Dedicated to increasing & protecting the bluebird population of Bella Vista, AR
For a PDF of the minutes, click here.
For a PDF of Laura's presentation, click here.
For a PDF of Denise Klinger's presentation, Creating Healthy Habitat for Birds, click here.
The volunteers meeting was held from 1:30 to 3:15 PM at Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall, 1880 Forest Hills Blvd. Bella Vista.
I. Fifty-two (52) members and their guests were in attendance: Kathy Allen, Marilyn Beverage, Jerry Butler, John Butler, Laura Claggett, Elaine Cobb, John & Mary Ann Craig, Bill Davis, Martin & Tamara Dimmick, Kim Eveland, Tim Garton, Carmen Greenup, Cheryl Hall, Randy Hamm, Bob & Gayle Hilgart, Edward Hinde, Jim & Denise Klinger, Julie Lanshe, Ling Ma, Cynthia Marshall, Bonnie Martineck, Clay & Carolyn Merritt, Patrice Murphy, Nancy Ortman, George Pickell, Andy & Susan Pilkerton, Harrison Ramey, Shari Reed, Buzz Schoenhard, Pat Schrad, Ed Shelton, Deb Shoemaker, Steve & Susan Skaggs, Jim Sours, Lorna Sterrett, Jacqui Stockman, Butch Tetzlaff, Bill & Rose Theiss, Linda Tucker, Grace Turley, Dirk & Deb Webber, Leon Wehmeyer and Myrlene Zimmerman.
II. President Laura Claggett opened the meeting with a welcome to those in attendance. She introduced the new volunteers: Martin and Tamara Dimmick, Loch Lomond Park; Kim Eveland and Deb Shoemaker, Kingswood: Edward Hinde and Julie Lanshe, Scotsdale; Percy Holdeman, Edinburgh Car Trail; Clay and Carolyn Merritt, Highlands; and B. J. Westoff, The Plaza.
III. 40th Anniversary:
Laura announced that the BVBBS started in 1980 so this is our 40th Anniversary. We will have a 40th Anniversary Celebration on April 18th from 12:00 to 3:00 PM at Lake Avalon pavilion/beach. Cake will be served and there will be raffles. Other groups joining us will be the Bella Vista Garden Club, Bella Vista Fly Tyers and NWA Master Naturalists. A new bluebird trail will be added by Lake Avalon.
We will also be sponsoring a Photo Contest until September 14, 2020. Rules and entry forms are on our website and Facebook page.
IV. Monitor Sheets:
Laura advised that she had emailed the individual monitor sheets to all volunteers on March 1st and to advise her if unable to open the document. Sample sheets are on the website. If anyone is unable to monitor their boxes within 10 days, please have a sub or contact the trail boss or Laura for assistance.
The best practices for completing the monitor sheets includes using Excel or LibreOffice.org, or use colored pencils, try to monitor the boxes on the same day of the week so as not to forget and fill in the personal sheet every week. Best practice is to update your sheet on your computer so that you have the information in case you lose the printed sheet.
V. New Bluebird Research Project:
Butch Tetzlaff from The Bluebird Shed gave an update on the University of Arkansas research project that was started by him and Jennifer Mortensen at UA in November, 2019. They are monitoring bluebird boxes in 8 locations: Berksdale, BV Cemetary, Branchwood, Concordia, Loch Lomond Park and Marina, and Presbyterian and St. Bernard churches.
Temperature probes were attached to the boxes which would indicate birds that would winter in the boxes by recording temperature changes. These will be removed shortly. Homeowners also placed coffee filters in some of the boxes to collect feces.
Butch & Jen will continue to monitor the boxes, do banding and habitat assessments throughout the summer. Butch explained that they attach two colored bands on the baby birds about 5 days before fledging as the babies are large enough to keep the bands on their legs. Homeowners can also contact Butch to have their birds included in the banding.
Butch also stated that several people participate in the monthly backyard bird count. For some reason, the bird count is always the lowest in the 4th quarter of the year. Butch asked if we would advise him if a dead adult bird is ever found in one of the bird boxes.
VI. Predators and Pests:
Laura led a discussion on predators and pests with the most common being raccoons, cats, snakes, wasps, wrens, sparrows and ants. To prevent problems, she recommended replacing the round hole box with a slotted box or staple fishing line on the edge of the roof for house sparrows, move the box away from the woods for wrens and install predator guards for snakes, weasels, raccoons and cats. Predator guards can be metal or plastic cones, PVC conduit, stove pipe or a wire cage in front of the slot or hole. The trail bosses can assist with installing a wire cage.
More ways to prevent predators is installing square drive screws to keep people from opening the boxes, use food grade DE (diatomaceous earth) in the nest box or at the base of the pole to deter ants and mites, soap the inside of the box or spray cooking oil on the top inside of the box to deter wasps, or use Snake B Gon at the base of the pole. She stated that you should never spray bug killer inside of the box.
Laura also discussed nest activity of the bluebirds. The female lays one egg a day. The eggs can be blue or white. After the last egg is laid, the female starts the incubation period which is 11 to 19 days. This allows the chicks to hatch at about the same time. Sometimes the female delays incubation due to cold weather. If there is a problem with the nest, wait 21 days before removing abandoned eggs and nest. Once the chicks hatch, they will be in the nest for 17 to 21 days before fledging (leaving the nest.)
Why count your eggs? Always count your eggs to determine the best start date for incubation, when eggs should hatch or have been abandoned, when chicks are ready to fledge based on the hatching date and if any eggs or chicks are missing. Sometimes they are pushed to the bottom of the nest.
VII. Our Mission:
Laura stated that our mission is dedicated to increasing and protecting the bluebird population in Bella Vista. Every monitor, trail boss and box builder working together helps us fulfill that mission.
To keep our volunteers healthy, she recommended that everyone watch for ticks that are abundant in NWA. She advised using permethrin spray on your shoes and clothes. That can be purchased at local stores.
VIII. Presentation by Denise DeMaio Klinger, Certified Arkansas Master Naturalist:
Denise has been a Master Naturalist since 2012 and is a Certified Interpretive Guide who has led birding hikes in Arizona and Oregon prior to coming to NWA. Arkansas Master Naturalists are volunteer educators, citizen scientists and stewards of the environment striving to protect and preserve Arkansas' natural beauty. Denise and her husband Jim love to hike the BV trails.
Science Magazine in 1979 states that 3 billion birds have been lost in North America in the past 50 years. This is a loss of 30 percent of all birds due to loss of natural habitat. There has been a tremendous growth in urban areas. In NWA, we are expected to double our population in 25 years. We have a fractured habitat with all the housing developments. Use of pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers is killing bird food (bugs) along with climate change and housecats.
The economic impact shows that 47 million people spend $9.3 B on bird related activities. Most importantly, it’s the impact to the ecosystem for pest management, seed dispersal and pollination. She discussed solutions to give people a way to combat the loss. For example, when DDT was banned in in 1972, the eagle population recovered.
What makes a healthy habitat? Food, water, cover and nest sites. The key is native plants as they support the bugs that feed the birds. 97% of terrestrial birds feed their young insects. For example, 5,000 to 9,000 insects are needed to feed a brook of chickadees. Native plants are better adapted to climate and rainfall.
For example: White oaks can support over 500 species of caterpillar; fruit and nut bearing trees provide food, shelter and nest sites; canopy and understory allow specialists a place to live; planting redundantly allows more than one species for the same task; planting in clusters provides shelter from predators and flowering plants provide nectar April to October. She recommended feeding birds in the off season, but feeders need to be cleaned often with hot water and the ground needs to be cleaned of spillage to prevent snakes. Provide cover with plants and hedges, provide clean water and provide nesting areas with boxes or leaving dead tree snags 10-15 inches high for woodpeckers.
Other tips for supporting healthy habitats: Eliminate pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers and use organic products; minimize turf; don’t forget bees with bee houses, bird baths and misters, bee lawns and butterfly gardens; bats and amphibians need help also. She advised that the Benton Cooperative Extension Office is a good resource for drawing up a plan. She suggested to start small with natives and replace as plants age out, involve grandkids, gift someone a bird book, bird house or seed; talk to friends and neighbors and educate them about native plants.
Speak up, speak out, take action!
Photo courtesy of Debbie Rasberry