Birdbox Replacement

After over 20 years of use by generations of chestnut-backed chickadees, the birdbox on the big Douglas fir finally wore out.  Another bird, perhaps a woodpecker, had excavated a hole in the side and was in the process of stuffing it with shredded cedar bark.  I never saw the usurper.  The old birdbox had been occupied by chickadees every spring, except one year when I didn't clean it out, bumblebees took it over.

I went out to Wild Birds Unlimited and bought a brand new replacement birdbox, one constructed of fine-grained cedar with a metal-clad roof.  This one should last another 20 years.  The old birdbox was nailed to a young cedar out in front.  Maybe bumblebees will take it over again or maybe a family of wrens.

The old and the new.

A big hole in the side and smaller holes made by powder post beetles.

The new birdbox ready and waiting.

Bird Boxes

We have two bird boxes around our house.  The ideal time to clean them out is about August or September, right after nesting season.  At work I'm very focused on deadlines and schedules.  At home I downshift into a slower, less frenzied pace.  Because of that, the bird boxes usually don't get cleaned until January or February, just before nesting season.

Here's the location of bird box #1, about 12 feet up on the trunk of a large Douglas fir just on the other side of our back fence (photo in May 2010).

Bird box #1 has been used by chestnut-backed chickadees for almost 20 years, except for one year when I didn't clean it out and it was colonized by bumblebees.

Bird box #2 was moved out by our back door last year and black-capped chickadees nested here for the first time.  Before I moved it by the back door it was hanging in an old camellia bush and was used only once by house wrens.

This year's clean out shows the chickadee's nests constructed of moss and lined with soft fuzz and dog hair, no doubt from our dog.

Doing yard work, trimming back western sword ferns that create a fern grotto in a corner of the backyard, I found a couple nests.  These are probably spotted towhee nests, who keep their nests low.  The outer foundation layer is shredded cedar bark then lined with woven grass.

Grilling Steaks and Learning Things

A tri-tip steak takes about 20 minutes or so to grill.  Setting up the grill and taking a few sips of beer brings your outdoor time to somewhere over a half an hour.  Here's what I learned in that half hour:

• The chestnut-backed chickadees are back in their bird box for almost 20 years straight, except for the season I didn't clean it out and a bumblebee colony occupied it.
• I learned the song of the black-headed grosbeak by patiently listening, then finally observing the singer.
• I think I know the general area of a robin's nest by seeing them fly into the woods in exactly the same spot several times.