Volunteers' Reference
What's New
Route 1 has two new nest boxes in the dam meadow - #41, 42
Group email is qhnestbox@gaggle.email
CALENDAR - Team members can use this link to sign up for field checks or to see who is scheduled.
TRAINING MATERIALS - detailed descriptions about monitoring procedures and practices.
Team Communication
Emails sent by team members to qhnestbox@gaggle.email are delivered to all other team members and are archived for the project. (Note: You must send your email from a subscribed email address. If you want to change the email address used by the project, contact milocat125@gmail.com). If you submit photos to the website, please send them as full-sized files.
Hatch and Fledge Date Estimator Tables
Brief summary of field practices and recording codes
Items to observe and record for each visit
Initials of the box checkers.
Date (month/day) and time (to nearest hour) and weather conditons.
Box number and the condition of the nest.
Activity and species of adults seen or heard on or near the nest.
Number of the nesting species' eggs counted in the nest.
Number and status of live young of the nesting species counted in the nest.
Number of dead young of the nesting species found in the nest.
Estimated hatch dates (EHD).
Actual date and number of young hatched.
The number of unhatched eggs.
Estimated fledge dates (EFD).
Actual date and number of young fledged.
Amount of time spent doing and recording the checks.
Cornell Codes to be used in the observation record
Adult activity codes
NO = no adults seen or heard
VA = adult(s) remained in vicinity of the nest box during the check
BA = adult building nest or carrying nest material
AA = adult flushed from nest during check
RA = adult remained on the nest, or in the nest box
FA = adult feeding young at nest or seen carrying food
DA = dead adult(s) at or near nest site
Nest status codes
NO = no nest
IN = nesting materials present; nest building appears to be underway
CN = nest appears to be structurally complete, with an obvious central cup
DN = damaged nest
AN = another nest found in same site (begin new attempt)
NN = non-avian nest found (bees, mouse, squirrel--describe in comments)
FN = flattened nest, with fecal matter
RN = nest removed, remover unknown
Young status codes
NO = no young present in nest
HY = at least one chick hatching or has just emerged from egg
NY = nestlings naked and pink, or with sparse down, eyes typically closed
PY = wing feathers emerging, eyes open
FY = body feathers completely cover skin
VY = vocal young, heard only
Management activity codes
NO = no management activities conducted
BM = banded adults or young at nest (only to be done by a permitted individual)
EM = unhatched host eggs removed
NM = nest box management (cleaning, plugging, unplugging, replacing boxes; removing old nesting material, etc.)
PM = non-avian competitors (wasps, ants, mice, etc.)