Delta Naturalists Society

This morning (March 3) seven Delta Nats cleaned and closed all our Bird Nest Boxes at Boundary Bay Regional Park, plus the box behind Geof & Jean Hackers home.  It was overcast and spit rain occasionally, but we split into three groups and the task was done in less than an hour.  Terry and Mike B did the inner boxes, Jim K & Chris McV did the 12th Avenue row, and Richmond Brian A, Ladner Jack Mac and I did the far dike path boxes and those behind the Pump House.  We had cleaned the boxes last Fall so they were not dirty, just some hornets and spider nests in a few.  My photos are attached; Jack Mac took some too.  He is our Bird Box Reporter so will do a Report which will be circulated and then put on our website.

We also went to Earthwise where we have Tree and Barn Swallow nesting boxes/sites, and three Barn Owl Boxes.  Earthwise Dave Robinson arrived to fix the TV on the Barn Owls in the White Barn. Barney was watching the box where Mom laid eggs around Feb. 7.  So baby Owlets should be seen inside the box in the next week or so.  The other two boxes had no activity, at present.  One has a camera on its inside where Starlings have tried to nest and Dave has removed the nests.  Dave caught the resident BO’s “trying” this box one day; we’re hoping another couple find and use it.  It was raining hard, so Jack Mac took notes of the location of the Tree Swallow boxes as Dave toured us around Earthwise.  We did not check or clean any boxes.  Pete Blair plans to visit Earthwise next week to repair/replace a number of boxes.  He will clean and close the TS Boxes at that time.  Barn Swallows arrive a bit later (i.e. end of March).  We checked out the BS sites and Pete’s Wooden Nests in the White Barn.  They looked fine.  The Bat Roosting Box on the side of the White Barn continues to be unused.

Following our arduous morning of work, the seven of us sat for coffee at the Wood N Frog café (Petra’s was full).  We solved the World’s problems without any fisticuffs, then left.  Next week we must do the boxes at Kings Links Golf Course and TsaTsu Shores.  Cheers: Tom

Tom Bearss, President, Delta Naturalists Society