Bluebird Nesting Box Trail

Bluebird Nesting Box
Trail Project

Pendleton Bird Club members got together recently to assemble 19 Bluebird nesting boxes for the Bluebird nesting box trail project. Boxes were constructed from "Tight-Knot Grade" red cedar in the garage of Jack Simons. Detailed nesting box plans were provided by Club member Aaron Skirvin while Kelly's Lumber Supply of Pendleton supplied enough material (at a discounted cost) to construct 19 cedar nesting boxes. In addition to these 19 boxes, Club member Dave Herr generously donated an additional 10 boxes for the trail project bringing the total number of boxes installed at various locations in 2003 to 29.

Two species of Bluebirds live within Umatilla County ― the Mountain Bluebird and the Western Bluebird. Nesting habitat for both species is similar ― wherever trees and open ground mix, including open savannas which are found in certain locations south and east of Pendleton in the nearby Blue Mountains. Club members have observed both species of bluebirds on birding trips south of Pendleton (at Battle Mountain State Park and the Albee / Ukiah area) and southeast of Pendleton in the Poverty Flats area which is only 20 minutes from downtown Pendleton.

Right: Pendleton Bird Club’s first Bluebird nesting box – installed on a majestic Ponderosa Pine – Battle Mountain State Park, October 2003.

The purpose of creating a Bluebird nesting box trail was 1) to increase secondary nesting sites for the local Bluebird population, 2) to stabilize or increase declining bluebird populations in selected areas and 3) increase public awareness of the importance of maintaining natural habitat for healthy bird populations. Unlike woodpeckers, bluebirds can not excavate a nesting hole, however, they will readily nest in a woodpecker hole or nesting box. Up until recently, these secondary nesting sites were most often found in dead or decaying trees. However, the cutting of dead trees by the public for firewood has significantly reduced nesting tree sites thus making it difficult for Bluebirds to successfully reproduce.

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Aaron tests the door on a box installed at the Berry’s property while June records GPS coordinates – Poverty Flats.		Aaron Skirvin adjusts a nesting box on a fence post at Brunett’s property – Poverty Flats.
Diana Lasarge looks on as Aaron installs a box at the Zenger’s residence while June Whitten records GPS coordinates.		Diana Lesarge looks on as June Whitten and Aaron Skirvin make final adjustments to a nesting box at Brunett's residence – Poverty Flats.
Aaron Skirvin adjusts a nesting box on a tree trunk while Diana and June assist – Poverty Flats.		This is NOT a Bluebird nest!!! June and Duane Whitten and Aaron Skirvin discovered what appears to be a rodent's nest in one of the Bluebird nesting boxes while cleaning out the boxes during the fall of 2005. Was the home owner the inquisitive Short-tailed Weasel (see below) observed nearby? Club members left the nesting material in the box for someone's winter accommodations.
Inquisitive Short-tailed Weasel seen near one of the club's Bluebird nesting boxes along Albee Road.		"I see ya!" Short-tailed Weasel coming out of the rock jack below the nesting box to see what all of the fuss is about! Thanks for sharing your photos, Duane!