NestBoxReport

Fresh Pond Reservation
2008 Nesting Box Program

There is no shortage of "housing" for tree swallows at Fresh Pond Reservation this year. In addition to the four nesting boxes that the Friends group made in 2004, there are 11 new boxes. The carpenter for the Cambridge Water Department cut wood for 13 boxes. He assembled seven, of which two were given to Danehy Park, and five placed around the Reservation. The wood for the other six boxes was given to the Friends group for assembly at a Family program on March 2. All of these boxes are distributed around the Reservation.

In addition there are 4 boxes made by the Friends group in 2005 for smaller birds such as chickadees or wrens.

Monitoring is an important component of the Nesting Box Program. It alerts us to when house sparrows have moved in so that we can remove their nest before they lay eggs, and perhaps move the box to a better location for tree swallows. It also informs us whether nesting and the raising of young is taking place so that we have an idea of whether nests are successful and how many young birds are being raised.

If you visit Fresh Pond, you can help Friends of Fresh Pond Reservation monitor the nesting boxes. If you see any bird or other animal activity near any of them, write down your observation on one of the monitoring sheets in the Ranger Station and leave the page in the back ofthe same box, or email friendsoffreshpond@yahoo.com , or call Ranger Jean at 617-349-4793. Thank you!

Friends of Fresh Pond Reservation
Spring 2008

JUNE REPORT
Tree Swallow Boxes

Box #	Location	Date	Species	Observations
1	Water Dept., Ranger Station	6/02	T.Swallow	Birds entering and leaving
2	Kingsley Hilltop	6/02	T.Swallow	Birds entering and leaving
3	Kingsley Bioswale	6/02	T.Swallow	Birds entering and leaving
4	Weir Meadow Bioswale	6/02	T.Swallow	Birds entering and leaving
5	CWD parking lot bioswale	6/13	---	No Nest
6	Far Side, Little Fresh Pond, South	5/22	T.Swallow	Birds entering and leaving
7	Far Side Little Fresh Pond, North	4/15	T.Swallow	Birds entering and leaving
8	Black's Nook Willow Tree	5/22	T.Swallow	Birds entering and leaving
9	Fresh Pond, Post 1292	5/24	T.Swallow	Bird seen leaving box
10	Community Garden Area	5/22	House Wren	Looked inside: Stick nest
11	Neville Back Hillside	6/02	T.Swallow	Birds entering and leaving
12	Butterfly Garden	6/02	House Wren	Seen Leaving
13	Lusitania Meadow, West End	6/02	T.Swallow	Birds entering and leaving
14	Lusitania Meadow, East End	6/07	T.Swallow	Birds entering and leaving
15	Kingsley Park Water Fountain	6/13	T.Swallow	Birds entering and leaving

Chickadee Boxes

Box #	Location	Date	Species	Observations
A	Huron Ave. Hillside	6/02	--	Looked inside: No nest
B	Edge of Woods Lusitania Meadow	6/02	Chickadee	Birds entering and leaving
C	Edge of Woods Lusitania Meadow	6/02	?	Moss nest inside. Box damaged:door doesn't close
D	Edge of Woods Lusitania Meadow	6/02	Chickadee	Birds entering and leaving

JULY REPORT
Tree Swallow Boxes

Box #	Location	Date	Species	Observations	Successful Brood?
1	Water Dept., Ranger Station	07/06	T.Swallow	Vacated nest. Box taken down	Yes
2	Kingsley Hilltop	07/06	T.Swallow	Vacated nest. Box taken down	Yes
3	Kingsley Bioswale	07/06	T.Swallow	Vacated nest. Box taken down	Uncertain. Nest suspiciously clean!
4	Weir Meadow Bioswale	07/06	T.Swallow	Vacated nest. Box taken down	Yes
5	CWD parking lot bioswale	6/13	---	No Nest	No
6	Far Side, Little Fresh Pond, South	5/22	T.Swallow	Vacated nest. Box taken down	Yes
7	Far Side Little Fresh Pond, North	4/15	T.Swallow	Vacated nest. Box taken down	Uncertain. House Sparrows built nest on top of TS nest
8	Black's Nook Willow Tree	5/22	T.Swallow	Vacated nest. Box taken down	Yes
9	Fresh Pond, Post 1292	5/24	T.Swallow	Bird seen leaving box	Partial nest. Box left up
10	Community Garden Area	5/22	House Wren	Looked inside: Stick nest	Box left up
11	Neville Back Hillside	6/02	T.Swallow	Birds entering and leaving	Yes
12	Butterfly Garden	6/02	House Wren	Seen Leaving	Box left up
13	Lusitania Meadow, West End	6/02	T.Swallow	Birds entering and leaving	Yes
14	Lusitania Meadow, East End	6/07	T.Swallow	Birds entering and leaving	Young babies still inside! Leave up
15	Kingsley Park Water Fountain	6/13	T.Swallow	No nest. Box taken down	No

Chickadee Boxes

Box #	Location	Date	Species	Observations
A	Huron Ave. Hillside	6/02	--	Looked inside: No nest
B	Edge of Woods Lusitania Meadow	6/02	Chickadee	Birds entering and leaving
C	Edge of Woods Lusitania Meadow	6/02	?	Moss nest inside. Box damaged:door doesn't close
D	Edge of Woods Lusitania Meadow	6/02	Chickadee	Birds entering and leaving