TEXAS BLUES
The Newsletter of the Texas Bluebird Society
Volume 2 Issue 6 - January 2004
PDF version (288KB)
IN THIS NEWSLETTER...
This final issue of Volume 2 is mailed (and notifications are being emailed to those who accept an electronic version) just a few weeks before Volume 3, Issue 1. In the tradition set with Volume1, the last bi-monthly for 2003 was created during the Winter Break holidays.
Our November 15th Convention in Bastrop is covered with an article about one of Doug LeVasseur's talks,news and photos from the ever-popular auction, and a list of those who received special recognition.
This front page gives details of a brand-new plan approved by the Board and announced at the Convention. It's the brainchild of new boardmember, Cheryl Anderson.
You'll recognize friends and fellow Bluebirdersamong the expressions of gratitude and appreciation.Memorial gifts from Marty & Julie Markovitz and JoAnn & Jack Lipscomb honoring Woodrow Lamberth have set the stage for the marvelous new plan we need your help to name! Happy reading!
Be There for the Blues!
Please vote on a name
for our benefit
at our website
texasbluebirdsociety.org
by Valentine's Day
Texas Bluebird Society
asks all members and
friends to cast a vote
for a new plan.
□ Heart of Blue
□ True Blue Friend
□ Blues for Texas
The Texas Bluebird Society is starting a benefit program! Donations, tax-deductible as allowed by law, now can be made in recognition of a person, pet, anniversary or other special occasion.
The program needs a name and suggestions are provided for your consideration. Please go to our website and participate in our "electronic polling booth" which will be open through February 14th, Valentine's Day. Members and non-members are encouraged to help select a name.
We are very excited! This opportunity will draw more people to the cause of spreading nestboxes across Texas and give bird-friendly people a way to honor their friends and loved ones.
Each nestbox will have a 3"x5" plastic plate which will include the loved one's name and a brief message. The nestbox will be put up on a monitored bluebird trail somewhere in the state of Texas. Each plate will be high quality, weather-resistant blue plastic with white lettering, similar to the one shown in the illustration.
Each sponsor and their designee will receive a letter with the location of the nestbox, and a photo of the customized plate. At any moment, you and your honoree/family will be able to pause, and know that at an exact spot in Texas, bluebirds have a chance to nest and fledge, thanks to your remembrance gift.
A donation of $125 will establish a new nestbox on a monitored bluebird trail with a customized plate. A $50 donation will attach a plate with your special message to an existing nestbox; or, we will ship the customized plate to you or the person or family you designate.
Upon receipt of the request, the Texas Bluebird Society will notify the designated person or family of the gift. Later, location details and photo will be sent.
Finalized details on placing orders will be posted on the website and published in an upcoming edition of the Texas Blues newsletter.
For preliminary information, contact Cheryl Anderson at 817.444.8581 or e-mail azlebird@aol.com
TIDBITS, a report from the convention
At the close of the November 15th Annual
Convention, "Mr. Bluebird" received a
TBS certificate of appreciation from
Pauline Tom. Graciously, Doug LeVasseur
drove from Ohio to Texas to be the
featured speaker. Doug, immediate past
president of the North American Bluebird
Society, accepted the TBS speaking
engagement when he thought he would be
making a trip to Arizona. When his
plans changed, he kept his commitment
to the Texas Bluebird Society! What a
privilege an joy it was to have him
with us. Thanks, Mr. Bluebird!
The phrase, "a bluebird of happiness" aptly describes Doug LeVasseur, alsoknown as Mr. Bluebird. Doug modeled the active member of a bluebirdorganization we all can be as he generated enthusiasm and joy at the 2nd annualTexas Bluebird Society Convention. Like the birds we were there to champion,the audience snapped up Doug's "tasty tidbits" during his talk, "BluebirdingAcross America" and delighted in his keynote, "The Joys of Bluebirding."
"Bluebirding Across America" elaborated on the interesting variations among theEastern, Mountain and Western Bluebirds. Each area has its own problems anddifferences. These differences need togive bluebirders tolerance for the varietyamong regional methods of coping with bluebird management.
Tree Swallows threaten the success of bluebird nestings in the NE. This situationresponds well to the pairing of nestboxes to give the bluebirds evenmore cavityavailability. Hopefully, this keeps the Tree Swallows from overtaking the bluebirdnestboxes. The Tree Swallow's lovely white-feather lined nest is a beauty to see,especially if the Bluebirds also have an available nestbox. Tree Swallow territoryis spreading to new areas. The North has been blessed with a decrease in snakepredation.
The Western Bluebirds will nest in boxes hanging from tree branches. This createsits own special challenges for good bluebird management. Mr. Bluebird displayeda cherry picker type of apparatus made from a long PVC pole and an openwooden box that is used by Linda Violett and others in Southern California. Thishandy item is used to lift the nestbox down from the tree for monitoring. Thenestbox hangs in the tree with an oversized hook!
Predator problems in the NW include bears. The drought of the last few years hasforced bears to identify new food sources, and they've developed a taste forbluebird eggs and young. Eggs and fledglings are in tremendous danger.Resourceful bluebirders have developed several hot strategies. One effort toeliminate the problem is mixing peanut butter and an excessive amount of cayennepepper into a nice big ball. The treat is placed about 4 feet from the bluebirdhouse, entices the bear with its delicious aroma, and delivers a wallop that sendsthe creature racing for water, never to return!
In Alberta, Canada, 65% of the bluebirds are banded. Average bluebird life span there is 2 years, although a few 6-year-old birds have been found. One bluebird marriage used the same nest for 5 years.
Mr. Bluebird entranced us with anecdotes. Did you know that flying squirrels have taken over bluebird nestboxes in key regions, including Oklahoma? They can occupy up to 65% of the nestboxes in some problem areas.
By sharing his expertise and fellowship in the most appealing of ways, Doug gave each of us "a little something" to take home and use with success to help increase the populations in our areas... thanks, Mr. Bluebird.
President's Corner
At the close of 2003, our second full year in existence, we reachedMembership #390. (At the close of 2002 we had about 100 members.) Thewonderful news is that most of the new members put up their very firstnestbox. This spring, many will know the joy of cavity-nesting birds in theirown backyard. Others, who placed the nestbox in appropriate habitat, willhave the HOPE of bluebirds one day selecting their nestbox.
PROVERB: A nestbox in the garage attracts no bluebirds. A wren, maybe. But, no bluebirds.
Peace, Joy & HOPE!!
Special thanks to Billy & Ricky Walker for $400 gift
Ricky Walker in Bandera sent Texas Bluebird Society a note thanking us for surprising her with recognition for her extensive bluebird trail. And, she sent a surprise for TBS - a check for $400! Thanks so much!
Ricky has a remarkable bluebird story. From reading about bluebirds, she KNEW their ranch in Bandera would be good habitat for bluebirds. But, she was supposedly outside of bluebird territory; and, she had not seen a bluebird there. The missing ingredient was bluebird nestboxes. In July 1990, Ricky put up a nestbox. Within hours, a bluebird was sitting atop the nestbox. Typically, Ricky now fledges over 100 bluebirds in a nesting season.
Special thanks to ExxonMobil and Doug & Karen Rohde for $2,000 gift
In 2003, Texas Bluebird Society received two $1,000 checks from ExxonMobil through the generosity of Doug & Karen Rohde. Doug is retired from ExxonMobil. Doug and Karen participate in the company's plan that encourages volunteerism by paying the charity of their choice for the hours they volunteer on behalf of the charity. The Rohde's selected Texas Bluebird Society as the charity that would benefit from their volunteer hours. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!!
The Silent Auction
Throughout the day on breaks, convention participants upped the bids on the bid sheet associated with each auction item. When "time" was called just before evening meal, the high bidder was the winner.
Texas Bluebird Society was the BIG winner. The Auction and Raffle brought in $1,207.50. Thanks to all who participated.
David and Andrew Shiels walked away as
high bidders with the prized double-signed
print donated by Julie Zickefoose, a bluebird
switch plate, a Lenox plate, and a certificate
for a weekend for two at the
Bluebird Hill B&B in Utopia
(a birthday surprise for David's wife, Carol).
When the gong sounded, our guest speaker,
Doug LeVasseur, was high bidder on TWO
bluebird thermometers.
(Notice the bluebird on his shoulder!)
Linda Almes, attending her first TBS
Convention, joined the fun. A nestbox
kit and a bluebird spoon rest went
home to Ennis with her and Robert.
Active TBS Nestbox Builder Bob Houck
REALLY wanted to be high bidder on a
crystal bluebird. He was high bidder
on THREE of the bluebirds. Later,
when door prizes were awarded,
laughter erupted as he won yet
another crystal bluebird.
Lynne Warfield, former TBS treasurer,
was high bidder on some mealworm
certificates at the 2002 Convention.
After a good experience with the
sponsors' product and service, she
followed the auction instructions
"bid high and bid often," and
came away a winner.
Thanks to those who added in an extra donation with their dues in 2003:
Selette Hulsey Pearce, John & Nancy Cys, Lysle Mockler, Lawrence & Betty Jernigan , James C. Leavesley, Thomas Wheeler, Billie Hicks, John Kelly, Jane Tillman, Joseph Klotz, Bill & Donna Wilkison, Susan Vaughan, George Flood, Billy Watson, Charles Bartlett, Metha Leslie, Marvin Hershey, Albert Del Rio, Cathy Chilcote Steve Young, Annette Sanders, April Lowe, Nancy Powell, Moore Barbara, A. Ramsey, The John Burdett Family, Tim Domingue, Martha Pereson, Kathleen Cook, Sharon Bell, G.O. Baird, Tracy Elder, Jay & Betty Puckett, Joan Boecker, Charlotte Askew
Many thanks to those who contributed items for the 2003 Convention Auction and Raffle
Nature's Way, Droll Yankees, Gladys Brewer, Pied Piper, Terro Studios, Ralph & Mary Bilbo, Patrizia Vana, Julie Zickefoose, Johnny & Jennifer Fleming, Texas Audubon Society, Grubco, Jenna Bird, Floyd Van Ert, Petsmart, Lysle Mockler, Clifford Shackelford, Sunshine Mealworms, The BirdHouse (Azle), Evelyn Cooper, Doctors Foster & Smith, Jim Collier, Shirl Brunnel, Maureen & Rex Hall, Woodlink, Anthony & LeAnn Sharp, Bain Walker, David Shiels, Lora B. Garrison, Dan Hanan, Doug & Karen Rohde, Goldcrest, Carol Schoch, Ron & Pauline Tom, Wild Birds Ltd., Houston Birds-n-Garden, Erva Manufacturing
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