I finally got the summary data posted for the 2004 nest box season at Huntley Meadows Park. It was some time getting the data from James, and then I procrastinated for about 6 weeks before I sat down to estimate laying and hatch dates from our weekly samples. I entered more detailed records into a citizen science database at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

Hooded Mergansers continue their upward trend, breeding both earlier and later than they have before at the Park. It's even possible that Wood Ducks, who generally arrive a few weeks later, are being outcompeted by the Mergs for nest sites. Nevertheless, the box program did well as a whole; we monitored 19 boxes this year, and saw 14 nesting attempts in them (one double clutch), of which 12 fledged young.

posted: 10:31:15 PM