Birdwatching Tree swallows and a call for bluebirds!

Published 10:03 am Tuesday, June 30, 2015

Tree swallows have nested in the Tarlatt Unit of the Willapa National Wildlife Refuge for many years. The bird boxes on 95th Street are one of their favorite locales.

Robert Zimmerman responded to my request to build five more “bluebird boxes.” They were installed in April. Within a few minutes, a pair of tree swallows decided to make this box their home. All of the others are also now occupied by tree swallows.

In order to attract the bluebirds to nest among the tree swallows, a few nesting boxes are placed in close proximity to another box. Since some species don’t like to nest too close to another pair of their own kind, it is hoped eventually one of these boxes that have been put closer together than usual will be left for a bluebird. Time will tell whether this strategy works. If not perhaps the boxes can be moved even closer together!

A few years ago, I photographed a Western bluebird foraging in the Tarlatt Unit along its western boundary. Two bluebird boxes that were made by and donated by Robert were installed last year with the hope that another Western bluebird might find them and call one of them home. So far, the bluebird hasn’t taken up the Refuge’s offering.

Both the 95th and 85th streets are projects of hope. Hoping for a bluebird to nest in the Refuge is not as far-fetched, as it may seem, even though it is considered hard to find.

In the last few years, there have been many sightings of Western bluebirds in the fall on the Stringtown Road. They find food there so they can fatten up for their migration to warmer climes.

So, don’t give up hope! The Refuge has helped us to make it possible for the Western bluebird to make its home here on the Peninsula. Think positively!