The Carrollwood News & Tribune
A Job Done On The Cheep
ADVERTISEMENT
Published: May 14, 2008
Updated:
THONOTOSASSA - Three years ago, 74 survived long enough, grew and flew from their nests. The following year, 72 made the same trek from egg to air.
Last year, the number of bluebird fledglings that left their box nests jumped, with 83 taking flight.
That's encouraging for Mary Miller, who has made it her mission to help the Eastern bluebird rebound from a serious population decline. For the past four years, once a week, she has headed into Flatwoods Park to check on the once-endangered thrush.
The bluebird - Eastern, Western and mountain - is found throughout North America. The Eastern bluebird makes its home primarily in Texas and throughout the Southeast.
The population of the Eastern bluebird, which lives in Florida year-round, had declined so drastically that by the mid-20th century it was threatened with extinction in the wild, according to the Audubon Society.
The Tampa Audubon Society estimates there are between 85 and 100 bluebirds currently in Flatwoods Park.
The main threats have been habitat destruction; pesticide use; and nest predation by other birds, such as the English house sparrow and European starling.
In a car marked "Bluebird Monitor Audubon Society," Miller carefully drives along the seven-mile Bluebird Trail loop bordering the park's paved walking trail, where 40 wood nesting boxes have been set up, spaced a minimum of 100 feet apart. Until knee surgery two years ago, she made her rounds on a bicycle.
The boxes had been only sporadically monitored by the Audubon Society for the previous 20 years.
Miller, a retired recycling coordinator for the Pasco County School District, and her husband, John, a retired hydrologist, began making their own boxes three years ago and affixing them to 8-foot posts strategically placed in grassy areas, near mature trees - areas the birds use for foraging for mole crickets, June bugs and berries, and roosting during nesting season, March through August.
In addition, Miller has written and printed her own Bluebird Trail brochure, offering visitor information on the bluebirds and the trail, as well as made up her own data sheet to record numbers. She admits it can be a lot of footwork, but being able to educate people and see results makes the volunteer work worthwhile.
"This is a project that you feel you're actually doing something that affects an entire species and makes a positive difference," she said, driving to bluebird box F3.
Once at a box, Miller gently taps on the outside to give adults a chance to fly out. She then opens the box and takes out a plastic fruit basket, which contains the nest - not always made by a bluebird. The nests are often used by the Carolina chickadee, Carolina wren, titmouse and even flying squirrels.
At box F3, a nest that had three baby bluebirds the week before was empty. After five to six weeks, the birds fledge and leave, she said.
"They're here one week; the next week they're gone. That's the way it goes," she said.
After each visit, Miller records what she finds on a Weekly Summary Bluebird Monitoring sheet. There, she records the state of the nest ("empty," "not empty," "partial," "occupied"), egg count, chick count and what type of bird is roosting.
Ann Paul, Tampa Audubon co-president, said Miller's involvement with the bluebirds has been a boon to the organization's somewhat-lax involvement with the project.
"As a volunteer, she's shown terrific initiative, picked up the project and carried it forward," Paul said. "Tampa Audubon is very grateful for her knowledge and understanding of the bluebird populations here."
Flatwoods Park Ranger Eddie Anderson said Miller's involvement has been crucial in helping preserve the species in the 3,000 acres among Flatwoods, Morris Bridge and Trout Creek parks.
"The work she does has been extremely vital with the success of the bluebird program. It's a great effort on her part and it's appreciated," he said.
Miller's activities often attract onlookers.
"It's funny, sometimes, what people ask me. I had one man ask, 'Where do you get all the birds to put in the boxes?'" she said. "I tell them, 'You need to get away from the TV.'"
Further down the trail, Miller found boxes formerly occupied by five Carolina chickadee chicks and one with a tipped-over nest. She also found five bluebird chicks in box F6, huddled together, that hadn't turned blue yet.
Box F9 was occupied, with two chicks and an infertile egg. In a nearby oak tree, the mother perched and kept watch from about 30 feet up.
"Good morning," Miller said, tapping on the box. "We're sleeping," she said, speaking for the birds. "I love these birds. I can come out here, look in, see babies, and then they're grown and gone. It's delightful. I'm helping do something worthwhile."
At box F12, Miller noted four titmice had hatched and fledged. She cleaned out the box with a whisk broom.
"I'll do this as long as I can. No one is knocking down my door to take over," she pointed out.
"This is a great project for the organization and for the county."
TBO.com - Tampa Bay Online Member Agreement | Privacy Statement | Work With Us
Post a comment
(Requires free registration.)
* Keep it clean
* Respect others
* Don't hate
* Don't use language you wouldn't use with your mom
* Use "Report Inappropriate Comments" link when necessary
* See Member Agreement for details