March, 2024

The Landis Arboretum Bluebird Trail features 40 nesting boxes located throughout our grounds. This is the inaugural post of News & Muse from the Bluebird Trail. Each post will consist of the following sections:

• News from the Trail – what is happening on our trail.
• Featured Bird – information about one bird species that you may encounter on the trail.
• Muse for the Trail – an artistic or inspirational item that is related to the trail or to birding in general.
• Random Facts and Helpful Hints – useful information that is general in nature.
• Quarterly Boggler – a riddle, puzzle, or trivia question to solve.
• Nestbox Spotlight – a photo and/or information about our nestboxes.

The information we provide is intended to spark your interest without being overly scholarly or exhaustive. We will sometimes suggest where to find additional information for those of you that would like to learn more. Some issues will be long and others short. We hope you will enjoy them all. Please submit any comments, questions or suggestions to birding@landisarboretum.org.

News from the Trail

Let me introduce myself: I'm Shayne Mitchell, and I began volunteering at Landis in November 2023. My assignment has been to come in on Tuesdays to take care of the Bluebird Trail. When I started, many of the nest boxes along the trail needed repair. I met with Fred Breglia, who explained the overall rehabilitation plan and gave me some guidance on how to begin. I continue to meet with Fred from time-to-time.

Initially, I focused on assessing and recording the condition of the trail. During November, each nest box was visited, photographed, and cleaned out, and its location, structural condition, and other attributes were entered into a spreadsheet. Required repairs were identified and the necessary materials scrounged – scrap wood from behind the Meeting House and unused hardware from the barn. Fortunately, the ground hadn’t frozen yet, so I was also able to straighten and reinstall posts during this time rather than having to wait for the spring thaw.

By the end of December, I had cut down encroaching brush and took down the nest boxes that needed repair and brought them to the greenhouse. Nest box repairs were begun and continued into early February. The most common problem I encountered was leaking roofs. Installation of repaired nest boxes is nearly complete as I write this. I plan to put up the last two on the final Tuesday in February, in time for nesting season.

I am happy to report that weather conditions did not interfere with the rehabilitation project. I never had to skip a week of work because of extreme cold or snow that was too deep. That’s not to say that we didn’t have any cold weather. Fortunately, the greenhouse provided a refuge from the cold as it hovers around 50° inside when it’s cloudy and is warmer when sunny. So, I had a relatively warm space to take temporary breaks from the trail on the colder days and for making repairs.

On a philosophical note, I’ve observed that winter is a quiet time of year at Landis, both out on the trail and in the greenhouse. My Tuesdays have been peaceful, even meditative. Much as I have loved the comparative solitude, I am looking forward to a transition to springtime, warmer days, and seeing more people. Also, it will be great to see plant activities ramp up in the greenhouse, even if it means that I lose most of my “office space”.

Trail rehabilitation by the numbers:

40 nest boxes inspected and cleaned.

30+ nest box posts straightened.

20 nest box roofs replaced or repaired.

18 weeks spent on project (one day per week).

15 mice evicted during box cleanouts.

Many miles of hiking back-and-forth between greenhouse and nest boxes.

By March the rehabilitation project will be complete, just in time to begin trail monitoring. Look for my first report on trail monitoring in the next issue. 
 

“Didn’t pay the rent … so out the door they went.” Nest box FLT5E, November 2023.

Featured Bird
 

Eastern Bluebird – I think it is safe to say that the Eastern Bluebird is the favorite bird at Landis. Certainly, they have to be counted among the most well-loved species of birds in the world. While there are many reasons for their popularity, the greatest factor is arguably their beautiful coloring. They typically live in open country around scattered trees and where there is limited understory and sparse ground cover. They prefer to nest in cavities such as holes in trees and in human-made nest boxes. These birds mainly eat insects and fruit. Landis has an abundance of habitat, foods, and nest cavities that Eastern Bluebirds favor and that’s why they are commonly seen on our property. You can learn much more about Eastern Bluebirds by visiting https://www.allaboutbirds.org/....

Muse for the Trail

Muse (noun) the spirit that is thought to inspire a poet or artist; a source of genius or inspiration.

(verb) to think about something carefully and for a long time.

The Last Word of a Bluebird
By, Robert Frost

As I went out a Crow

In a low voice said, "Oh,

I was looking for you.

How do you do?

I just came to tell you

To tell Lesley (will you?)

That her little Bluebird

Wanted me to bring word

That the north wind last night

That made the stars bright

And made ice on the trough

Almost made him cough

His tail feathers off.

He just had to fly!

But he sent her Good-by,

And said to be good,

And wear her red hood,

And look for skunk tracks

In the snow

with an ax—

And do everything!

And perhaps in the spring

He would come back and sing."

Note - Some of our bluebirds stayed through the winter. For any that didn’t, spring is nearly here, and we look forward to their return.

Random Facts and Helpful Hints

If you would like a free, well-regarded App to help you identify birds that you see or hear, try Merlin Bird ID. Visit https://merlin.allaboutbirds.o... for more information.

Quarterly Boggler

Boggler (noun) something, as an amazing fact, puzzle, or riddle, that astounds or defeats.

Which state has designated the Eastern Bluebird as its state bird? (see answer at bottom of page)

Nestbox Spotlight

“Before and after” pictures of a pair of nest boxes (PT2W and PT2E) along the Pioneer Trail. Before rehabilitation above, November 2023. After rehabilitation below, February 2024. Brush was cut, one post straightened, box ventilation improved, one roof replaced, and the other roof was shingled which will buy some time before it must be replaced.

Boggler Answer

Both Missouri and New York have designated the Eastern Bluebird as their state bird.