Bluebird Update...Great news!!!

A good comprehensive Bluebird book with some great pictures of these beautiful songbirds.

Winnetka Golf Club manages 32 Bluebird nesting boxes. This season there have been nine boxes used by the Tree Swallows which are another desirable bird species. Presently there are four active boxes occupied by bluebirds. The slightly hidden box at the yellow traffic post entrance/Par-3 GC #5Tee has babies ready to fledge. The box just past the #14 Tee berm on the left side next to the pond has four eggs being incubated. #2 Rough left hand side has babies only a few days behind the #11 Tee box that has been highlighted in these last two blogs. This is the most successful year since the West Nile Virus (2003+) decimated the bird population. Hardest hit were the Chickadees, Crows and Bluebirds. The bluebirds will have a second ands sometimes third clutch of babies in any season before fall. The offspring from previous clutches will frequently help the parents in feeding the young insuring success.




Bluebirds at #11 Tee 4-6 days old. This photo caught one baby instinctively opening its' mouth for food. Sorry the picture only uploads sideways on the blog!




Bluebirds at #11 Tee now 6-8 days old. The box will be monitored daily, but we will no longer open, so they don't prematurely jump out of the box. All four look healthy and should fledge latter next week.


Approximately 50 mealworms are left daily for the parents to feed their babies. Mealworms are typically used by anglers for fish bait.






A Wrens nest with babies near #18 Green. Notice the nest is predominately sticks and stems.



Old 33-vinyl-LP of George Wettling's (Blues) Allstars found at a garage sale was a 'must buy' for a quarter just for the picture!

ATTENTION Bluebird watchers!!! Two nest boxes with eggs #2 Rough (west side) & #11 Tee complex

Please comply with signage and please use common sense to avoid hitting box.

Bluebird box at #11 Tee cart path.


Four eggs during incubation that typically takes 10-12 days.


2-Day old babies. All plump and healthy balls of peach-fuzz type feathers. Notice the beaks by the yellow line. When opening the box at this stage they instinctively raise and open their mouths. Took a few pictures to get one in focus thus they knew I was not their parent and layed still. Bluebirds have made a huge comeback over the last few decades from people actively monitoring their nesting boxes. Staff is a long time member with the BRAW- Bluebird Restoration Association of Wisconsin.


The first few days the parents feed the babies fruit. The Serviceberry shrubs intentionally planted throughout the course are a primary fruit used by the Bluebirds. This photo shows a mass planting of serviceberries in spring bloom to the west of #10 Tee/back of #15 Green. Watch for bluebirds picking fruit here and at #7 Tee hedgerow.


Close-up of the edible fruit. The berries are ripe when dark blue or purple and taste very similar to blueberries. Please stay tuned to the plight of our new born bluebirds on the next blog. English House Sparrows and extreme weather are the two major hurdles for these babies to clear before they fledge in 12-14 days.

Talk about a "Fried-Egg Lie", wildflowers and a GOOD Blackhawk omen for game-6 tonight!!!

Close-up of Snapping Turtle laying eggs in the #12 Green Sand Bunker. Please note when she was done, we covered up the hole and staff watches daily for activity.

Another 'Snapper' laying eggs..."believe-it-or-not" in the front bank of #14 Tee.




Dames Rockets growing near #14 Green. They can also be found throughout the dike on Holes #14-16-17-18 as well as the wildflower berms on #13.


The "official Winnetka Golf Club rain gauge" total from yesterday...the day before Lord Stanley's Cup is present in Philadelphia for game 6 tonight...was .61-inches of rain. The last time the Blackhawks brought the cup home...1961 !!! Let's Go Hawks!