by Ken Schroeder

EMERALD DOWNS SWALLOW PROJECT (AUBURN)

Dan, Bob, Dolly, and Ken completed the 2025 cleanout at Emerald Downs. This team is SO SKILLED, that we found 17 nests in only 16 boxes. Unfortunately, box #4 contained both a swallow nest, and a giant RAT NEST. Bob Swain was on duty when this 3-foot-long rodent jumped out the entrance hole into the branches of an encroaching willow tree. Dolly and Ken returned a week later to prune back all the willow branches near this #4 nestbox. This #4 nestbox was removed to repair an enlarged entrance hole. Ken attached a new 1-1/2” wood plate over the damaged “rat chewed hole”. The #16 nestbox was also removed for repairs. Both were reinstalled the same day the willow tree was pruned.

All 16 boxes received new, sterile, base pads. Details are in the attached MS Excel Spreadsheet. Dolly Owen is our project coordinator at Emerald Downs.

SOOS CREEK BOTANICAL GARDEN PROJECT (AUBURN)

Dan, Bob, Catherine, and Ken inspected, and cleaned 4 nestboxes at the Soos Creek Botanical Garden. Ken’s wife Linda, with a grandson in tow provided moral support. We found 3 of the 4 nestboxes occupied. Some unhatched eggs, and one dead chick were found. Details are in the attached MS Excel Spreadsheet. Bob Swain is our project coordinator at Soos Creek.

CLARK LAKE PARK (KENT)

Bob Swain inspected the 2 existing nestboxes located along a fence in the NW area of the park, and determined they are not salvageable. Bob Swain is our project coordinator at Clark Lake Park.

GREEN RIVER NATURAL RESOURCE AREA (GRNRA) (KENT)

Bob Swain inspected, and cleaned 10 of the 13 “mystery” boxes at the GRNRA. We are attempting to receive permission from the City of Kent to “adopt” these nestboxes for regular inspection, and maintenance. Bob Swain is working on this. Dan Streiffert is our project coordinator at this site.

BASS LAKE COMPLEX NEST BOX PROJECT (ENUMCLAW)

Current Update (January 2026):
Ken contacted King County in January, asking for permission to remove all nest boxes at this location for repairs. I suggested we could install them on tree trunks instead of using the existing metal t-posts. This would avoid any excavation and the need to involve an “archeologist”. We are waiting for a reply.

Past Efforts (September 2025)
Ken and Dolly did a final inspection of the ten (10) “boy scout” nest boxes at Bass Lake in September. We found only one box with a nesting attempt. A clean, mossy nest was present, without any other indication of usage such as bird poop. We don’t think any chicks were present. Two boxes were found where birds had attempted to enlarge the very small, original, entrance holes. Most boxes are deteriorating as the nails are coming loose. The small entry holes on these boxes are only 1-inch or less in diameter. That is quite small, even for chickadees.

This was our fourth and final inspection of nest boxes at Bass Lake. We can now make a strong case that the boxes and the t-posts should be removed, the entry holes should be widened, and the boxes rebuilt with better hardware. This area is well-treed so we should be able to distribute ten boxes on accessible trees. Installing on trees should eliminate the need to involve an onsite archeologist. Ken Schroeder is our project coordinator at this site

COVINGTON CREEK NURSERY PROJECT (AUBURN)

Dan, Bob, Cat, and Ken inspected the one existing nestbox at the Covington Creek Nursery. No nest was found, although the green, base pad was found standing vertically on the back wall of the box. Ken had brought along an another newly assembled box, but we decided not to install it at this time. Ken Schroeder is our project coordinator at this site.