(Read the first part of the News and Muse summer report in our Newsletter here.)
One of the many things I learned while monitoring the trail is the importance of removing non-avian nests from the nest boxes. I removed mice, wasps, and ants on 25 occasions since monitoring began March 12 in addition to the many mice that were evicted during the Bluebird Trail rehabilitation project this past Fall/Winter. They are removed without killing. Most of them go elsewhere after one or two evictions, but not always. We’re happy to share the land with these critters but not the nest boxes. The practical effect of routine box monitoring combined with this removal effort is that 6 bird nests were built in boxes previously occupied by mice/wasps/ants, a 24% increase in total bird nests to date!
Monitoring is focused on the 40 nest boxes along our trail. However, most birds at Landis nest elsewhere such as in trees, on the ground or in some of our buildings. On my weekly monitoring trek, it’s hard not to notice some of these other nests. For instance, there’s an American Robin nest in the Shanti-Vun Meditation Garden pavilion, an Eastern Phoebe nest in the visitors parking lot kiosk, a Song Sparrow nest in the field below the barn (see picture below), and an unidentified “little brown bird” nesting in the dinosaur sculpture.
Watch your step! Song Sparrow nest located in the field between WPT1 and WPT2.
Look for our annual trail monitoring summary report in the fall issue of the Arboretum newsletter and a more comprehensive version in the fall issue of the Bluebird Blog.
Bluebird Lottery interim report
Landis held a free Eastern Bluebird nest lottery this year. By the April 15 deadline, 74 participants had submitted guesses for which nest box locations would produce bluebirds. These guesses spanned all 20 of the nest box pair locations. So far, two locations have fledged bluebirds and several more are on track to do so by the June 15 end date. Participants who guessed correctly will win free Landis Arboretum memberships and be entered into a drawing for one of our 12 Grand Prizes which include two $50 cash prizes, two nest boxes, a bird feeder, $20 credit for one of our plant sales, free attendance at one of our field trips, and five subscriptions to The Mountain Eagle/Schoharie News. Thanks again to the businesses that donated prizes: The Apple Barrel (Schoharie), Wild Birds Unlimited (Saratoga), Wildbird Junction (Delmar), and The Mountain Eagle/Schoharie News.
The Grand Prize drawing will be held in late June and winners will be notified by email. You don’t have to be present at the drawing to win one of the grand prizes, but unless you agree to pay shipping, you must pick up the prize at the Arboretum within 30 days following notification that you are a winner. Another drawing will be held to award any prizes that are not picked up within 30 days of notification.
Look for our Bluebird Lottery final report in the fall issue of the Arboretum newsletter.
Featured Bird
Pileated Woodpecker – The Pileated Woodpecker is one of the largest forest birds in North America and a year-round resident at Landis. It’s nearly the size of a crow and you might mistake it for one if not for the flaming-red crest on its head and its white stripes. These woodpeckers are well-equipped to make their own nest holes in trees. The holes they make are also used by other bird species and mammals for nesting and shelter. Pileated Woodpeckers are noisy birds – from their whinnying calls to their loud tree drumming and foraging. They leave unique rectangular holes in the wood while searching for their prey. They prefer carpenter ants but also eat other insects, and sometimes fruits and nuts. Pileated is a word that means “crested”. Not sure whether to pronounce “pileated” as PIE-lee-ay-tid or PILL-ee-ay-tid? It appears that both pronunciations are acceptable so pick the one you like. You can learn much more about Pileated Woodpeckers by visiting https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Pileated_Woodpecker/overview and by following the link in the next section.
Muse for the Trail
Read about the Woody Woodpecker origin story here https://www.ornitheology.com/post/pileated-woodpecker .
Random Facts and Helpful Hints
Scientific studies have shown that birding, or simply listening to birds, relieves stress and has other significant mental-health benefits. Landis Arboretum is a great place to do both.
Perhaps my favorite location to bird watch is the Shanti-Vun Meditation Garden pavilion. It is a great place to relax in the shade, listen to and watch birds in all directions, and it is very accessible. One can see American Robins nesting on a beam in the pavilion and watch various birds bathing under the nearby waterfall. The nesting behavior of Eastern Bluebirds, Tree Swallows and House Wrens can be observed at the two nearby nest box pairs. Bring binoculars or a camera with telephoto lens so you can watch their comings and goings up close.
Quarterly Boggler
Name at least one animated movie, TV series or video game that includes a depiction of a Pileated Woodpecker.
(see answers at bottom of page)
Nestbox Spotlight
The “color of money” in nestbox WPT5W.
To be lottery winners these eggs had to hatch, and the nestlings had to fledge by June 15, which they did. Three people picked location WPT5 so they will receive a free one-year membership to the Arboretum and be entered in the Grand Prize drawing. AT1 is also a winner. It is likely that some of the other Eastern Bluebird nests will produce fledglings, and additional lottery winners, by the deadline.
Boggler Answer
Bambi, Disney film Candybots Kids World, series
Fantasia 2000, Disney film Gravity Falls, Disney series
Impossible Creatures, video game Stanley (Woodpecker Woes), Disney series
Total Drama Island, series Wild Kratts, TV series
The Woody Woodpecker Show – series
There must be other correct answers that aren’t listed above.