SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BLUEBIRD CLUB
Protecting Bluebirds and Other Cavity Nesters in Southern California
 Southern California
 Bluebird Club
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We are committed to the restoration and preservation of cavity nesters, particularly Western Bluebirds in Southern California. 

Visit our web site:
 http://www.socalbluebirds.org

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This entry was posted on 12/27/2006 7:40 AM and is filed under General.

We have created this blog so we can keep our members, friends, and guests up to date on our activities. The Internet is a remarkable tool for communication and we hope to take full advantage of it. We hope you will use it to communicate with us and other fellow bluebirders.

For those not familiar with the San Clemente Bluebird Club, we are a small group of active bluebirders in San Clemente, CA (Orange County). Thanks to the efforts of Sully Reallon, a pair of Western Bluebirds fledged 10 chicks from two nestboxs in North San Clemente in the Spring of 2006. Bluebirds are very rare in San Clemente and we are determined to change that.

Be sure to visit our web site: http://www.scbluebirds.org

MGS

 
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    • 12/31/2006 1:07 PM Kathy Dixon wrote:
      I would love to become a part of your efforts. I do not have any experience in this subject only a great interest in birds and the love of nature. Please tell me how to become a member and what I can do. I live next to Mira Costa Park (only 2 months)and have been very curios about the nest there.
      Thank you.
      Reply to this
    • 1/1/2007 5:46 PM Mike Spohn wrote:
      Hi Kathy. The only thing you need to join us is a desire to increase the western bluebird population in Orange County and a commitment to monitor one or more nestboxes.

      We will provide you any assistance you need to get started including a nestbox and a lifter.

      Give Sully or me a call and we will get you started.

      MGS
      Reply to this
    • 1/6/2007 8:24 PM Earl Garrison wrote:
      I started monitoring in February 2006. By the end of the nesting season in August I was privileged to be "Godfather" to 64 Bluebird offspring from two back to back nestings in 15 boxes distributed around parks in the communities of Laguna Woods, Laguna Hills, Aliso Viejo, Mission Viejo and Lake Forest. It has been very exciting and satisfying to watch the Blubirds progress from nesting to fleglings.
      Bluebirds are the most human friendly birds, allowing people to handle them without undue stress. They seem to sense we are trying to help them.
      I am looking forward to the 2007 nesting season which seems to be starting early according to evidence I witnessed this week. I currently have 24 boxes in place and expect to add more through the year.
      I reside in Laguna Woods Village (formerly Leisure World). Manny Ackerman keeps me supplied with nest boxes he builds from scraps in our community Wood Shop. Manny has built more than 1000 boxes which are distributed within our community and other surrounding communities.
      Reply to this
      1. 1/7/2007 8:56 PM Mike Spohn wrote:
        Wow Earl - You had a heck of a rookie year! Your experience is very typical of people who enter the world of bluebirding. Once you try it, you are hooked! This is one of the few healthy addictions.

        It was great to meet you at our get-together on Saturday. The fellowship and sharing of experiences is so wonderful.

        Thanks for sharing your story with us.

        MGS
        Reply to this
    • 1/8/2007 9:18 PM Launa Gould wrote:
      As president of the San Clemente Garden Club, we are excited to become a part of the Bluebird Club! As a result of a newspaper article on Sully we now have a Bluebird committee with about a dozen interested members. You might contact Garden Clubs for potential members. We love everything about the garden-including the birds!
      Looking forward to attracting bluebirds to San Clemente
      Reply to this
      1. 1/9/2007 5:08 AM Mike Spohn wrote:
        Thanks for the support of the San Clemente Garden Club. We will reach out to other Garden Clubs in Southern CA as you suggest. Great tip!
        Reply to this
    • 5/4/2007 9:34 PM Earl Garrison wrote:
      MONITOR REPORT: Of 43 boxes in place at various parks, 37 have active Bluebird nests.
      STRANGE HAPPENINGS:
      Laguna NIGUEL REG Pk: 2 boxes had new nests built on top of prior nest. One of these had 6 eggs on prior visit. Eggs are gone.
      RANCHWOOD Pk: 3 dead chicks. No apparent trauma. Apparently abandon.
      LAGUNA WOODS VILLAGE: 1 nest with 5 eggs abandon. 1 box with nest gone since last visit.
      EL DORADO Pk: 2 boxes; on last visit #1 had 5 eggs, #2 none. On todays visit #2 box had 5 eggs and #1 none. Can BB's move eggs?
      KNOTTY PINE Pk: 1 box had 6 eggs on last visit, none today.
      Reply to this
    • 5/13/2007 5:04 PM Tom Croom wrote:
      A first for me

      I've been monitoring WEBL boxes for 10 years now and seem to have a first this year. I've got one box with an unusual nest in it. Normally I can easily tell if it's a bluebird or tree swallow nest but this one seems to be a little of each. My observations indicated that both species were shows territorial displays nearby. I decided to wait and check the eggs to determine species. This past week I pulled the box down and it has five eggs in it, two obvious bluebird eggs and three white eggs, more than likely tree swallow. I knew Orange County real estate was expensive but I never thought it would get down to the two species sharing one nest! I can't wait to see what I find next week.

      Tom
      Reply to this
      1. 5/15/2007 9:54 PM Mike Spohn wrote:
        I think Bob Franz encountered the same situation recently. At a recent meeting, he presented a photo of a nest containing eight eggs, white and blue. Most of us thought his nestbox was being used by two different species.

        I saw a pair of TRES swallows hanging around one of my WEBL inhabited nestboxes recently. This is the first time I have seen TRES in San Clemente.

        The good news here is that our nestboxes are providing shelter to multiple cavity nesters.

        MGS
        Reply to this
    • 6/2/2007 3:08 PM Georgette Korsen wrote:
      We are struggling to preserve open space in San Clemente. At the June 5th City Council Meeting, they will decide whether to rezone open space at Pacific Golf, so that homes can be built where open land has been for over twenty years. (across from Talega, where you have nesting boxes). Those fighting this, would really appreciate your help and support, to keep that from happening. I read the March 1st SunPost article on the reintroduction of Bluebirds to S.C. I am a major bird lover, and see incredible irony that our city would give lip service to your efforts, while giving up open space that was given as a concession over twenty years ago in exchange for housing densities. The deal should be over, but as you see, it is not. We have lost the Bluebirds due to loss of suitable terrain for their continued existence, so for the city to seemingly support your efforts, while they give up still more, seems very hypocritical to say the least!
      S.C. resident, Charles Mann, has submitted an ordinance to the City, to prevent this kind of thing from happening in the future. The ordinance should have been considered at this same council meeting, but due to some very convenient delays, it will be considered at a June 15th meeting. If PGC space is given up, it will set a very bad precedent in our city, and certainly work against your efforts to re-establish the Bluebirds here, as well as all the other birds that depend on having the natural surroundings needed for nesting and successful fledging.
      Any support that you guys can offer would be SO appreciated! Attending the June 5th City Council Meeting and telling our city council members that what they are considering will work against the wonderful work that all of you are doing, would be terrific and have great impact. At some point we need to actually begin "living" in a way that allows these beautiful creatures to continue in our midst. Also, a letter to the Editor in either the SunPost, or SC Times would be great. Or, letters to the City Council Members, urging them to NOT rezone this long ago given land for development now. There is a SAVE SAN CLEMENTE OPEN SPACE website that you can contact. I spoke today with Sully. It just seems to me that there would be a natural marriage between what you are trying to do, and the support of what the SSCOP people are working so hard to achieve. But, they need the help and support of folks such as yourselves. Thanks!
      Reply to this
    • 6/24/2007 7:03 PM carmen lindsay wrote:
      I live in the San Bernardino Mountains at 4000 feet

      ARE BLUE BIRDS NATIVE TO THE MT BALDY AREA?
      Reply to this
    • 6/27/2007 6:09 PM MrReallon wrote:
      Carmen ~ Bluebirds have been around your area forever. There are many over 4000 feet in the San Bernardinos. I've fledged many above 6000 feet in those mountains.Put a box up, they will come....S
      Reply to this
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