**Standard Operating Protocol -- Checking Nest Boxes**

*(revised 23 April 2003)*

**Notes about checking nests**

All daily activity should be recorded in a field book. Data recorded in
the field book should include, but is not limited to, the date, the
people you are working with, the weather, the times of the different
activities of the day, and any interesting behaviors, observations, or
interactions with land owners.

At every nest check, you will fill out the nest card/data sheet. All
appropriate boxes should be filled in. Those that are not appropriate
for the stage of the nest box (for example, boxes for the number of
chicks/nestlings when the female is incubating eggs) should have dashes
through them. All data will be entered into the filemaker database daily
and will be proofed by someone other than the person that entered the
data. This person must initial the nest card datasheet after the
material has been proofed.

Color bands should always be checked, when possible. Times when this is
not possible include when your presence is notably disturbing the birds
or when the time available for other nest checks is limited. Never
assume that you know the color bands of a bird. Be alert for "helpers"
at the nest, i.e., birds other than the genetic parents that are feeding
the young and record the presence of any birds you observe near the nest
(\< 25 m)on your data sheet.

Any interesting behavioral observations should be recorded in the
comments section in brief, and in detail in your field books. These
types of observations might include seeing a fight between males (get
the color bands, if you can), or a conflict over a box between bluebirds
and swallows, or a copulation between a pair. You should also include
sightings of predators in the comments section, as well as on the
Predator Sighting Datasheet.

Some habitat information should be recorded as well. Grass height should
be measured at each nest check to the nearest 0.2 cm at the nearest
grassy area to the nest box. If the box borders a grass field and
another habitat type, measure the grass in the grass field. Information
on harvest should also be entered at each nest check (see Key to Nest
Cards). If an alteration to the habitat is occurring that is not
represented on the Key to Nest Cards, let Laura Nagy know (754-4773) and
a category will be added.

**When checking nest boxes are not currently designed as "Active"**

Slowly walk up to nest box, both looking and listening for bluebirds (or
other birds using the boxes). If bluebirds are seen, try to see color
bands on the birds. DO NOT make assumptions about color bands. If a
female is on or near the nest box (within 10 m), wait for the female to
leave to approach the nest box. If you see the female actively building
(i.e., carrying nesting material into the box), record "building" on the
datasheet and do not open the box.

If no activity is seen, walk over to nest box, tap gently on box to see
if any birds are inside the box.

-   Open box and record if there are any nesting materials or eggs
    present. If there is no nest material and no birds were seen using
    the box, note this on data sheet as "Empty" in the comments section.

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-   If a bird was seen in or exiting the nest, record:

1)  Species of the bird

2)  Color band combination (or note if it was unbanded)

-   If there is nesting material in the nest, record

1)  Species of bird building nest (if able to determine based on nest
    type -- see Table below).

2)  The current state of development of the nest

> Initial building -- some building material in box
>
> Partial nest -- More than 1 cm of nesting material
>
> Full cup -- Is shaped like a nest and you can feel the cup

3)  Number of eggs, if any, and their condition (see Key to Nest Cards)

**When checking nest boxes that had eggs at the last nest check**

Slowly walk up to nest box. Gently tap on nest box. Observe to see if
female or male leaves nest box. Confirm color bands of female and male,
if present. Open nest box and check for the number of eggs present and
their condition (see Key to Nest Cards). If eggs are in the nest, count
the number of eggs. It is OK to gently handle the eggs to make sure you
have obtained an accurate count. If you accidentally break an egg,
remove the broken egg to at least (\> 25 m) and make a note on the data
sheet. If the egg is obviously crushed or leaking alumim, then dispose
of the eggs If young are in nest, count the number of young AND the
unhatched eggs. If female remains in the box, flush the female if 1)
this is the 1^st^ day she has been observed incubating and you need to
know how many eggs she is sitting on, 2) if it is within 1 day of the
eggs hatching, or 3) if the female is sitting on nestlings. Do not flush
the female if she is incubating eggs and you know the size of the
clutch.

If the clutch is in the process of hatching, make sure you write down
the number of eggs and nestlings present at the time when you see it.).
If the nest has been targeted for observations of hatching order, refer
to the protocol on eggs and nestling for further instruction. This
should be recorded as "Hatching" in the stage column on the nest card.

**When checking nest boxes that had nestlings at the last nest check**

-   Slowly walk up to nest box. Gently tap on nest box. Observe to see
    if female or male leaves nest box. Confirm color bands of female and
    male, if present. Open next box and [count]{.underline} for the
    number of nestlings present. If there are still unhatched eggs in
    the nest, count both the number of young AND the unhatched eggs.

-   If nestlings are \>16 days old, approach the box slowly and use an
    observation mirror to look into the box. If nestlings are in the
    box, count the nestlings. If the box is empty, open the box and look
    for signs of fledging or failure.

> *Nests that fledge*

-   Feces on the rim of box

-   Feces on the rim of nest cup

-   Feces on wall

-   Feces at/on entrance

-   Fruit/berry stains on walls

-   Substantial amounts of chitin at the bottom of the nest
    (dandruff-like flakes that accumulate as the nestlings' feathers dry
    up)

> *Nest that were predated:*

-   Lining torn out of nest

-   Nest pulled out of box

-   No feces present

-   Scratch marks or hair on/in the box that were not incorporated as
    nest material (i.e., have never been observed before)

-   Bits of egg shell, fur, feathers or dead birds in the box or on the
    ground near the box?

**When a nest has successfully fledged**

-   Follow the male and the female to determine how many fledglings are
    alive and which fledglings are being fed by the male and the female.
    Stand as far away as possible and observe the parent birds. You may
    be able to hear the fledglings calling and you may be able to
    observe the parents taking food to the fledglings. Record all such
    observations in your notes along with the date, time, box and nest
    number. Read color band combinations on fledglings, where possible.
    Estimate the distance the fledglings have traveled from the nest.

**At the end of a nesting attempt (i.e., after the nest fledges or
fails)**

1)  Determine and record the nest fate and the reason for failure or the
    number of fledglings seen (See Key to Nest Cards)

    -   If the box was empty and nestlings were \< 16 days old, assume
        the nest failed due to predation.

    -   If the box was empty and nestlings were \> 16 days old, look for
        signs of predation or fledgling (see above). Also watch the
        behavioral cues of the parents. If parents are traveling with
        food in their bills or you see fledglings, the nest was
        successful. If the female is rebuilding, the nest likely failed.

    -   If the nestlings within the box are dead and there was severe
        weather within the last 48 hrs, the nest likely failed for
        weather related causes. Weigh the dead nestlings if at all
        possible. See instructions below for how to dispose of dead
        nestlings.

    -   If the nestlings are dead, but there is no sign of injury and
        there was no weather, the nestlings probably starved. Weigh the
        dead nestlings if at all possible.

    -   If the nestlings are dead and were injured, it was either a
        failed predation attempt or an attempt by House Sparrows to take
        over the nest box.

    -   If there were eggs in the nest that are cold or wet, the nest
        was likely abandoned. Look for puncture marks in eggs that might
        indicate House Wren activity.

2)  Record the nest condition (see Key to Nest Cards) and
    presence/absence of fecal sacs and berry stains.

3)  Remove nest from nest box into a ziplock bag (use gloves). On a
    piece of paper in the ziplock bag, record the nest box number, the
    nest attempt number, the date, and the stage when the nest failed
    (if appropriate), and your initials. Note any nest parasites seen on
    both the nest card datasheet and the nest label. Return the nest to
    Laura Nagy at the end of the day.

**If you find eggs with holes pecked in them**

-   Put eggs into a film canister labeled with the date and nest box
    that the eggs came from.

**If you find dead adults or nestlings**

-   Put them into a ziplock bag and record the following information on
    the bag in permanent marker.

    -   Date found

    -   Species and sex of bird (if known)

    -   Location were found

    -   Any details about why it might of died (i.e., was there a recent
        rainstorm? Application of pesticide? Feral cats seen in the
        area?)

**Notes about data:**

-   Data recorded on data sheet should be data that you are confident is
    true. If, for some reason, you are unsure about data, you MUST
    explicitly state that the data values recorded are a "best guess"
    rather than "truth".

> Example 1: A field worker thinks they saw the full color band
> combination of the bird, but never got a good look. In this case, next
> to the color band combination on the data sheet could look like
> "S/Y-0?".
>
> Example 2: A field worker is counting the eggs in a nest box and then
> it starts to pour rain. The field worker is pretty sure there were
> five eggs in the nest, but not 100% sure. Again, next to this data
> entry should read "best guess" or "5?"

  ----------------------- ------------------------- -------------- ------------------
  **[Identification of                                             
  Birds that Use Bluebird                                          
  Nest Boxes in                                                    
  Oregon]{.underline}**                                            

  **Species**             **Field Marks**           **Nest**       **Eggs**

  Western Bluebird        6"long; male-bright blue  3-5" deep;     3-6 pale blue;
                          head, wings, tail, red    fine grasses   13-14 days to
                          breast; female---gray     only           hatch
                          head, back, blue wings,                  
                          tail, white eye ring                     

  Tree Swallow            5 ½" long; blue-black     3-4" deep;     3-6 white eggs;
                          head; back, rump; white   grasses lined  smaller than
                          below extending up to     with feathers  bluebird; 14-16
                          eye; first year---brown                  days to hatch
                          above                                    

  Violet-Green Swallow    5 ½" long; violet/green   3-4" deep;     3-6 white eggs;
                          above; white below and on grasses lined  same as tree
                          rump and above eye        with feathers  swallow; 13-14
                                                    (prefers       days to hatch
                                                    white?)        

  Black-Capped Chickadee  4 ½" long; black cap,     3-4" deep;     6-9 white
                          throat, gray back, white  grass, moss,   w/reddish spots;
                          below, white cheeks       fur, hair      11-13 days to
                                                                   hatch

  House Wren              4 ½" long; all brown;     twigs filling  5-9 white
                          tail cocked; bill curved  box; cup lined w/brownish
                                                    with grass     speckles; 13 days
                                                                   to hatch

  House Sparrow           5 ½" long; male-black     coarse grass   3-7 white, gray to
                          throat, gray cap, brown   filling box;   blue with  brown
                          nape, back, heavy black   string,        speckles: 10-13
                          bill; female---brown,     feathers,      days to hatch
                          buffy eye stripe          plastic, buds  

  White-breasted Nuthatch                           Bark shreds,   Pinkish eggs,
                                                    twigs, grass,  speckled
                                                    feathers, fur  
  ----------------------- ------------------------- -------------- ------------------