190 likes | 411 Views
Thermal Characteristics of Painted and Unpainted Eastern Bluebird (Sialia Sialis) Nest Boxes. Rebecca A. Beale Funded by the National Science Foundation Committee Members : Dr. Charles Blem (Dept. of Biology, VCU) Dr. Randy Bell (Curry School of Education, UVa.)
E N D
Thermal Characteristics of Painted and Unpainted Eastern Bluebird (Sialia Sialis) Nest Boxes Rebecca A. Beale Funded by the National Science Foundation Committee Members: Dr. Charles Blem (Dept. of Biology, VCU) Dr. Randy Bell (Curry School of Education, UVa.) Dr. Stephen Thornton (Dept. of Physics, UVa.)
Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis) • Family: Thrush (Turdidae) • Length: approximately 7 inches (or 18 cm) • Description: Males Bright blue heads, tails, backs, and wings; chestnut red sides, flanks, and throat; underparts chestnut red from chin to belly; white belly Females Generally less colorful than males; light gray-blue heads, dull brown backs, blue tails and wings; slight white ring around eye • Diet: Summer Predominantly insects, spiders, and caterpillars Winter Fruits, berries, and seeds http://www.fifthdaycreations.com/articles/bluebird.asp
Bluebird Decline House Sparrow (Old World Weaver Finch) • Both species introduced from Europe • House Sparrow-1850 • European Starling-1890 • Both birds compete successfully with • native species for nesting cavities. • Believed to have led to a dramatic • decrease in bluebird population from • about 1940 until the late 1970’s • Not protected by federal law (nests can be • removed from nest boxes) http://www.kwic.com/~pagodavista/schoolhouse/species/birds/hsparow.htm European Starling Photo by Patricia Michaels http://greennature.com/article2323.html
Nest Construction • Secondary cavity nesters, meaning that they cannot excavate their own cavity in trees • Rely on humans or other birds (such as woodpeckers) for places to build nests • Readily adapt to man-made cavities in the form of nesting boxes • Nests constructed by the female • Nest building takes 1-6 days • Cup-shaped nest composed mostly of dry grasses and pine needles www.junglewalk.com
Eastern Bluebird Nesting Season • Eggs laid in late March or early April (usually 1 egg laid each day until clutch is completed) • 3 to 6 (usually 4 or 5) eggs per clutch • Eggs rich sky blue, but may be light blue or white; about 21 x 16 mm in size • Incubation by female approximately 13-15 days • About 15 to 20 days old at fledging • Can have up to 3 broods per season Photo by Elizabeth Nevin http://birds.cornell.edu/birdhouse/news/your_photos_bluebirds.html
Temperature Parameters • Eggs must be warmed to at least 95° F to develop properly. • Female’s body at about 106° F • Bluebird eggs and nestlings cannot survive temperatures exceeding 107° F. Photos by R. Luther http://birds.cornell.edu/birdhouse/news/your_photos_bluebirds.html
3 Factors in Construction that Affect Internal Temperature of Nest Box • Materials • Color • Ventilation
What is the effect of color on internal temperature of the nest box?
Painting the Nest Boxes • Exterior Latex Paint will be used. • Color possibilities (white, light tan, gray, dark brown, black) • Some boxes to be left unpainted
Data Collection • CBLs, temperature probes, and graphing calculators will be used to monitor surrounding air temperature and interior temperature of nest boxes during 24-hour intervals. • Cloud cover will be described as sunny, partly cloudy, or overcast. • Wind conditions will be described as calm, breezy, or windy.
Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge, Tayloe Unit • Approximately 1,111 acres • Founded in 1996 largely to protect critical habitat for bald eagles • Large concentrations of bald eagles found on the river year-round • Dirt road runs through hardwood swamp and onto open fields • Agricultural land being restored to manage native grasslands for ground-nesting birds
TAYLOE TRACT IN RICHMOND COUNTY, VIRGINIA http://monarch.tamu.edu/~maps2/newmaps.va.htm
See #19 for Tayloe Tract location Map: http://www.dgif.state.va.us/wildlife/vbwt/site.asp?site=CNN19&loop=CNN
Bluebird Nest Boxes at the Tayloe Tract • Approximately 50 top-opening standard boxes mounted on wooden posts • Located 4-6 feet above ground • 1 ½ inch entrance hole diameter • Stovepipe pole guards to deter raccoons and other climbing predators • Wooden nest hole extensions to prevent animals (such as squirrels) from making entrance holes bigger; helps prevent predators from reaching into nest http://www.birdsforever.com/bluepdts.html
Nest Box Layout at the Tayloe Tract Courtesy of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Fall 2003 • Repair damaged nest boxes. • Make sure all boxes to be used have hole extensions and stovepipe pole guards. • Mow grassy areas located near nest boxes. • Clean out old nesting material. • Paint nest boxes. • Begin collecting data on temperature of painted and unpainted boxes. http://www.puffin.net/wildlife/bird/land/blu_e_1.htm
Spring 2004 • Begin monitoring nest boxes and continue collecting data on temperature. www.junglewalk.com
Resources • Bluebird Book: The Complete Guide to Attracting Bluebirds, by Donald and Lillian Stokes • Bluebirds and Their Survival, by Davis and Roca • Eastern Bluebird, by Gary Ritchison • http://monarch.tamu.edu/~maps2/newmaps/va.htm (creating the map of Richmond County) • http://www.dgif.state.va.us/wildlife/vbwt/site.asp?site=CNN19&loop=CNN (Northern Neck Loop map) • The Bird Box, Publication of the Virginia Bluebird Society, July 2003 • The Bluebird Monitor’s Guide to Bluebirds and Other Small Cavity-Nesters, by Berger, Kridler, and Griggs http://washingtondcmetroweb.com/bluebird.htm