Nest Box 55

 

There are three main cavity nesting species here at the James Reserve:

Violet-green swallow tend to have a clutch size between 4 to 7 eggs. It will take 14 - 15 days for the eggs to hatch once the mother starts incubating the eggs. Some eggs may not hatch because one of the parents is infertile, poor incubation (common with young females with little incubating experience) or the egg shell is week. Once the eggs hatch the young birds will not fledge from the nest for 16 to 22 days. If the food source is in plenty a violet-green swallow pair can produce a 2nd brood in the same nesting season.

 

Western Bluebirds tend to have a clutch size between 4 to 6 eggs. It will take 13 - 14 days for the eggs to hatch once the mother starts incubating the eggs. Some eggs may not hatch because one of the parents is infertile, poor incubation (common with young females with little incubating experience) or the egg shell is week. Once the eggs hatch the young birds will not fledge from the nest for 17 to 22 days. If the food source is in plenty a western bluebird pair can produce a 2nd brood in the same nesting season.

 

Mountain chickadee tend to have a clutch size between 5 to 9 eggs. It will take 14 - 15 days for the eggs to hatch once the mother starts incubating the eggs which begins with the laying of the penultimate, or next to last, egg. Nests are made of moss, bark, fur, plant fibers, and feathers. Once the eggs hatch the young birds will not fledge from the nest for 19 to 21 days.

 

Nestbox55

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2010 Nesting Season
Information:
No information
2009 Nesting Season
Information:
No information
2008 Nesting Season
Information:
No information  
2007 Nesting Season
Information:
4/7/07 - Pair of western bluebirds visit box
4/24/07 - Bluebirds begin sleeping in box
5/10/07 - Nest building begins
5/16/07 - Nest appears complete
5/22/07 - 1st egg laid
5/23/07 - 2nd egg laid
5/24/07 - 3rd egg laid
5/25/07 - 4th egg laid
6/7/07 - All eggs hatch
6/27/07 - 1 chick leaves the nest
6/28/07 - Last chick left alone. It stops moving soon after the others leave.
7/1/07 - Final chick doesn't move for several days, obviously dead. There is a white mark visible on it's neck, a possible injury.
Western Bluebird Nestbox 55 Start Date End Date
Nest Building 7 days 5/10 5/16
Clutch Size 4 eggs 5/22 5/25
Days of Incubation 17 days 5/22 6/7
Number of Eggs Hatched 4 eggs 6/7 6/7
Days to Fledge After Eggs Hatch 22 days 6/7 6/28
2006 Nesting Season
Information:
4/18/06 - Something was in the box
4/19/06 - A mountain chickadee moved in and started nest building.
More Information from Cornell Lab of Ornithology
4/24/06 - Mountain chickadee begins to roost inside box over night
4/29/06 - Western bluebird enters the box. Mountain chickadee no longer sleeping overnight in box
4/30/06 - Western bluebird enters the box
5/1/06 - Western bluebird pair enters the box
5/8/06 - Western bluebirds begin active nest building
More Information from Cornell Lab of Ornithology
5/12/06 - Nest building continues
5/14/06 - Pair survey the nest
6/6/06 - Box remained undisturbed until June 6th when nestbuilding begins again
6/11/06 - 1st egg laid
6/14/06 - 4th egg laid
6/27/06 - All four eggs hatch
7/18/06 - 1 chick leaves the nest
7/19/06 - Remaining 3 chicks fledge
Western Bluebird Nestbox 55 Start Date End Date
Nest Building 6 days 6/6 6/11
Clutch Size 4 eggs 6/11 6/14
Days of Incubation 14 days 6/14 6/27
Number of Eggs Hatched 4 eggs 6/27 6/27
Days to Fledge After Eggs Hatch 23 days 6/27 7/19
2005 Nesting Season
Information:
5/14/05 - A male violet-green swallow visited the nest box.
5/15/05 - The violet-green swallows begin active nest building
5/15/05 - A mountain chickadee enters the box.
No activity for a few days. It is possible that the chickadee was being territorial and chased off the violet-green swallows.
The violet-green swallows returned and are building their nest again.
5/30/05 - The 1st egg was laid
6/2/05 - 4 eggs have been laid
Violet-green Swallow Nestbox 55 Start Date End Date
Nest Building 13 days 5/18 5/30
Clutch Size 5 eggs 5/30 6/3
Days of Incubation 19 days 5/30 6/17
Number of Eggs Hatched 4 eggs 6/17 6/18
Days to Fledge After Eggs Hatch 23 days 6/18 7/10
2004 Nesting Season
Information:
5/16/04 - A male violet-green swallow visited the nest box.
Nest Box Information
Box Number 55
UTM Northing
UTM Easting
GPS waypoint
mounting location metal pole
aspect
box age 2003
design (door, material) side cedar
box floor width 6 in.
box floor length 6 in.
Box height
hole direction
hole size 1.5 in.
height of hole above floor 7.5 in.