Posted by: kepestana
on May 24, 2010
The 2010 bluebird nesting season is well underway. First egg was recorded at Brite Lake on April 19th. The club monitors were at Indian Hill Campground on Friday May 21st and recorded 62 eggs as well as 5 nests with an adult remaining on the nest (therefore, we expect more eggs). Brite Lake has 43 eggs in 12 nest boxes! Antelope run has 3 eggs, and Meadow Brook has 5 eggs. Unfortunately, Tehachapi's changing weather from warm to cold is a major factor in egg and chick mortality. This weekend's cold front produced snow at 4,000 feet. I'm hoping the temperature change was not too severe for the birds to handle. 
Posted by: mrydfrn
on Mar 28, 2010
Tuesday , March 23rd, this past week, marked Spring Maintenance day for our local bluebirds of the bluebird trail in Indian Hill Ranch. About ten able bodies showed up to help Project Leader Karen P scrub boxes and tightened storm loosened screws. Sometimes an entire box needed replacing, but mostly we needed to replace hole extenders. A bluebird likes a small hole but bigger birds like to take that small hole and enlarge it so they can use the box. I have an acorn woodpecker who likes to store his acorns in one of my backyard boxes. By putting on a hole extender it makes the nestbox safe from bigger birds and other unwanted predators.
As a perk for the day, we had the opportunity to see a Lewis's Woodpecker, thanks to the eagle eyes of Janet. He was my first. We even stayed to watch him while Mark went ahead with Jean. I tried hard to get a picture of him and all his colors, black and white with a red face and stomach, but he was too fast for me.The best shot I got was of him in silhouette, mouth open and a blur of a bug just within reach. By the end of the day we saw a total of four Lewis's.
Here's our bird list for the trip
Lewis's Woodpecker
American Kestral
Red-tailed hawk
Red-shouldered hawk
Raven
Great Blue Heron
American Wigeon
Mallard Ducks
Red-winged blackbird
California Quail
California Towhee
Dove
White breasted nuthatch
Red breasted sapsucker
Killdeer
Acorn Woodpeckers
Steller's Jay
Western Scrub Jay
Junco
Titmouse
Hummingbird
Turkey Vultures
Northern Flicker
Black Phoebe
American Robin
Mountain Bluebird
Western Bluebirds..........................lots of appreciative western bluebirds
Posted by: kepestana
on Sep 16, 2009
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!
Posted by: kepestana
on Jul 13, 2009
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.
Posted by: kepestana
on May 21, 2009
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
