Housing Projects

One day early this week, standing on the quarry rim, we found ourselves in the flight path of Tree Swallows that ordinarily swoop high in the air or over the water, catching insects.

Tree Swallow pair nesting

The birds had discovered a new nesting box in a glade behind the cedars.

The female was bringing home improbably long pieces of building material, under the close supervision of her partner.

House Wren

It was a lively spring day preparing for procreation at Halibut Point.

Eastern Bluebird, male

High on a wire over the meadow a bluebird surveyed potential domiciles. The mast and gourds erected a few years ago in the middle of the field lay off to one side. It had failed to attract Purple Martins. An inviting new box stood in its place.

House Sparrow

As happened with the Purple Martin array, House Sparrows immediately took control of the opportunity. Despite their diminutive size they held their claim fiercely. This time they would have to contend with constant monitoring by Bob Sherman, a new Halibut Point staffer and longtime benefactor of birds at various State parks. Bob has been in the process of building and locating nesting boxes experimentally around the grounds. He says birds show up within minutes of a new installation. His approach to tenant rights is, "I don't play favorites. The only time I intervene is when the two very aggressive non-native species try to take over, the House Sparrow and the European Starling. They will harass and displace natives, poke holes in their eggs, kill their young."

Eastern Bluebird, female

The next day a female Bluebird stood forlornly above its intended quarters.

House Sparrow, male

A presumptuous House Sparrow emerged and settled itself resolutely atop the nesting box. Bob charged across the field flapping his arms. "My job is to harass the harassers. You have to make life miserable for them, and eventually they will give up."

Great Crested Flycatcher

Another species Bob would like to attract is the Great Crested Flycatcher, which tends to live in the treetops.

In his experience they are cavity nesters that appreciate manmade boxes with 2" holes rather than the smaller entrances required for the safe residency of the others.

That information explained both the interest and the frustration of this Great Crested Flycatcher inspecting a box a few years ago. 

Bob has re-purposed one of the old boxes that had its entrance hole enlarged by an overwintering squirrel. Bob mounted it 10 feet up on the side of the barn at the preferred nesting height of these arboreal flycatchers. He has his eyes peeled for newcomers.