Bluebird Notes
NCBS Logo with Carolina Blue by Dempsey Essick
PUBLISHED BY
The North Carolina Bluebird Society
www.ncbluebird.org
NCBS is an
affiliate of NABS.
December 2011 through February 2012
North Carolina
Bluebird Society
Mission Statement
Volume 27 Issue 1
NCBS 2012 Annual Meeting
Our goal is to
support activities
that foster the
resurgence of
bluebirds and other
cavity nesting birds
in our home areas.
Inside this issue:
Bluebird Tales
2-3
eBird
5
Blue Birds aren’t Really
Blue
7
NCBS 2011 Bluebird
Survey
The Xbox
8-9
10-11
Map & Directions for
2012 NCBS Meeting
12
Program for 2012
NCBS Meeting
13
Hotel Information for
2012 NCBS Meeting
14
Spotlight on a New
County Coordinator
15
Dr. Lynn Siefferman (upper left) is a NCBS board member and Assistant Professor. Department: Behavioral Ecology at Appalachian State University in Boone, NC. Her bird
of choice is the Bluebird.
Alexandra Bentz (upper right) and Amanda Doyle (left) are
two of her graduate students. Alexandra specializes in female tree swallows and their social environment. Amanda
investigates supplemental feeding in bluebirds.
Lynn will be doing an update on the Eastern Bluebirds.
Mike Lubbock (photo below) is the Executive Director of
the Sylvan Heights Bird Park near Scotland Neck, NC. It is
home to 15,000 waterfowl. Several prominent naturalists
claim that without the dedicated efforts of Mike Lubbock
and the staff at Sylvan Heights, a number of waterfowl
species would already be extinct today. Come and listen
to his update of this amazing facility.
Jim Burke (left) is the
founder of the South
Carolina Bluebird Society
which was established
October 19, 2010. They
will host the NABS annual meeting in 2013.
PAGE 2
B LU E B I R D N O T E S
Bluebird Notes
Issue 26 Vol. 3
Ray Welch– 2012 President
Co-Chair County Coordinator Program
(336)-764-0226
[email protected]
Open Position - Vice-President
[email protected]
Bob Wolk-2012 Recording Secretary
(919)848-4812.
[email protected]
David Hindsley – 2012 Records Chair
[email protected]
VOLUM E 27 I S S UE 1
Bluebird
Tales
Bluebirds at the Feeder
We had 2 successful Bluebird nesting's this year. One in each of
the 2 new Bluebird houses. We have been watching the babies &
parents feeding at our kitchen window. Some of the photos aren't
as good ass I would like ... but they are OK.
Kay Hindsley – 2012 Corres. Sec.
(252) 823-0737
[email protected]
Carrie Helston - 2013 Treasurer
[email protected]
Joye Stephenson- 2012 Director
(919) 773-1927 [email protected]
Glenda Ryan - 2013 Director,
Web Administrator (919)-266-0500
[email protected]
Cheryl Gay– 2013 Director
[email protected]
Jim Jochum– 2013 Director
[email protected]
The "menu" at our kitchen window restaurant includes ... the
"homemade" suet, meal worms, and blueberries. All of our other
types of birds like the menu too! I have seen at least 4 Bluebird
babies on the feeder at one time, but the camera/operator was not
ready!
Tony Nicosia– 2013 Director
[email protected]
Lynn Siefferman– 2013 Director
[email protected]
Robert Warmuth– 2013 Director
[email protected]
Bill Satterwhite—Honorary Director
(919) 787-5248 [email protected]
Christine Ammons
Store Manager (828) 287-3502
[email protected]
Helen S. Munro – Immediate Past-president
& Editor
(910) 673-6936 [email protected]
We have also been seeing a Squirrel eating the Red Dogwood
Berries on one of our trees. I just looked out today, and it was
there for a "brief" amount of time. Not the best photo, but lucky
to catch it.
Frank Ripp, Whispering Pines, NC
VOLUM E 27 I S S UE 1
B LU E B I R D N O T E S
PAGE 3
Bluebird Tales
Where did the birds go this fall?
Email sent on 11/18/2011
From: Wild Birds Unlimited,
For the past few weeks, bird feeding
activity has practically dropped to
zero. Don't be alarmed, this is a
natural phenomenon that happens
every year at this time. Essentially
the weather in October and November tends to heavily favor the birds
and the availability of natural food
and water sources tends to be higher
than any other time of the year. Also
populations are approaching a low
point considering some birds have
left for the winter, others haven't arrived from the north yet, and many of the baby birds
from this past spring and summer simply didn't
make it. So with more food and fewer birds to fight
for it, there is usually more than enough to go
around. Fortunately birds are smart enough to
choose natural food sources first, which leaves all of
us bird lovers out in the cold for a few weeks.
This actually raises another point: there are some
folks who believe the feeding of birds makes them
dependent on humans for their food supply. What is
happening now is the best evidence that disproves
that hypothesis. Simply put: when the birds don't
need our food, they don't eat our food. So why then
are our feeders usually so busy the other 10 or 11
months of the year? Basically, bird feeding is not
only a source of wonder, amazement, and joy for so
many people, but also a key component to healthy
bird populations. There are many complex interlinking factors at play. First, as we are all aware, natural
habitats have been decimated after decades of development. There are fewer and fewer natural food and
water sources, and nesting and
breeding locations each
year. Without bird feeding, the
"natural" state of bird populations
would rise in years with good
weather conditions - such as mild
and wet Springs and Summers,
and temperate Winters, and fall in
years with harsh conditions - such
as the unusually hot, dry Summers and frigid cold Winters
we've experienced the past few
years. Bird feeding gives bird
populations a fighting chance
against weather extremes and levels out wild swings in population
densities. Furthermore, during nesting season, dependable access to fresh food and water provided by
bird feeding enthusiasts gives the birds more time
for other extremely important daily activities, such
as: finding suitable, protected nesting sights, defending their nests and young, cleaning their feathers, and conserving energy... all of which reduces
stress and makes for happier, healthier birds!
One last tidbit: most people also don't know this,
but water is far more important to birds than
food. Think about how hard it can be to find a suitable source of liquid water for the birds during a
harsh, cold winter (or a hot, dry summer). Songbirds don't swim and are are apprehensive at the
edge of large lakes or ponds, so they have to find
another source. It can be harder than you think. If
you don't already, please consider providing a source
of clean water for your bird friends.
Sincerely,
Jon Davis, Aberdeen, NC
B LU E B I R D N O T E S
PAGE 4
VOLUM E 27 I S S UE 1
North Carolina Bluebird Society
NORTH CAROLINA BLUEBIRD SOCIETY
MEMBERSHIP FORM
North Carolina Bluebird Society Dues:
(
) 1 Year ($10.00)
(
) 3 Years ($25.00)
Name
_________________________________________
Address _________________________________________
Contributions to the Newsletter
Sharing Bluebird information and stories make this an
unique publication
Please submit to: Helen Munro, Co-editor
22 Bobolink Rd. Jackson Springs, NC 27281
Phone - (910) 673-6936
Fax - (910) 673-7345
e-mail - [email protected]
City, State & Zip___________________________________
County __________________________________________
Phone # _________________________________________
E-mail address_____________________________________
I prefer to access the NCBS Bluebird Notes newsletter via the
Internet rather than have it mailed to me.
Yes
No
Access information will be sent to the E-mail address you furnished including advance notification of membership expiration.
If you elect to receive the Bluebird Notes newsletter by mail,
your Membership Expiration appears on your Mailing Label.
Please complete this form and send it with your check made
payable to "NCBS" to:
North Carolina Bluebird Society
ATTN: David Hindsley
135 Lakeview Drive
Tarboro, NC 27886
I am interested in:
_____ Assisting with the annual meeting
_____ Serving as a NCBS Board Member
_____ Helping with the newsletter
_____ Conducting a bluebird workshop
_____ Contacting my local paper with news
_____ Volunteering to be a NCBS County Coordinator
_____ Other (please explain)
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
Dr. David Pitt spoke at NCBS 2009. He has written a book,
"Studying Eastern Bluebirds." It can be purchased for $24
($20 for the book, $4 for shipping) from him (David Pitts,
286 Winstead Rd., Martin, TN 38237) or from Amazon.com. David will gladly take personal checks.
Babies helping babies
Attached are a couple of photos from our bluebird
boxes this past summer.
This particular box had a first brood of 5 babies.
The second brood consisted of 4 babies. As far as
we know, all 9 fledglings lived.
Interestingly, the first-born birds stayed around to
help care for the second group. Several times in
our back yard under the sprinkler, we counted 9
bluebirds!
Ronnie Hucks, Florence, SC
VOLUM E 27 I S S UE 1
B LU E B I R D N O T E S
PAGE 5
eBird
Editor’s Note: I have been
looking for general data on
the Eastern Bluebird and
it’s current range. The map
to the right shows the range
in September. This map actually shows the data all
year and as a result this
range expands and contracts depending on the time
of year.
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
is one of many organizations that sponsors and contributes data to this web
site. The address is http://
ebird.org/content/ebird.
The information below is
from http://ebird.org/content/ebird/about/occurrence
-maps/eastern-bluebird. Some material has been
deleted.
“Eastern Bluebird is a vibrant and much-adored
thrush that has now recovered from a low population dip of the mid-1900s. Nest box programs
throughout the species' range have driven much of
its rebound, and it is now common in most areas
east of the Rockies. Partially migratory, it breeds
into Maine and southern Canada, but withdraws
southward in October and November, returning
north in March and April. …...
In general, these maps are scaled to show us where
most of the higher occurrence areas are…... Anytime
we consider bird ranges, it is worth considering that
there is no right or wrong answer to where the
boundaries are drawn: bird ranges are dynamic and
variable. Even your field guide is inconsistent in
where and when small outlier populations are shown
or ignored.
Photo to the left was submitted by Ann
Weaver (Kenley, NC). There are five eggs
and one recently hatched bluebird. This
total of six eggs is one more than the norm.
Photo to the right was submitted by
Theresa Korab (Apex NC). This male bluebird is enjoying “food in a cup” on top of
one of Jack Finch’s Homes for Bluebirds
nest boxes.
As editor, I am pleased to include as many
bluebird pictures as I am sent. My apologies when I run out of room, or mislay your
email or just plain forget. Please keep the
pictures coming.
Helen S. Munro
PAGE66
PAGE
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O
BBBLU
LUEEEBBBIIR
IRRD
NO
OTTTEEESSS
VOLUM E 27 I S S UE 1
VOLUM E 27 I S S UE 1
Bluebirds, Inside the Nest Box
Recorded by the Cornell Birdhouse Network
Summer 1999
Produced by the North Carolina Bluebird Society
DVD available for $12.00 including shipping and handling.
MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO: NCBS.
SEND ORDER & CHECK TO:
Ms. Christine Ammons, 670 Nanneytown Rd., Union Mills, NC 28167-8762
North Carolina Bluebird Society Products
Description of Item
Cost
Postage Included
Magnets with Bluebird & Dogwood
$ 4.00
Magnets with State Outline/Bluebird
$ 4.00
Bluebird Earrings (pierced)
$ 7.00
Caps with NCBS Logo
$ 13.00
Bluebird Note Cards (12)
$ 12.00
Carolina Blue Tote Bags
$ 15.00
Carolina Blue T-Shirts
by Dempsey Essick (S, M, L, XL)
$ 20.00
Lands End blue knitted shirts with
$ 35.00
NCBS Logo (S, M, L, XL)
Cloisonné Bluebird Pins (1inch, 4 colors) $ 5.00
Bluebirds Forever (12 page booklet)
$ 3.00
2 copies
$ 4.50
3 copies
$ 6.00
On the Wings of a Song—CD
$ 8.00
Bluebirds, Inside the Nestbox DVD
$ 12.00
( DVD special 2 for $20; 3 for $30; 6 for $60)
Metal Nest Box Tags (10 tags)
$ 6.00
New Item: 550 piece puzzle of Dempsey
Essick’s “The Fledgling”.
$ 20.00
No.
Wanted
X______
X______
X______
X______
X______
X______
Total
=______
=______
=______
=______
=______
=______
X______
X______
=______
=______
X______
X______
X______
X______
X______
X______
=______
=______
=______
=______
=______
=______
X______
=______
X______
=______
Total = ______
MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO:NCBS.
SEND ORDER & CHECK TO:
Ms. Christine Ammons, 670 Nanneytown Rd., Union Mills, NC 28167-8762
Prices good through 12/2011
Date of your order is _____________________
BBLU
LUEEBBIIRRD
DN
NO
OTTEESS
VOLUM E 27 I S S UE 1
PAGE
PAGE 77
Blue Birds aren’t Really Blue
The world has many blue birds, but none of them
have blue feathers. Promise. Your brain think that
those feathers are blue, but only because the birds’
feathers are shaped to trick your eyes.
See Red
Most feathers create their colors the same way that
paints and crayons do—with
pigments. Pigments make colors
by breaking sunlight (and other
white light) apart. A pigment
will absorb some of the wavelengths that ride in on a sunbeam, but will reflect other
ones. When some of these reflected wavelengths land inside
our eyes, we see them as colors.
Take the pigment chlorophyll.
Plants manufacture it and store
it in their leaves. Let the Sun shine on a leaf, and its
chlorophyll will capture almost all of the visible
light riding in with the beam. But, chlorophyll rejects a few of the light waves, too, including the
ones that we see as green. When they bound into our
eyes, the leaf look verdant (green).
Other pigments work the same way. We see red in
the light reflecting off red pigments and yellow in
the light that bounces off the yellow ones.
peer inside an orange feather, and orange pigments
will peer right back. The inside of the feather will
look as orange as the outside.
But, pick up a blue feather and that all changes. No
bird, no matter how blue, has feathers with blue
pigments stuff inside. Magnify a blue feather and
the only pigments you see will be a very dark
brown.
Getting the Blues
Many feathers get their blues the
same way that the sky does, by
scattering light waves without the
help of pigments. In feathers, tiny,
transparent cells, and the transparent bubbles inside some of them,
break apart light waves as they pass
through. Blue-producing wavelengths get scattered hither and yon,
so many reflect back toward our eyes. The other
wavelengths pas straight through and are captured
by the dark pigments lurking below.
In the air, tiny specks of dust and water vapor act
very much like the transparent cells of these feathers. They scatter some of the light waves, especially
the ones that our eyes perceive as blue, and let the
other wavelengths pass through. When the scattered
wavelengths reflect into our eyes, we see nothing
but blue skies.
Jayne Owen Parker, PH.D.,
Feathers of Many Colors
Director
of Conservation Education
Birds that dress in reds, yellows, browns, blacks, and
N.C. Zoo
oranges build these hues by packing pigments inside
Reprinted with permission.
the feathers. Grab a powerful magnifying glass to
Ah, They do Look Blue
We here on Sumner Hobbs Lane in Newton Grove, NC,
have been making some bluebirds. In fact in 2011, we
were stewards of all various species of wildlife.
In the summer of 2011on our property we raised 17
baby Bluebirds, 4 Barn Swallows, 4 Chipping Sparrows,
4 baby rabbits, 7 Yellow Belly Slider turtles, and one
abandoned baby deer, named Buckley.
(Continued on page 15)
PAGE 8
B LU E B I R D N O T E S
VOLUM E 27 I S S UE 1
NCBS 2011
Compiled by Helen S. Munro
Name
city
Theresa (Terry) Korab
Apex
Chuck Bliss
hatche
w/bb # BB eggs d
fledged 1st date
# of
1
1
14
9
9 18-Mar-11
Asheboro
33
29
164
155
149 8-Mar-11
Diane Hankins
Asheville
4
3
19
15
15 15-Apr-11
C.Benson, S. Buchanon, F.Outhwaite
Burlington
30
22
150
129
118 20-Mar-11
Sally Tiller
26
193
176
171 24-Mar-11
147
105
105 7-Mar-11
Cary
27
arol Woods Retirement (Ed Davis
Chapel Hill
26
Lois Herring
Chapel Hill
12
7
40
39
Jim Marks & Friends/Associates
Clayton
39
24
159
142
142 25-Mar-11
Bill Abbey
Clemmons
44
39
312
141
137 21-Mar-11
9
5
25
23
Georgia Pacific BB Trail c/o Virginia Pickles Dudley
Ken Kernodle/Steve McDaniel
Durham
56
41
301
283
Jerry Vicker
34
23
4-Apr-11
4-Apr-11
276 27-Mar-11
Farmville
18
13
110
105
Ethelene Allen
Four Oaks
60
37
284
233
96 26-Mar-11
Diane Woerner
Garner
2
1
13
11
Garner Senior Center c/o J. Stephenson
Garner
1
1
8
8
8
Joye Stephenson & Phil Egan
Garner
2
2
11
7
7 12-Mar-11
Lake Benson Park c/o J. Stephenson
Garner
9
9
65
21
White Deer Park c/o Gail Wall
Garner
6
6
35
12
Darrell & Pam Kirby
223
1-Apr-11
11 13-Mar-11
17
7-Apr-11
3-Apr-11
2 29-Mar-11
Gibsonville
5
5
27
25
25 16-Feb-11
Bryan Park Players Course c/o WBU
Bur-Mil Trailc/o Lynn Roloff for WBU
Greensboro
Greensboro
38
9
36
6
295
39
261
31
254 4-Apr-11
30 13-Apr-11
Robert Rothrock
Greensboro
2
2
14
13
13
The Grand & Golf Course c/o Jim Jochum
Greensboro
15
11
51
40
35 15-Mar-11
Gene Moore
Hickory
1
1
4
4
4 22-May-11
Hickory YMCA c/o Bill Marvin
Hickory
6
3
20
14
12 18-Apr-11
Kristen Dzimitrowiez
Hickory
6
5
53
50
47 16-Mar-11
Lake Hickory CC c/o Robert Warmuth
Hickory
75
63
487
429
425 26-Mar-11
Betty Packler
Holly Springs
Jackson
Springs
Jackson
Springs
2
1
9
8
8 25-Apr-11
77
65
432
275
7
3
14
8
8 30-Apr-11
Mebane Garden Council - Linda Nunemaker Mebane
15
9
64
60
60 16-Apr-11
Ralph A. Killough
13
9
64
59
59
Foxfire Garden Club
Foxfire Village Green Park
Mint Hill
262
1-Apr-11
7-Apr-11
3-Apr-11
Editor’s Note: The date of April 1, 2011 was added to any survey that did not have the date of the first egg
laid in order to make the printout look uniform. With 5561 eggs reported as laid and 4386 bluebirds reported as fledged it means that 79% of the eggs laid became birds that fledged. This percentage, taken
from the past NCBS surveys, ranged from 73% to 84% from 1995 to 2010. so 79% is right in the middle of
that range.
Helen S. Munro
B LU E B I R D N O T E S
VOLUM E 27 I S S UE 1
PAGE 9
Bluebird Survey
Name
city
# of
w/bb # BB eggs hatched fledged 1st date
Linda Julien
Morganton
19
17
128
104
99 19-Apr-11
Virginia Pickles
Mount Olive
5
2
10
10
10 15-Apr-11
Don Elsass
New Bern
5
4
30
20
9 15-Apr-11
Amelia Walker
Olin
4
4
16
16
11 10-Apr-11
Len & Joyce Tufts Family
Pinehurst
18
12
81
71
66
Pinehurst Greenway Wildlife c/o M.Back
Pinehurst
19
18
70
51
50 27-Mar-11
Zane T. Walsh
Purlear
20
13
85
75
60 30-Mar-11
Linda Sukoski
Raleigh
2
1
12
11
11 23-Mar-11
Maggie Goldston
Raleigh
3
2
4
3
Pam Kiernan
Raleigh
9
5
62
59
59
Ravenscroft School c/o Reah Kittelberger
Raleigh
4
3
30
28
28 18-Apr-11
Robert G. Wolk
Raleigh
3
1
3
3
3 19-May-11
Susan Wyatt
Raleigh
24
17
152
131
127 29-Mar-11
The Kittelberger Family
Raleigh
5
0
0
0
0
1-Apr-11
Houston Pyrtle
1-Apr-11
1-Apr-11
2 13-May-11
4-Apr-11
Reidsville
17
16
168
167
167
Jim Felts
Rhonda
39
31
252
199
190 9-Mar-11
Jean & Jim Walker
Southern Pines
59
43
216
162
162
8-Apr-11
Sue Phillips
Spruce Pines
4
1
4
4
4
1-Apr-11
Sue Ligon
Statesville
5
3
20
20
18
8-Apr-11
Brooklyn Breedlove
Union Mills
12
10
104
81
78
3-Apr-11
Bob & Ruth Stolting
West End
16
15
107
89
85
2-Apr-11
Iris & Richard Johnson
West End
10
4
40
36
36
1-Apr-11
Marisa Back
West End
1
1
9
9
9 18-Apr-11
Theresa Moore
Wilkesboro
2
2
9
8
8 21-Mar-11
Ray Welch, Lowes Home Improvement
Winston-Salem
14
13
96
89
89 12-Mar-11
Frank Williams
Winston-Salem
26
20
130
130
130 26-Mar-11
Juanna Wooten
Winston-Salem
12
11
51
48
46
W.F."Farrell" Horton
Winston-Salem
8
4
38
37
37 25-Mar-11
Winston-Salem
2
1
11
10
7 16-May-11
1017
759
5561
4562
Wayne Moore
1-Apr-11
North Carolina by Towns
Totals
# of
Boxes
4386
w/bb # BB eggs hatched fledged
Editor’s Note: Normally the Bluebird Survey Comments are in the February newsletter. This year they
are being moved to the next newsletter in May. There were three people that took advantage of the extra
time for submitting surveys. Each year the NCBS Board debates the relative importance of this survey.
However, it is one of the opportunities for the members to participate in reporting how well our bluebirds
are doing. Thanks for submitting your survey!
Helen S. Munro
PAGE 10
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B LU E B I R D N O T E S
VOLUM E 27 I S S UE 1
VOLUM E 27 I S S UE 1
The Xbox for Bluebirds
This information is from The Bluebird Flyer, the
newsletter of the Michigan Bluebird Society written
by Tom Comfort, Antrim County Coordinator in
Michigan. The Xbox bluebird plans came along with
the following email to Ray Welch:
The Xbox has been field-tested for two years and
has had great reviews for weather resistance, predator or competitor avoidance and the simplicity to
monitor this nestbox has been a real bonus. It is one
of the driest nestboxes on my trail and others
have agreed that it is very good in wind driven rain
storms. The best part is how the bluebirds have
taken to the Xbox.
Bluebird nests are amazingly large and often well
centered in the box. When we paired this nestbox
with any of a large variety of wood nestboxes, the
Xbox was often the box selected for nesting
(bluebirds, tree swallows or chickadees). The Gilwood and boxes with the Gilwood entry were the
only boxes 'preferred' over the Xbox and the Xbox
was always selected over the NABS nestboxes, during the past two years of my field trials. And, fledging rates have been excellent for the Xbox.
If you are interested, we would like to share a copy
of the plans for the Xbox for free distribution.
The plans are excellently drawn by Fred Stille in
Georgia and the notes are very clear.
We look forward to gaining more experience with
the Xbox and encourage people to provide feedback
for further refinements to the design.
I look forward to hearing from you soon so your
members can consider the Xbox for this nesting season.
Please, feel free to contact me if you have any questions.
Thank you,
Tom Comfort
Bellaire Michigan
231.676.0565
[email protected]
The development of the Xbox was led by Dan
Sparks with input from Keith Radel, Kevin Berner,
Keith Kridler, Steve Gilbertson, Steve Eno and
Tom Comfort. With the exception of Tom Comfort, “these are all experienced bluebirders with
knowledge of the pros and cons of nestbox design
and construction.” Their goal was “a simple nestbox (in design and construction), that is protective
(from inclement weather and predators), easy to
monitor, and attractive to bluebirds.”
“This would be a simple nestbox that can be built
with one size board”… avoided “angle cuts.” “The
box needs to stay dry, not be drafty (and have the
option to ventilate, be predator resistant and perhaps, even competitor resistant.”
They “stayed with a flat roof (a larger board—1 X
10) for simplicity. To keep the box dry, even if the
roof were to warp or split, an ‘inner’roof/ceiling
board was included.
“The (6” x 4”) floor does not include ‘drains’. As
Steve Gilbertson said, the box should be tight and
dry.”
Another change was that the hole was increased to
one and nine sixteenth inches from the standard
one and a half.
“Perhaps the most revolutionary committee consensus had little to do with the nestbox, but the
support for predator resistant mounting...This new
box incorporated a (2x2) board across the back of
the roof (similar to the Gilbertson PVC nestbox).
This reduced roof warping, sealed the water out,
and made the roof stronger to mount. The (2x2) is
predrilled for 1/2 inch conduit mounting…..The
box can be mounted in other ways but this system
has been a turning point inn predator avoidance.”
“The group decided to use a front access and to
hinge the front from the bottom. The 5-1/2 inch
frontal opening permitted easy viewing of nests
and nestlings.”
“The Xbox is hoped to be a very good, simple
’trail box’. It is inexpensive and easy to make.”
As Jack Finch once said, “Don’t let a bird brain
tell you how to build a nest box.” Yet it is bird
brains that will determine the success of the Xbox.
VOLUM E 27 I S S UE 1
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Xbox Plans
PAGE 11
PAGE 12
B LU E B I R D N O T E S
VOLUM E 27 I S S UE 1
Map & Directions for 2012 NCBS Meeting
From Raleigh or Durham Area Via I-85. Take exit
164, Hillsborough. At bottom of the exit, turn left
onto Old Highway 86. Go under Interstate 85. Go
under Interstate 40. At the next crossroads, turn right
onto Arthur Minnis Road. Just before the road turns
to gravel, turn left onto Rocky Ridge Road. At the
first stop sign, turn right onto Dairyland Rd. MVAC
is approximately one half mile on the right.
Via I-40. Take exit 263, New Hope Church Road.
At top of the exit, take a left. Go to stop sign, then
go straight. Just before the road turns to gravel, turn
left onto Rocky Ridge Road. At the first stop sign,
turn right onto Dairyland Rd. MVAC is approximately one half mile on the right.
From south Chapel Hill, Carrboro or Pittsboro
Area Take Highway 54 Bypass West. Just past Carrboro Plaza, turn right at the stop light onto Old Fayetteville Road. At the second stop light,turn left
onto Dairyland Road. The entrance to Maple View
Agricultural Center is a little over 4 miles on the
right.
From north Chapel Hill Area Follow Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd (aka Historic Airport Road / NC
Highway 86) to the intersection with Homestead
Road (near Orange United Methodist Church).
Turn left on Homestead Road.Go straight through
the intersection. The road becomes Dairyland
Road. The entrance to Maple View Agricultural
Center is a little over 4 miles on the right.
From Hillsborough Area Take Old Highway 86
toward Carrboro and Chapel Hill. Go under I-85
and I-40. At the next crossroads, turn right onto
Arthur Minnis Road. Just before the road turns to
gravel, turn left onto Rocky Ridge Road. At the
stop sign, turn right onto Dairyland Rd. MVAC is
approximately one half mile on the right.
From Burlington Area Take Interstate 40/85
East/North. In Burlington area, take exit 148, NC
Hwy 54 East. At the bottom of the exit ramp, turn
right onto Hwy. 54. Follow Hwy 54 for approximately 12 miles to White Cross (BP on right and
Texaco on left). At the next intersection, turn left
(north) onto Dodsons Crossroads. At the next stop
sign, turn right onto Dairyland Road. The entrance
to Maple View Agricultural Center is less than 1
mile on the left.
Maple View Farms
is at 3501 Dairyland
Road, south of Hillsborough and is represented by the A.
The Holiday Inn
Express is at 202
Cardinal Drive in
Hillsborough and
approximately 15
minutes away.
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PAGE 13
Program for 2012 NCBS Meeting
NCBS 2012 Annual Meeting
Maple View Ag and Ed Center, 3501 Dairyland Road, Hillsborough, NC
April 21, 2012
8:30 – 9:30
9:00 – 9:30
9:30 – 9:45
9:45 – 10:00
10:00 – 10:30
10:30 – 10:45
10:45 – 11:15
11:15 – 11:45
11:45 – 12:00
12:00 – 2:00
2:00 – 2:30
2:30 – 3:00
3:00 - ?
Registration - Meet and Greet
Q and A - What’s up with your Bluebird?
Business Session
Election of Officer and Directors
President’s Report to the membership
Dr Lynn Siefferman – ? Update in the world of the Eastern Bluebird. ?
Alexandra Bentz – Social environment of female swallows……….?
Break – Coffee – Visit vendors and view door prizes
Amanda Doyle – How supplemental feeding influences parental care and
nestling condition. ?
Questions and Answers for Alexandra, Amanda and Dr Siefferman.
Presentation - Mr. Jim Burke
Introduction of the SC Bluebird Society
Announcement of 2013 NABS Meeting
Lunch
Announcement of door prize winners and Silent Auction
Presentation by Mike Lubbock on the status of Sylvan Heights
Waterfowl Park.
Closing business
Adjournment Options: 1. Enjoy Maple View Farm Activities (hay ride, tour)
2. Discussion on using Predatory Controls
3. County Coordinator Meeting
Registration Form—Saturday, April 21, 2012
Please send checks and mail to: (Deadline—April 10, 2012)
N C Bluebird Society c/o Carrie Helston, 7060 Landingham Drive, Willow Spring, NC 27592
Name #1______________________________
Name #2____________________________
Phone # 1______________________________
Phone #2 ___________________________
Email Address _________________________________________________________________
County________________________________________________________________________
[email protected]
_____________Adult registration & Lunch
_____________Child registration & Lunch
_____________Adult registration only
$20
$__________________
$ 5
$__________________
$10
$__________________
Total: $ __________________
_____________Will be there for dinner on Friday night.
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B LU E B I R D N O T E S
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Hotel Information for 2012 NCBS Meeting
Friday/Saturday Night Lodging
The Holiday Inn Express
Hillsborough/Durham
202 Cardinal Drive
Hillsborough, NC 27278
Call 919-644-7997 to reserve a room for Friday night, April 20, 2012, and indicate that you will be attending the NC Bluebird Society meeting. The rate for
your room will be $82.99 plus tax per night. This rate includes a nice full
breakfast buffet each morning. Our block of rooms will be held until March 30,
2012.
This hotel is currently undergoing renovation with a
completion date before the meeting date. The hotel
can be viewed at www.holidayinnexpress.com/
hillsborough. Maple View Agricultural & Educational Center is only a short distance from the hotel at
3501 Dairyland Road.
The Board meeting will be held in the hotel meeting
room beginning at 5:00 o’clock with catered dinner at
7:00 o’clock. Please indicate on your registration form rather or not you will be
there for dinner on Friday night. All NCBS members are welcome to attend the
Board Meeting.
VOLUM E 27 I S S UE 1
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PAGE 15
Spotlight on a New County Coordinator
David Halford, Transylvania County
I first became aware and interested in Bluebirds
around 2007 because of my good friend Robert "Bob"
Sexton. (Bob is part of the Bluebirders of Wake
County group, www.bluebirdersofwake.org and a
friend and neighbor of Bill Satterwhite.) Bob visited
my home in Brevard and brought me a Finch Bluebird
house as a gift along with a brochure about Eastern
Bluebirds. We decided on a good location for the
house (using Bob's knowledge) and placed it accordingly. What happened afterwards was magical. A
beautiful male was checking it out within an hour. If
memory serves correctly, that season I had 2 nests
with a total of 11 hatchlings, all healthy and fit for a
good future.
What became so fascinating is monitoring the boxes.
Bluebirds are, as far as I know, the only creature of the
wild that appreciates being taken care of by people.
You can check on a female while she is sitting on her
eggs, and she will just look at you as if she is thankful
for the protection. Once the last egg is laid, your calendar will just about determine when the hatchlings
arrive: 2 weeks. Where I live in the mountains of
North Carolina, "God's Country", nature puts on a
show that cannot be ignored. It brings a scriptural
verse to mind, one that has a special meaning to me:
"For the invisible things of Him from the creation of
the world are clearly seen, being understood by the
things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse." Romans 1:20
Finally, I must say that caring for Bluebirds is so
rewarding, it becomes contagious. Other people
see your passion and want it too. Within a few
years, it is my desire that people visiting Transylvania County will be treated to a thriving
population of Eastern Bluebirds. For my friends
and fellow residents of Brevard and Transylvania County, please feel free to contact me by
phone or by e-mail.
David Halford
Transylvania County Coordinator of the North
Carolina Bluebird Society
828 877-2657
[email protected]
David and his grandson, Corey Reynolds, Bluebirder in training, on the summit of Mt. Pisgah.
(Continued from page 7)
It seems that all 17 babies plus their parent bluebirds have stayed hunkered down here over the winter. They visit the yard and check out the
birdhouses (the yellow one especially) every morning usually around 8
am. On warmer days they take turns in the birdbath under the oak.
Sometimes all 20 plus are together, sometimes in various groupings of
3, or 4, or 10-12, and often they are accompanied by some small,
friendly sparrows (chipping sparrows?). No problems with hawks or
mockingbirds at all this winter, so the bluebirds are very fat and happy.
Leigh Sumner, Newton Grove, NC
NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION
U.S. Postage
P.A.I.D.
Jackson Springs, NC
Permit # 15
BLUEBIRD NOTES PUBLISHED BY
THE NORTH CAROLINA BLUEBIRD SOCIETY
135 Lakeview Dr.
Tarboro, NC 27886
Address Service Requested
North Carolina Bluebird Society County Coordinators
ALAMANCE
ALLEGHENY
ANSON
ASHE
BLADEN
BUNCOMBE
BURKE
CARTERET
CASWELL
CATAWBA
CHATHAM
CLAY
CLEVELAND
CUMBERLAND
DAVIE
DAVIDSON
DUPLIN
DURHAM
EDGECOMBE
FORSYTH
FRANKLIN
GASTON
GRANVILLE
GUILFORD
HENDERSON
IREDELL
JOHNSTON
LINCOLN
MCDOWELL
Fran Outhwaite
(336-226-4770)
Dr. Terry Johnson
(336-372-4773)
Sharon, Dave,
& Katie Edwards
(704 695 1466)
Juanna Wooten
(335-794-3152)
Mike Jackson
(910-863-3839)
Wendy Herrmann-Tross (828-676-1266
Karen Gilliam
(828-234-9664)
Ken Roberson
(252-728-4255)
Mary Beth Moore
(919-563-2828)
Kristin Dzimitrowicz
[email protected]
Lloyd Edwards
(919-837-2468)
Carol Reid
(828-837-5807)
Jim Kunkle
(704-480-7600
Tom Cain
(910-630-3970)
Ann McGuire
(336-998-5169)
Ray Welch
(336-764-0226)
Penny Boyette
(919-915-7000)
Ken Kernodle
(919-489-0095)
Steve McDaniel
(919-489-1852)
David Hindsley
(252-823-0737)
Bill Abbey
(336-766-5857)
Andrea Lawhorne
(919- 269-6642)
Dana Glenn
(704-616-1742)
Phil Walters
(919-603-0472)
Jim Jochum
(336-288-7975)
Joe Sanders
(828-243-6732)
B.J. Taylor
(704-872-7682)
Ethelene Allen
(919-963-3831)
Pat Probst
(704-735-5780)
Carol Gilliam
(828-738-0655)
MECKLENBURG
Doug Archer
(704-846-1019)
David Silla
(704-425-3266)
MITCHELL
Linda Greasamar
(828-688-1689)
MONTGOMERY
Don Berrier
(336-461-4457)
MOORE
Helen Munro
(910-673-6936)
ORANGE
Steve McDaniel
(919-489-1852)
Ken Kernodle
(919-489-0095)
PENDER
Mike Plummer
(910-329-1408)
PITT
Dr. Edward Davis
(252-756-4165)
POLK
Barbara Rowe
(828-863-4253)
RANDOLPH
Chuck Bliss
(336 625-5423)
RICHMOND
Matthew Grant
(910-331-6533)
ROCKINGHAM
Houston Pyrtle
(336-349-8311)
ROWAN
Nancy Liggins
(704-856-1716)
RUTHERFORD
Christine Ammons
(828-287-3502)
STANLY
Richard Griffin
(704-474-4666)
SWAIN
Karen Jacobs
(828-488-6202)
TRANSYLVANIA David W. Halford
(828 877-2657)
UNION
Augustus Moore
(704-821-4624)
WAKE
Bill Satterwhite
(919-787-5248)
Joye Stephenson
(919-773-1927)
WARREN
Stella Rideout
(252-257-3137)
WATAUGA
Dr. Lynn Siefferman
(828-262-7082)
WAYNE
Virginia Pickles
(919-658-3062)
WILKES
Anne Johnson
(336-667-4386)
YORK CO., SC
Bill Hilton, Jr.
(803-684-5852)
South Carolina
David Edgerton
(864-299-0904)
Web-site –
Glenda Ryan
[email protected] or (919-266-0500)
County Coordinator Co-Chair- Ray Welch - (336-764-0226)
[email protected]
County Co-Chair– Joye Stephenson - (919-773-1927)
[email protected]