Marti,
Your follow-up is greatly appreciated. Can you tell us what the total
number of boxes is on the Umtanum Road route, 125? It's a wonderful
project and really seems to contribute to the nesting success of two
threatened bluebird species (plus a few other understandably
opportunistic, but probably not as threatened, species)

With regard to wrens nesting in the bluebird houses, the surveyor met on
the day about which I posted mentioned that some inspectors, but not him,
do remove wren eggs from the boxes. However, this does not seem to be a
consistent practice. Any comment or suggestion? (Tweets?) I may be
opening the proverbial 'can of worms,' but what are the overall management
policies of the birdbird-box trail and who, or what agency or group, is
supervising? Just curious, and interested in learning more about bluebird
population conservation tactics........trade-offs, always trade-offs.
Cheers,
Maureen Ellis me2 at u.washington.edu U of WA & Burien-Seahurst Park, WA

"Finding the occasional straw of truth awash in a great ocean of
confusion and bamboozle requires vigilance, dedication, and courage."
-Carl Sagan-

"We are confronted with insurmountable opportunities." -Pogo-
***********************************************
On Mon, 14 Jun 1999, Marti Anderson wrote:

> Tweets
>
> This is a follow-up to a posting from last week.(M Ellis June 5 or 6)
> That posting stated that she talked to the person doing box inspection
> and they stated no boxes on the bluebird trail were near fledge time.
> My inspection route is box 125 (Durr Rd) to box 64. This is primarily
> the open grasslands and ends just past Umtanum creek where the ponderosa
> and mixed shrub/trees start. It may be the boxes in the more wooded
> area are behind.
>
> Of the 64 boxes, 46 are occupied with active nests. 6 boxes fledged
> between June 6 and June 13. Several are ready to go this week. There
> are 2 boxes that may have fledged the week before June 6 but I do not
> have complete observation data.I observed eggs in these 2 nests on May8
>
> Unlike years past, no wrens are using houses on this route.
>
> Best regards
> Marti Anderson
> manderson at snblusa.com
>
>