2024 DEA Nestwatch Data Sheet (fillable)
2024 DEA Bluebird Trail Results
As we prepare for the 18th year of monitoring cavity-nesting birds on the county-wide Downeast Audubon Bluebird Trail, let’s look back at the results from last year. What started with a mere 20 bird houses in two locations in 2009, this citizen science project has grown significantly and as of today, has 498 bird houses in 145 locations! Unfortunately 21 houses were removed from the project in ’24 because over the years we never got any data from the home owners or the bird houses had been taken down.
From late April through August, dozens of volunteers monitor anywhere from 1 to 41 (that would be Blaise!) houses at various locations including cemeteries, land trusts, schools, fish hatcheries, and private properties. In 2024 we received nesting data for 410 out of the 484 houses in the project at that time, leaving 74 houses with zero or incomplete data. What a disappointment to have people purchase bird houses from DEA and then not hand in data at the end of the season! After reviewing all the information that came in, we SUCCESSFULLY FLEDGED 1,384 CHICKS of 4 different species; 198 more chicks than the previous year, but from 18 fewer houses! Why? We had 122 houses go unused in ’24 compared to 139 in '23, AND just 38 houses failed compared to 74 in ’23. (A failed nest is considered one that had at least a single egg laid but was abandoned or the eggs disappeared OR was taken over by another species after eggs were laid, OR all chicks died.) There weren’t any catastrophic weather events last year that led to massive chick mortality compared to ’23. Also, 51 houses were used twice during the season for two different broods although 11 of those broods failed for various reasons. It’s interesting that some houses are used multiple times while others nearby go unused. If a bird house goes unused for 2-3 consecutive years, we recommend moving it to a new location. Even though this conservation project is called a “Bluebird Trail,” we welcome all species that nest in cavities—except House Sparrows. Thankfully we’ve yet to deal with that introduced species. Total number of Eastern Bluebirds fledged—618 vs 533 in ‘23; Tree Swallows—647 vs 514 in ‘23; Black-capped Chickadees—113 vs 133 in ‘23; House Wren—6. Bluebirds and Tree Swallows had a great year but chickadees continue to struggle. Their nests are often taken over by the larger species. It’s a tough world out there!
Our data continues to be uploaded to NestWatch, a program at Cornell Lab of Ornithology, thanks to James Longo, Blaise deSibour, and other volunteers. To view our Bluebird Trail Map, go to the bottom of the Conservation tab on our website— www.downeastaudubon.org. At this point we have 441 bird houses on it. If you don’t see yours, that means we don’t yet have your GPS coordinates. It would be great to add them!
The 2024 nesting season went fairly smoothly, but there are always a few items worth mentioning:
•A pesky bear in Sedgwick once again destroyed a house but we believe that the chicks had successfully fledged before the event.
•Three people reported dropping the peat pot that the nests are built in after being startled by birds flying out, subsequently breaking some or all of the eggs.
•Two nests in Bar Harbor were destroyed by cows when they pushed over the bird houses that were in the pasture.
•The first bluebird eggs of the year were reported from a Blue Hill nest on 4/18.
•A House Wren in Brooklin prevented other birds from nesting by building “dummy” nests of sticks in a couple houses.
•A nest in Franklin had 8 eggs in it, from both chickadee and swallow (see photo). Only the swallows hatched and fledged; the chickadee eggs remained unhatched.
Please, if you have bird houses, monitor them! It definitely increases the chances of nesting success. The North American Bluebird Society says that a house that is not monitored may do more harm to birds than good. Putting up a house is a commitment to provide as safe a place as possible for birds to raise their young. Clean them out in early spring, check them weekly for activity, keep tabs on what happens, and send us your data! If you need pointers how to do this, don’t hesitate to ask: deaudubon@gmail.com.
2025 data sheets are now available. Thank you to all the volunteers who take time out of their busy day to help the birds!
Our data continues to be uploaded to NestWatch, a program at Cornell Lab of Ornithology, thanks to James Longo, Blaise deSibour and other volunteers. To view our Bluebird Trail Map, go to the bottom of the Conservation tab on our website- www.downeastaudubon.org.
You too can
share in the joy of having birds nest on your property by purchasing a
DEA-built bird house next spring for $45, ready to install. Or if you
have existing bird houses on your property, why not monitor them weekly and
submit your findings? Be a part of our expanding Bluebird Trail—it’s a
great conservation project to get involved with!
Monitoring Information Packet
More often than not, bluebirds go unnoticed because at a distance their beautiful blue and orange colors aren’t that noticeable to the naked eye. Found in open countryside and meadows, bluebirds primarily feed on insects throughout the spring and summer, but eat mostly berries in fall and winter. They nest in cavities, yet lack the ability to create a cavity, relying on old woodpecker holes and nest boxes.
In the middle of the 1900’s bluebirds were in decline, even raising fears of extinction due to habitat loss, pesticides and competition from non native birds like starlings and house sparrows, two aggressive species that will evict bluebirds from a nest hole. A big component of habitat loss was the tendency for humans to cut the old dead snags where woodpecker holes were the main homes for bluebirds. Fortunately, volunteer nest box programs have helped bluebirds to recover, particularly where correct hole sizes helped eliminate aggressive competitors and predators. Their ongoing recovery depends on nest boxes.
Instructional video by James Longo