Bluebirds and Buffalo at Bison Ridge Ranch By Leif Marking, October 2004 Eastern Bluebirds are becoming more numerous in parts of Wisconsin and especially in LaCrosse County where members of the Brice Prairie Conservation Association (BPCA) build, place in desirable habitat, monitor numbers of bluebirds produced, and report these results annually. Our data are reported to umbrella groups such as the North American Bluebird Society and Bluebird Restoration Association Of Wisconsin (BRAW), and to other resource groups and people interested in our progress. Our success in recent times is impressive, as we fledged 1,138 bluebirds in 2002; 2,001 in 2003; and 3,066 in 2004. We attribute this kind of progress primarily to our technology, but also to individual and group efforts. Members are willing to share their experiences with others to help these beautiful native birds. Bill Foote, Marquette county coordinator for BRAW, recently contacted Fred Craig of BPCA to learn of our procedures for success. Bill had been in contact with owners of Bison Ridge Ranch who desired more insect eating birds on their 1,000 acre spread. The ranch is located near Packwaukee, WI, with 200 forage acres west of nearby Oxford. The terrain is gently rolling ridges with scattered boulders left by glaciers. Bill invited Fred and I over for a reconnaissance visit to explore the bluebird production potential and work out access for monitoring. We all agreed this was great bluebird habitat, but also great tree swallow habitat in portions adjoining wetlands. The ranchers had previously placed numerous large volume bird houses throughout the grazed area; they were attached to wooden posts or trees with no predator protection. Some of these houses had mice living in them; others showed evidence of House Wrens, Eastern Bluebirds, or Tree Swallows, or they were empty prior to the annual inspection. These deep, heavy boxes are not first choice for bluebirds. Bill had offered to furnish some rough sawed pine boards if Fred and I would build some NABS-style bluebird houses for this priority project. We enjoy building these houses that are so practical for us and for the bluebirds, and we enjoy the challenge of locating them to potentially attract a pair of bluebirds to every box. One side of the lumber was planed for the interior of houses prior to cutting materials to size. The exterior remained rough to assume a more natural posture in the aging process. The houses were assembled by using air nailers and power drivers. On October 9, Fred and I returned to Oxford with 32 completed houses, 7-foot steel fence posts, and 5-foot PVC pipe sections to cover the posts for predator protection. Together with Bill we placed 12 houses on the perimeter of the 200 acre forage parcel, except for one house that was located on the interior behind the existing abandoned farmstead. The houses were spaced at 200 yards or more and purposely on fence lines to offer perches for adults and fledglings, and to avoid conflicts with vehicles and machinery. Some houses were placed along the county road right-of-way, but next to guy wire anchors or other structures to avoid conflicts. No bird houses existed on this parcel ; however, we were amazed and excited to see numerous bluebirds flitting about as we traveled this parcel. In fact, we observed bluebirds investigating some houses before we left the area! Hopefully, those birds were earmarking a house or at least an area for their return in Spring. Then we proceeded to the larger grazed parcel where we installed 12 houses in a similar manner on perhaps about 80 acres. This portion of pasture is located furthest from the wetland and offers ideal habitat for the earlier returning bluebirds next season. At the same time, all the old existing houses were removed to acquire the proper spacing for maximum bluebird production in the new houses. The serviceable old houses will be installed adjacent to the wetlands to offer greater tree swallow production. Again, bluebirds were noticeable throughout the range of our activity. These bluebirds literally galloped in joyful flight from post to post to apparently display their satisfaction for our presence. We are happy for the bluebirds in this ideal habitat and anxious for next season to bear out our judgment. The bluebirds will decide if we think like they think. For more information on BisonRidge Ranch, call Georgia at (608) 589-5500.