Nature and Gardening: Fun with Science

When researchers can’t be everywhere at once, they rely on a crowd sourcing type of data collection called citizen science. After training, ordinary citizens can contribute their findings to research. James River Master Naturalists participate in many citizen science projects in Powhatan and Goochland. Some members contribute to salamander studies, bird counts, Easter Spotted Skunk surveys, frog studies and bluebird monitoring.

After training, our small group of naturalists set up a new bluebird trail consisting of eight boxes, for weekly monitoring and data collection. The North American Bluebird Society and Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology track monitoring efforts and bluebird population data. Back in the 1970s, the bluebird population reached a 70 percent decline, mostly due to habitat loss and competition for nesting cavities from non native species such as house sparrows and starlings. Today, bluebird boxes, trails and monitoring have all proven successful in reestablishing the bluebird population.

Preparation for the new Powhatan trail began in January, when we assembled the wood boxes, baffles, poles and hardware. Baffles deter snakes, raccoons and other predators. Next we scouted locations with the help of two experienced birders. A bluebird box needs some open space, afternoon shade in the heat of summer and trees nearby, but no overhanging branches that might enable a snake to drop down on a box. Finally, our team gathered to install the boxes.

By mid February the new bluebird project officially began. Early weekly monitoring reports so far have been varied. Volunteers have found wasp nests, a tree swallow nest lined with soft feathers and filled with white eggs, and a mossy chickadee nest topped with wool from sheep on a nearby farm and filled with eggs. Some bird species simply compete for next boxes but others will destroy the bluebird eggs or young. Hopefully bluebirds will soon find the six, new unoccupied boxes awaiting them.

Bluebirds have two to four broods a season. The female lays four to six blue eggs. She lays one a day and when the last egg is laid, she then begins to incubate them. Eggs hatch about 17 days after the first one is laid. Nestlings occupy the nest from 17 to 21 days before fledging. Old nests should be removed each time a brood fledges. Bluebirds catch and eat insects, although they will eat berries in winter when fewer insects are available. Both parents catch insects to feed the young. They also remove the fledglings’ waste, which are small white sacs, to keep the nest clean.