area free of house sparrows (for more information www.nabluebirdsociety.org). They will readily eat mealworms, a live insect which can be bought in bulk. Putting mealworms out by the nestbox, and calling or whistling each time, soon teaches them that sound means food! Then you can start feeding them closer to the house or in a bluebird feeder just by calling them. Our nesting pair never goes far, and we see and feed them, plus others, all winter long (right).
American Goldfinch- Bright yellow body with contrasting black wings, give them the look of a canary. These small, beautiful songbirds are easily attracted to garden flowers and bird feeders. Tube feeders designed for small songbirds are the best bet. We have 2 for them, one filled with hulled sunflower , the other is filled with thistle. An available water source near the feeders will really keep them close by. Some garden plants especially attractive to goldfinches are purple coneflowers, zinnias and sunflowers. Goldfinches do not begin nesting until mid to late summer when there are plentiful seeds, so much enjoyment can be had watching them chase and play with each other until then.
Happy Birdwatching! From all of us at Mount Vernon Songbird Sanctuary
