PLATEAU LAND AND WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT NEWS: ADVENTURES IN WILDLIFE: SITE MONITORING VISIT

The ecstasy and then the big bug agony of nest box maintenance

by Kameron Bain, Plateau Business Development

2010 has been a year full of new adventures for me. I never imagined that when I started working at Plateau Land & Wildlife Management over three years ago that I would have the opportunity to experience the pain and victory of brush management, or the joy of working with a family as they embark on a new journey with their land. For my next adventure I knew it was time to head back out with the tech team, and after my bruising brush with brush management experience I hoped for something a little more mellow. A nice walk in the wilderness checking nest boxes sounded just right. However, the day turned out to be more of an adventure then I had originally planned.

It had been a busy few months at the office so I was excited to get out and away from my email and phone for some peace and serenity in the hill country. I was not at the least bit concerned when Plateau wildlife services technician and my fellow adventurer for the day Zach Stark loaded up the wasp spray and snake guards. We had a busy day ahead of us checking more than forty nest boxes and I did not want to slow him down.

Zach had done much preparation the day before at the office so we could get to the property and immediately get going. And that is what we did. In fact we spent the next 6 hours straight going and going and going.

The day started off great. It was a perfect, crisp fall day and the first few nest boxes we found quickly and easily. Zach and I made a great team. He would open the boxes and I would take the photos and write down all the important information. Opening each nest box was like opening a new gift. I was amazed at the quality of the nests. Each nest was carefully and strategically crafted with twigs, moss, grass and even trash and hair.

As the day wore on we encountered obstacles such as hard to find or missing nest boxes, terrain that was unmanageable, or nest boxes in need of repair. But the one obstacle (at least from my perspective) that reigned supreme over all others? Bugs! Nest boxes also make good homes for bugs, apparently. Having grown up in the wilderness of New Hampshire where I came across plenty of bugs I never considered myself a wimp. But as the saying goes, everything is bigger in Texas. Even the bugs.I have never seen bigger wasps or more scorpions in my life. While I was in the mood for a nice walk, I was not in the mood to get stung. Plus, I really did not want to cry in front of Zach who sacrificed himself to the wrath of the wasps. He let me hide when we came across a nest that had a dull hum or vibration.

By late afternoon I lost a lot of the pep in my step. The constant maneuvering through brush, the escape of the wasps, and the warm sun was starting to take its toll on me. Zach, on the other hand, kept pushing along with the same energy and quick step. I was beyond impressed by his level of dedication and hard work. He always did his due diligence to find a missing nest box, find the perfect spot for a new nest box, or fix a damaged box even if it meant trekking back to the truck.

After navigating our way around a lake to clean a duck box, my day was done and I was exhausted. Once again, I am in awe of the challenges and hard work the tech team faces every day. It is nice to get out of the office but I doubt I could do all they do with the same level, skill, and expertise -- day in and day out.

Ultimately, as in my previous adventures, I learned valuable wildlife management lessons including the importance of checking your nest boxes between birding seasons. The property Zach and I visited had not checked their boxes in a year. Some of the boxes had multiple nests in them so there was no room left for a new bird family. Also, those bugs needed to be removed and damages fixed. Thanks to the Plateau team, many properties will have successful breedings seasons.

Finally, a personal thank you to Zach for allowing me to tag along for the day and braving those wasps. Your knowledge and dedication is invaluable to Plateau. Even though the day was long and tiring, it was fun and interesting. Plus after all the exercise, I slept like a rock.

Until next season, have a Happy New Year!