We had a great Bird House Tour on May 11, 2015. Had about
two dozen Villagers and lots of birds show up. We can report the following use
of the Golf Course bird houses (using map numbers):
Western Bluebirds using numbers 6 and 12 for sure
and probably 10 and 11. The pair at #6 (birdcam) have four young.
Tree Swallows using numbers 2, 5 and 8. The
parents at #5 gave us a show of parental care and swallow aerial abilities.
Violet-Green Swallows using number 7 – their young
were peeping out the entrance hole, much to our delight!
Unfortunately #9 house is missing and the #1 house is
damaged on the back although still in use as a perch by the Black Phoebes
raising young under the club house roof just behind it. There are also Tree
Swallows nesting in a pipe nearby. I showed the group where the Starlings nest
in the poles around the practice range.
The tour group was also enthusiastic about the Red Tail
Hawk on the Short Nine Course, the Brown Headed Cowbirds and Bullock’s Orioles
near #3 house, and the pair of Nuttall’s Woodpeckers in the trees near #6. Even
though the tour didn’t go near the big ponds, we had a Snowy Egret flyover! I
think everyone enjoyed the birds and the walk. Some may go back on their own to
see the houses we didn’t visit.
Thanks for all your efforts to help the birds and make our
golf courses such bird friendly places.
Mary and David Fullerton
