Bluebird Trail Update

Photo: Abandoned Eastern Bluebird nest with broken egg by Lisa Gerbec

By Kurt Miske, Bluebird Trail Coordinator

​As of the end of June 2025, the WCAS Bluebird Trail at Lewis Rd. Riding Ring has been a bit of a different year. We have had some successes but also some failures.

As reported in the previous WCAS newsletter (May-July 2025), Box 9 had Eastern Bluebird (EABL) eggs earlier than ever before. However, the 4 eggs were eventually abandoned, with one egg cracked open. The nest box has been open ever since. Box 6 recently held 6 Tree Swallow (TRES) eggs. As of 6/23, while 4 chicks fledged, 2 died in the nest. We suspect the extreme heat played a large part in the deaths. Similarly, Box 5 recently held 6 TRES eggs. A check on 6/30/2025 revealed that 2 fledged but 4 died in the nest.
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On a happier note, Box 1 has produced 5 TRES that fledged earlier in June. Box 8 has 4 chicks in a nest that, as of 6/30, are about to fledge. Finally, Box 4 contains 3 freshly-laid TRES eggs.

There remains the possibility of additional successes this season, although time is running out. We will continue to monitor thanks to the efforts of our volunteers George Coleman, Lisa Gerbec, and Jess Kowalski.