Bluebird Populations Growing

Story by Mary Miller

Eastern Bluebird Photos by Mary Miller and Sherry Keller

Last year, when hurricanes Milton and Helene blew through the area, we were concerned that the bluebird trails would be affected, and we hoped that the birds (and bats), and their boxes would weather the storms OK. Once it was over, however, it seemed they did very well with only a couple of bluebird boxes and one bat house with a little damage. Fortunately, the birds and bats seemed to come through the storms well, and thus far we’ve had a productive nesting season.

Nesting season began March 1 and runs through mid-August, so we are half way through this nesting season. Since the beginning of March, we have had 284 fledglings (mostly Eastern Bluebirds, but also Tufted Titmice, Carolina Chickadees, and Carolina Wrens).  We still have over 2 months to go and expect the number of fledglings to almost double.

As you probably already know, since the Evening Bats were roosting and nesting in our bluebird boxes, we also installed 4 bat houses to encourage the Evening Bats to roost and nest in their own bat houses instead of in our bluebird boxes. The 5th bat house was built years ago by an Eagle Scout, and that was the house that had the damaged roof. Flatwoods Rangers went right to work and put on a new roof, and the Evening Bats have returned to that house. So right now, all 5 Bat Houses are occupied

Tampa Audubon’s first Bluebird (BB) Trail began at Flatwoods Park in the 1970s with 38 boxes. We have not only expanded the Flatwoods Trail to 56 boxes, but now have 7 other trails that are also successfully fledging BBs chicks.

We are happy to have added Carrollwood Village Park to our list of Tampa Audubon Society sponsored Bluebird Trails. Monitor Sonya Rose installed 2 boxes in the park in February and remarkably, both boxes have had 2 nestings each. They may even end up with 3 nestings before the end of the season in August.

In addition to Carrollwood Village Park, we have 7 other parks with BB Trails. In northeastern Hillsborough County, we have Lake Park (monitors Joni Hartzler, & husband Gary Krotz). In North western HC, we have Hunter’s Green (Patricia O’Brien Giglia and Ann Haviland), Flatwoods Park (Mary Miller, Sherry Keller, & Roxie Custalow), Sargeant’s Park (Roxie Custalow), and Lettuce Lake Park (Sherry Keller). In south county we have Lithia Spring Park (Nancy Eydmann & Carolyn Persad), and MacDill AFB (Mic McCarty & Lynn Mitchell).

Thanks to our dedicated BB Monitors at each park and our BB sponsors and supporters who support this project and keep it going strong!

Mary Miller

Tampa Audubon Society

Bluebird Trail Coordinator

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