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August, and some bird species have already begun to slowly migrate south – not like the Spring rush north to get a family going. Watch this month for different ducks, shore birds, gulls, terns, warblers, vireos, Gray-cheeked Thrush, flycatchers etc. that nest farther north than our area and are passing through.

Cheers to the Woodview Jopsons! The Halton Bluebird Club maintains and monitors Bluebird nesting-box trails both on the east and west sides of Bronte Creek Provincial Park in Oakville. This year, the Club put up 2 Bluebird boxes using Dianne and Larry Jopson’s (705-654-4182) unique slot-box design. The Club is thrilled to have had one brood of Bluebirds fledged already from one of these boxes and now 5 eggs in the same box for a second family. Other nest designs used by the Club often allow aggressive Tree Swallows, House Sparrows or Wrens to force out the Bluebirds. Larry’s design has a slot, not a hole, right under the over-hanging roof, making the angle of entry impossible for any bird except the Bluebird. When you see it, you have to wonder how the Buebirds manage! The Club plans to make and put up more of these boxes next year.

Remember, if you want to “Wish on a Falling Star” this month, the Perseid Meteor Showers, which began in July and end about August 22, will peak about August 13. A new moon then, the sky will be dark; hopefully a few clear nights - should be fun to lie on a dock or any open spot and make wishes galore!

On the Watch
June Hitchcox

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Across the nation bluebirds are having difficulties finding breeding grounds, and as a result, their numbers are declining. The loss of orchards and open fields has made it difficult to find nest cavities. When a bluebird does find an appropriate site, it faces fierce competition from aggressive sparrows and starlings, who are also cavity nesting birds. One way to help the birds is to build nesting boxes and place them in the open spaces that bluebirds prefer. Dr. Wayne H. Davis of the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Kentucky has designed an easy to built box. It has a slot opening (rather than the usual round opening) that deters sparrows and starlings from entering the box and destroying the eggs or young. To make the box you will need: standard 1 x 4 and 1 x 6 lumber, a hammer, a saw, a drill and 8D nails. 1. From 1 x 4 - cut a 4” floor, a 5” back, and a 6” front. 2. From the 1 x 6 – cut two 7” sides and a 7” roof. 3. Place a side piece perpendicular to the back and drill through both of them. Nail the two pieces together. Repeat the process for the other side. 4. Place the floor perpendicular to the back so the bottom is flush with the bottom edge of the back. Drill through the floor and the back and nail the two together. 5. Nail the sides and back to the floor. Drill and nail the roof and sides together. 6. The front is the last piece to attach. place the front piece so that the top edge is within 1 1/8” of the roof. This gap will be the entrance to the box, so measure it carefully. 7. Hold the front firmly in place between the two sides. Drill ¾” above one side’s lower edge, into the edge of the front. Nail the front and side pieces together 8. Repeat the process on the other side. The front should open and close so you can check inside the box. Drive a nail part way into one side. Bend the nail over to hold the front in place. Move the nail to the side to open the box. 9. Check the measurement of the box’s entrance again. It must be no larger or smaller than 1 1/8”. Adjust the opening by tapping the front door with a hammer. 10. Finally, drill holes in the back or sides, or both, for wiring your box to the fence or post. Where you locate the box is important. Select a spot that has little ground cover and some scattered trees. Hang the box 3 to 5 feet from the ground on a pole or fence. Do not place the box on a tree. Bluebirds do not like them there and squirrels will chew the box.

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Internet Safety Tips For Parents

Internet safety for children and teens is big concern for parents today. For this reason, the OPP (www.opp.ca) has provided a tip sheet to help parents ensure that their children's Internet experience is a safe one. They advise parents to:

Create a list of Internet house rules with your teen. • You should include the kinds/types of sites that are off limit.
Keep Internet-connected computers in an open area and out of your teens' bedrooms • Talk to them about their online friends and activities just as you would about their other activities.
Know which chat rooms or message boards your teens visit, and whom they talk to. • Encourage them to use monitored chat rooms.
Talk to your teens about their Instant Messaging list and make sure they're not talking to strangers.
Insist that they tell you first if they want to meet an "online friend." It is potentially dangerous for this meeting to take place unsupervised.
Teach your teens never to give out personal information without your permission when using e-mail, chat rooms or instant messaging, filling out registration forms and personal profiles, and entering online contests.
Encourage your teens to come to you if they find messages that make them feel uncomfortable or threatened. (Stay calm. If you "freak out" they won't turn to you for help when they need it.)

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	On The Watch, Bluebird Box, Internet Safety Tips for Parents.