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By Don Bissonnette

By Don Bissonnette

 In 2020, the Essex County Field Naturalists’ Club’s Bluebird Committee collected statistics from 32 Bluebird trails, with a total of 208 birdhouses. This is very similar to the 2019 nesting season, where we collected statistics from 210 houses.

2020 was a good year for Bluebirds here in Essex County. We counted 25 successful pairs of Bluebirds, which produced 115 fledglings. This is a slight increase from 2019, when we had 22 successful pairs of Bluebirds with 108 fledglings. 

The local Tree Swallow population saw a slight decrease in 2020. In 2019, we counted 158 successful pairs of Tree Swallows, with 714 fledglings. In 2020, we had 136 successful pairs of Tree Swallows with 623 fledglings

Our numbers would have been higher, but there were a few Bluebirders that did not share their 2020 statistics with us. Some of these Bluebirders have been sharing their statistics with us for many years. It is worrisome, when we don’t hear from people, especially after a few e-mails and phone messages. During these pandemic times, we wonder if these Bluebirders are sick, or in the hospital. 

On a positive note, we added 2 Bluebirders to our list of Affiliate Bluebirders:
> Barb Ferguson has a Bluebird trail at her Arbor Herb and Lavender Farm, near Cottam, Ont. Welcome Barb!
> Les Kummer has 3 Bluebird trails set up in LaSalle, Ont. These 3 trails have a total of 18 birdhouses. Welcome, Les!

NEWS FROM THE BLUEBIRD TRAILS​

Easy Hunting For Mr. & Mrs.  Bluebird.​ 

Gerard Tuckette reported some interesting Bluebird behaviour at his farm near Harrow in 2020. A pair of Bluebirds started a spring nest in early April. Mrs. Bluebird laid a clutch of 4 eggs.  According to my calculations, these eggs were due to hatch around May 5. Unfortunately, a pair of House Sparrows threw their eggs on the ground, and attempted to build a nest of their own.

The Bluebirds relocated to a new birdhouse, just 15 feet from the Purple Martin Gourd rack. Mrs. Bluebird laid a small clutch; only 2 eggs. A single male Bluebird hatched around May 4. About 1 week later, the Purple Martin eggs began to hatch. Soon, there were 26 nestling Martins. The 10 adult Martins worked hard, to keep their nestlings fed. Sometimes, a Martin would land on his porch, with several insects in his beak.  Occasionally, as an adult Martin landed on his porch, he would drop an insect, or insects. These fallen insects ended up on the lawn, just below the gourd rack. Mr. and Mrs. Bluebird were quick to notice the dead and dying insects on the lawn, below the gourd rack. This was easy hunting!  It was convenient too, just 15 feet from their birdhouse. There were 3 hunting perches to choose from; the handle of the winch, and 2 wooden posts nearby. Both Mr. and Mrs. Bluebird inspected this area, a dozen or more times each day. 

The young male Bluebird fledged around June 21. His parents continued to pick up the Martins fallen insects, until the last young Martins fledged, about July 20.

The Case of The Missing Eggs​.

At Tuckette Farm, a pair of Tree Swallows settled into house #2. By late May, Mrs. Tree Swallow was sitting on 6 eggs. These eggs were expected to hatch around June 10. On the evening of June 14, I monitored this trail. I expected to find small nestling Tree Swallows, in house #2.  But, NO!, the nest was empty; no eggs, and no nestlings.  The nest was clean, so I left it in place. The grease on the pole was not disturbed, so I knew that whoever took the eggs, was not a mammal or a snake. 

On June 19, I discovered that the nest in House #2 had recently received a fresh layer of nesting material.  There were 2 new Tree Swallow eggs.  These eggs hatched on June 30. Both young birds fledged successfully, around July 20. 

On July 26, I removed the old nest from House #2. I found those 6 eggs that had vanished in mid-June!  All 6 eggs were buried in the nest, under an inch of straw. The adult Tree Swallows had buried the eggs, by adding the fresh layer of nesting material.  I can only hypothesize why the Tree Swallows buried their original clutch of eggs.  Perhaps the eggs were infertile, or the embryos died, due to lack of incubation, during a cold spell. 

FIRSTS IN 2020​

1st Tree Swallow… .. was reported on March 18, by Don Bissonnette. This single bird was at Tuckette farm, near Harrow, Ont.  Later that same day, Ron Delcourt reported Tree Swallows at the Holiday Beach Conservation Area. 

  A good number of Tree Swallows arrived in our area, on March 25 and 26.  John Balga, Alex Michinski, and Dennis Shady all reported Tree Swallows, at their homes, on those dates.  

1st Purple Martin… ..was reported by Gil Breton, on March 30. Gil saw this single male Martin, at 8:30 am at his home, North of Woodslee, Ont.

1st Tree Swallow Eggs… ..were found by Bev Ferguson, at her farm near Cottam, Ont. on May 19.  Bev reported that she had 2 Tree Swallow nests, each with a single egg.

Van Ert Live Traps​  I recently received an order of Van Ert live traps. I am selling them at cost. >$18.50 each. Pick up at my front door can be arranged. If you would like to buy one, or more, give me a call. …Don Bissonnette. ..(519) 738-3279

Thank You​ to everyone involved in Bluebird and Tree Swallow conservation here in Essex County, Ontario. 

Thank You​ to everyone who made Financial contributions, to our Bluebird Committee over the past few years. The Essex County Field Naturalists Club sends out Charitable Tax Receipts, to every-one make who sends our Committee a contribution.  Thanks again, & Best Wishes for the 2021 Nesting Season.   …Don Bissonnette  …(519) 738-3279.

By Jessica Middleton

The Essex County Field Naturalists Club’s Executive Committee is pleased to recognize Steve Marks for making significant contributions to the club and local nature with the 2020 ECFN Outstanding Achievement Award.

“Steve the Snake Guy”, as he is known, served on the Executive Committee from 2015-2020. During this time, he has worked on the Herb-Gray Parkway Project (aka the “Eco Highway”), volunteered in several Citizen Science initiatives, given many presentations and guided-hikes, and written articles for The Egret. His efforts have gifted countless people with a greater appreciation for snakes and other plants and animals, and improved our understanding and protection of Species at Risk and their habitats. His passion and commitment for nature inspire everyone who has the chance to get to know him.

Steve was presented with the award at a surprise outdoor ceremony beside the Ojibway Prairie on Dec. 10th. President Paul Pratt presented the award, and past executive member and previous Lifetime Achievement Award winner Carl Maiolani gave an excellent speech.

Congratulations Steve Marks for winning the 2020 ECFNC Outstanding Achievement Award! We thank you for setting such a good example for all of us.