Bluebirds Make Village Home

More pale and slightly smaller than a Robin's egg, laid in a carefully woven grassy nest, the Eastern Bluebird has two nests underway at Sherwood Forest Golf Course! Stay informed as these families progress.

You can help Bluebirds by removing House Sparrow nests every week from boxes in your yard. House Sparrows are not protected, will kill Bluebirds and in fact the DNR encourages you to keep them from nesting. The easiest thing to do is simply plug your box and enjoy its appearance.

Bluebird arrival on new trail

There are 17 boxes up at the Sherwood Forest G.C. and the battle to remove invasive House Sparrows was arduous. But our efforts have paid off. A pair of beautiful Bluebirds just built a nest near an oak grove. Perfect. Early morning sun, mid afternoon shade, low grasses for easy feeding. The remaining boxes are nearly full with Tree Swallows leaving just 4 boxes available for bluebirds seeking a second nesting. Welcome Bluebirds. We await thee.

Sherwood Forest GC Bluebird Trail

Diane and I had a super day today, though the weather was miserable, as we found several Tree Swallow nests, #9 and #10 with 2 and 6 pure white eggs respectively. Three other boxes have completed Swallow nests and we should have egg laying soon. On the maintenance front, We set 4 traps and successfully removed 2 male House Sparrows. It is very desireable to get the male as the female will generally move from that location. We also had 4 boxes that had House Sparrow eggs already totaling 11 which we disposed of. the disruption may encourage them to nest behind the sign at the hardware store and leave our boxes open for bluebirds.

SFGC Bluebird Trail Report 4/23

Tree Swallow nests have been started in 6 nestboxes (#2, 4, 5, 8 10, 11). They are a neat placement of cupped grasses unlike the previous post showing a House Sparrow nest; sloppily built right to the roof. There are no bluebirds apparent at this time. I trapped and destroyed 3 House Sparrows and 2 eggs. Box #9 had a dead Tree Swallow (seen here), with a House Sparrow nest built atop her. Devils. The male HS will enter the box immediately after the Swallow, trapping her and peck her to death with that vicious seed-eating beak. Yes I'm mad. It was good intention that lured that Swallow to her death. Vigilance must prevail.

4/18 Sherwood Forest Bluebird Update

Diane and I set off at 8:00am to check the 17 nestbox bluebird trail. We found box #2 had a partial nest that looks promising as a bluebird nest though none were in sight. Several others have active Tree Swallow pairs claiming boxes. We also found the expected diligence of House Sparrows. These nests are sloppy, filling the box with all kinds of grasses and trash. These nests were removed in accordance with BRAW guidelines.

If you would like to assist in monitoring this trail, let us know.

Bluebird Trail - Sherwood Forest Golf Course

The baseline nestbox check on Sunday showed that Tree Swallows have arrived in forced. They are amazing flyers with irridescent blue uppers and white lower parts and a lovely liquid chortle they speak to each other. The nests for bluebirds and swallows will begin in earnest now. A male was spotted along the 3rd hole. I am trapping non-native House Sparrows. If you're curious about this process, feel free to invite me to show you.