Tehachapi bluebirds had a very successful nesting season! In 2009 we have a record setting 76 boxes being reported. This includes 14 "backyard" boxes that members have diligently monitored, as well as the club monitored boxes at Indian Hill Campground, Brite Lake, Meadowbrook Park, and Antelope Run.

The grand total of Western Bluebirds fledged this year - 243;  Ash-Throated Flycatchers - 4; Oak Titmouse - 7

With a nesting success rate of 76.81%, these are the second best results for our club's boxes. In 2006 there was a "bumper crop" of bluebird fledglings: 265 from 73 boxes, with a nesting success rate of 81.67%!!  Our average success rate from the past 4 years is 71.31%.

This completes our 10th year of monitoring and collecting data for Tehachapi area bluebird nest boxes! Starting in 2000 an initial 34 boxes were monitored at Indian Hill Campground. By 2002 an additional 10 boxes were added for a total of  44 boxes. In 2003 twelve nest boxes were introduced Brite Lake. Then club members began to place and monitor nest boxes in their yards; this number varies from year to year. In 2005 three boxes each were placed at Meadowbrook Park and the new developing Antelope Run northeast of Tucker Rd. and Highline Rd. Watch us grow!

Congratulations to all who participated in this years bluebird nest box monitoring program!

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Fledged bluebirds abandon their nests during the latter part of the nesting season. At Brite Lake the bluebirds vacated the nesting boxes the end of June. At Indian Hill Campground only 3 boxes remain to monitor, as of July 8th,  with different stages of eggs or young. Preliminary counts show an increase of bluebird fledglings from 2008.

It was a good year for bluebirds in Tehachapi!

We had beautiful weather unlike any year I remember which made each outing a great ramble through the majestic oak woodlands at Indian Hill.  

A BIG THANKS to all who participated this year! 

At Brite Lake - Sandy  

At Antelope Run - Aleda

At  Meadowbrook Park - Janet

At Indian Hill - Jean, Alvin and Dianna, Jennifer, Mary and Mark, Mary and Ray, Richard and Christine, Brenda, Susi, and Kathy

Final counts for 2009 will be posted on the web site.

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The next bluebird monitoring trip is Tuesday May 26, 2009 at the Indian Hill Campground. We will meet in the parking lot at 9 am. I am anticipating a bumper crop of eggs and young on this trip as well as tall grass and stickers! There have been no sheep grazing on the property yet. Let me know if you can participate: kptehachapi@sbcglobal.net, or 821-6477

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The bluebird nesting season is well under way and we are cautiously optimistic for a large number of fledgelings this year. At Indian Hill Campground where there are a total of 44 nest boxes, 25 boxes have nests with eggs for a total of 98 eggs. Some nests are full clutches with an average of 5 eggs while at other nests the females are still in the process of laying eggs and may have 1 to 4 eggs so far. Brite Lake has a total of 12 nest boxes and 10 are occupied and support a total of 23 eggs as well as one nest with 6 young. Antelope Run on Tucker and Highline has 3 nest boxes, one empty, one with 6 eggs, and one with 5 young. Meadowbrook Park also has 3 nest boxes, one with 7 eggs! Seven is the highest number of bluebird eggs we have found in our Tehachapi nest boxes since we started monitoring in 2000. Jean and her crew also found a 7 egg nest today at Indian Hill. I only know of one other 7 egg bluebird nest during my time on the bluebird trail. 

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