I am intrigued by this distinction, nest box vs tree cavity, and Im
glad to hear someone make it.

Why do the catch regulations regarding salmon make distinctions between
hatchery and wild fish. ? Is there some "real" quantifiable difference
? One might assume so since some wild salmon must be released while
the hatchery fish can be taken.

Ive always wondered about the long term implications of using nest boxes
to aid the recovery of birds in decline. I was heartened this past
July to observe a banded (nest box produced) subadult male Purple Martin
investigating a cavity in a snag at Fort Lewis where other martins were
nesting in adjacent natural cavities. Hopefully this bird will return
and nest successfully at this site in 2002. If so, this will document
what many people feel is true about these birds, that they will no doubt
return to "the wild" from nest boxes if there is any "wild" available
for them.

Stan Kostka
Arlington
lynnandstan at earthlink.net


Subject: A few bluebirds and a kestrel on the prairie
Kelly Mcallister <mcallkrm at dfw.wa.gov>
Date: Fri, 21 Sep 2001 21:56:03 -0700 (PDT)

I found three Western Bluebirds at Mima Mounds Natural Area Preserve in
Thurston County
this morning. Their plumage was rather dull. They looked a little on the
scruffy side
and behaved as though they weren't sure what to do when cars and trucks
drove by, sort of
flying around in a big circle and coming back to land in a tree not far
from the one they
left. I think they were juveniles.

I'd like to know if they were nest box produced (the bird equivalent to
hatchery salmon)
or reared in a cavity in a tree (wild fish equivalent). Also a kestrel
in the area making
the starlings nervous.