Fresh Pond Reservation
2013 Nesting Box Report

Nest Box Map

On March 28, 2013, two volunteers and a water department staff member worked together to put up the 15 tree swallow boxes in an annual rite of spring that has taken place on the Reservation since 2004. Tree swallows were observed inspecting one of the boxes on Monday, April 1. Soon the birds had claimed all of the boxes, built nests, and begun raising their young. Tree swallows are welcome at Fresh Pond because they feed on insects while flying. They consume large numbers of the insects that like to feed on humans, e.g. mosquitoes. We provide nesting boxes on the Reservation because there are a limited number of natural nesting cavities due to the extensive removal of dead tree snags.

In early July, fledglings were observed on the dead branches of trees near Little Fresh Pond. Because tree swallows in an region somehow are able to coordinate fledging time, the sighting was an indication that the boxes were now empty. They were taken down for cleaning and storage on July 10.

This year, judging by nesting material, we conclude that every box has been occupied by tree swallows. Ten of the fifteen nests appear to have been very successful, and two more might have fledged one or two chicks. Any tree swallow nest that has successfully fledged young is quite a disgusting sight: it is covered with feces. Apparently the swallows do not carry away their chicks' droppings as other birds do.

Of the unsuccessful nests, in one we found the skeletons of very young chicks, another contained a finished nest that looked unused, and a third, an incomplete nest. Two boxes contained dead fledglings but may have fledged others.

Chickadee boxes will bechecked in December, and any nesting material will be removed. These boxes are left in place because black-capped chickadees begin their nesting process in late winter, when the ground is usually frozen, making it impossible for us to drive the supporting pipes into the ground. Chickadees, unlike tree swallows, are good housekeepers. They never leave their chicks' fecal sacs in the nest. Thus they provide few clues as to how many young they raised. They are also quite secretive while nesting, making it difficult for an observer to see them delivering food to the nest. The nests we removed this year were each made of a single material: two were made of moss, one of fine grass, and one of a white fur-like material that might have been the undercoat of a rabbit.

We do not know if the four screech owl boxes are being used. We are not at Fresh Pond at dawn or dusk when these owls are most active and might be visible in the boxes. This year we have not heard any reports of the boxes being used.

The two wood duck boxes have been set up in a small pond on the golf course where they are not visible to non-golfers during the nesting season. We have not heard any reports of the boxes being used by wood ducks or any other birds.

Elizabeth Wylde
July 11, 2013

Tree Swallow Boxes

Box #	Location	Date	Species	Conclusions
1	Water Dept., Ranger Station	August 2	Tree Swallow	Used nest, one unfertile egg. May have fledged 1 or 2 young
2	Kingsley Hilltop	August 2	Tree Swallow	Used nest with many droppings, SUCCESSFUL
3	Kingsley Bioswale	August 2	Tree Swallow	Used nest with many droppings, new nest on top SUCCESSFUL
4	Weir Meadow Bioswale	August 2	Tree Swallow	Used nest with many droppings, SUCCESSFUL
5	Fresh Pond Shore near Little Fresh	August 2	Tree Swallow	Complete nest with skeletons of young chicks. Not successful
6	Water Dept. Parking Lot Island	August 2	Tree Swallow	One dead fledgling, but droppings indicate more young were raised. SUCCESSFUL
7	Woods South of L.F. Pond	Dec. 10	Tree Swallow	Complete nest, appeared unused.
8	Black's Nook Willow Tree	August 2	Tree Swallow	Used nest with many droppings, SUCCESSFUL
9	Fresh Pond, Post 1292	August 2	Tree Swallow	Used nest with many droppings, SUCCESSFUL
10	Neville Community Garden Area	Dec. 10	Tree Swallow	Incomplete nest, not successful
11	Neville Back Hillside	Dec. 10	Tree Swallow	Used nest with many droppings, SUCCESSFUL Occupied by wasps
12	Butterfly Garden	August 2	Tree Swallow	Contained two dead fledglings. Unknown whether others survived.
13	Lusitania Meadow, West End	August 2	Tree Swallow	Used nest with many droppings, SUCCESSFUL
14	Lusitania Meadow, East End	August 2	Tree Swallow	Used Nest - SUCCESSFUL
15	Nest to Road North of Water Dept.	August 2	Tree Swallow	Used nest with many droppings, SUCCESSFUL Occupied by wasps
	Total Nests		Tree Swallow	Used nest with many droppings, SUCCESSFUL Occupied by wasps

Chickadee Boxes (2012)

Box #	Location	Date	Species	Conclusions
A	Woods btwn. Black's Nook, LFP	Left in Place 12/12	Black-capped Chickadee	Typical moss chickadee nest - SUCCESSFUL
B	Edge of Woods Lusitania Meadow	Left in Place 12/12	Black-capped Chickadee	Typical fine grass chickadee nest - SUCCESSFUL
C	Edge of Woods Lusitania Meadow	Left in Place 12/12	Black-capped Chickadee	Minimal chickadee nest - SUCCESSFUL?
D	Edge of Woods Lusitania Meadow	Left in Place 12/12	Black-capped Chickadee	Typical soft fur chickadee nest - SUCCESSFUL
	Total Nests			4, 3 Successful

Elizabeth Wylde
for Friends of Fresh Pond Reservation
July 11, 2013