Bluebirds on CLCF Trails
As you walk the trails on Cedar Lakes Conservation Foundation property, you probably notice the bird boxes posted intermittently throughout the area. Did you ever wonder who makes their home there? We did!
Ray Pinter inspects a box. The post shield keeps predators away from the nest.
The “Birdman of CLCF” is Ray Pinter. This week, he sent us the data he’s collected on the residents of these boxes so that we can share it with you.
In 2011, there were 12 boxes erected. In 2012, we added 28 more, for a total of 40 boxes on these properties: Fox Hill – 12 boxes; Rudorf – 8 boxes; Zuern – 5 boxes; Water Spirit – 15 boxes.
Ray’s count of birds fledged since 2011 includes Bluebirds (BB), Tree Swallows (TS) and House Wrens (HW).
Baby bluebirds
Finding suitable nesting cavities has become more difficult for these species as development and clearing diminishes the number of abandoned structures, posts or dead trees on the landscape. The boxes we maintain provide an addition to those natural nesting sites and increase the capacity of this environmental region to support the life of these songbirds.
Male bluebird
Female bluebird