Date: Fri 06-Mar-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: SHANNO

Quick Words:

Comstock-bluebirds-sparrow

Full Text:

From Boxes To Bands, Fred Comstock Loves His Birds

(with cut, book cover)

The Bluebird carries the blue of Heaven on its back and the rich brown of the

freshly turned earth on its breast.

--Henry David Thoreau

BY SHANNON HICKS

BETHLEHEM -- The only dumb questions are the ones that aren't asked, says Fred

Comstock.

On Saturday, March 7, Mr Comstock will be at the Booth Library in Newtown to

present a program he has developed called "All About Bluebirds." A resident of

Bethlehem, Mr Comstock has monitored Eastern bluebirds (Sialia sialis) -- and

banded nearly 6,500 of the small creatures since 1982 -- for almost 20 years.

Mr Comstock presented a similar program in Newtown nine years ago, but his

knowledge and experience have since increased. In addition, at the time he did

not have the accompanying slide show he uses in his lectures today.

The program lasts about 25 minutes, with Mr Comstock presenting 140 slides and

offering a program covering "all aspects," he says, of bluebirds in the area.

He then opens the floor to questions and answers, encouraging participants to

continue the program. He loves talking about bluebirds. They have become his

passion, next to his wife, Ruth.

"People are sometimes hesitant to start asking questions," Mr Comstock said

recently, at his home in Bethlehem. "They won't want to ask something, or be

the first, but generally once it starts, it leapfrogs."

Which sort of describes Fred Comstock's growing love and appreciation for the

beautiful birds that are native to North America. Mr Comstock first saw

bluebirds years ago while living in Pennsylvania. Even then he felt these

birds we "so beautiful." After graduating from college, however, his career as

an engineer had him moving around a bit, and not all places were conducive to

bluebirds.

In 1979, Fred and his wife, Ruth, moved to Bethlehem. That fall he put out his

first bluebird box. He saw bluebirds looking at the box, and the next spring,

he says, "We had bluebirds." The Comstocks have had bluebirds in their yard

ever since.

Soon after that, Mr Comstock came across an article by a member of the

Connecticut Audubon Society in Fairfield. The story described bluebird banding

and the idea interested Mr Comstock enough for him to contact the Audubon

Society. This was when he met Carl Trichka, a master bander.

Mr Trichka taught Fred how to band bluebirds. There are two kinds of banders:

master banders, who are licensed; and sub-permit banders, who operate under

the aegis of master banders. Banding a bird -- literally putting a small metal

band around a bird's right leg, with nine distinctive numbers on the band --

allows bluebird enthusiasts to study where birds live, how far they might fly

during the winter months (a surprisingly short distance, if anything, it was

recently discovered), and to study to life patterns of the birds.

Mr Comstock is a sub-permit bander. He would like to become a certified master

but says "it's becoming increasingly difficult to obtain a master bander

license. Most of those that have them just don't want to teach anybody."

Fortunately, Mr Trichka has been willing to share his knowledge, and Mr

Comstock has continued to be just as eager to learn.

Fred Comstock began banding in 1982. Since then, he has banded nearly 6,500

bluebirds. He has been a member of the Connecticut Bluebird Working Group, and

maintains close contact with two biologists in the state of Connecticut.

Five years ago, Mr Comstock decided to write a book based on his own

experiences with bluebirds. He had become frustrated when he could find few

answers to the many questions he had about the myths, births, deaths and

problems with the birds.

In his book, called Bluebirds: The How To Book (Attract Them, Help Their

Survival) , Mr Comstock offers readers first-hand information on how to

monitor bluebird nests. He has written some very specific details about doing

this, along with cautions to observe for a monitor's -- and the birds' --

safety. His theories and writings are based upon his 16 years of field

experience.

So why spend so much time banding and watching these birds?

"I band because we can learn a lot about the Eastern Bluebird," Mr Comstock

wrote in a chapter devoted to the subject. "For instance, we have recently

learned that not all bluebirds migrate.

"Banding has also shown us, without any question of a doubt, that the

fledglings from the previous year return to the same area to raise their young

the following year. ... In addition, banding lets us know when birds go out of

the area to nest.

"I continue to band because it gives me a chance to be sure that everything

that can possibly be done to encourage and bring back the Bluebird is being

done. It also affords me the opportunity to get a better and more accurate

count for the state as to the numbers of Bluebirds in the state and what the

health of the birds are. Further, it gives me an idea as to what the predation

is and how to prevent or reduce future losses.

"Besides," he closes the chapter with, "one of the greatest beneficial affects

of banding is the meeting of some very terrific people."

In a chapter concerning nestboxes and their locations, Mr Comstock describes

what is considered by most authorities, including the North American Bluebird

Society, the best style of bluebird box to build if you plan on monitoring an

incubation, hatching and nesting. The author prefers front-opening boxes, and

he explains why.

Like his slide/lecture, Mr Comstock's book covers all aspects of a bluebird's

life. Written as the best books often are, Bluebirds comes from the heart,

using first-hand knowledge and a good dose of Yankee humor. One chapter covers

nestboxes and their locations.

In it, Mr Comstock writes: "The answer is, any direction you want to. ... I'd

recommend that the entrance hole be placed in the opposite direction from

which the storms come. In New England many of our storms approach from the

northeast, which means (that maybe, but not necessarily), you may want to put

the opening slightly pointing southeast.

"However, local weather patterns vary so southeast may not be best in your

area."

In another chapter, on territorial rights, Mr Comstock addresses three of his

own theories on the subject. One concerns a bird's aggressiveness, the second

has to do with the availability of food, and the third combines elements of

both.

"Please be advised," he writes, "that the above theories have not been

scientifically proven, although I do wonder how one would go about

scientifically proving these."

The book also covers, in separate chapters, detriments to bluebirds including

blowfly larvae, raccoons (the bluebird's worst predator; the solution: mount a

bluebird house on a metal post, and spread axle grease on the post), house

sparrows, European starlings, and wrens.

Some myths are dispelled, how records should be kept, even learning about

other birds that will use bluebird boxes are also covered. Like the author

promised, all aspects of a bluebird's life is covered.

Fred Comstock is very easy to talk to, whether bluebirds is the topic or not.

His wife helps him with banding many times and so with a laugh, he says she

knows "99.99 percent of what I do about birds." And he is always happy to

answer questions, in person or on the phone. "I get calls all the time, from

people all over the place, who need to know how to replace a nest, or need me

to look at an injured bird," he said last week. "These birds, they're just

beautiful."

Fred Comstock will present "All About Bluebirds" at the C.H. Booth Library, 25

Main Street in Newtown, on Saturday, March 7. The program begins at 2 pm.

Admission is free. Mr Comstock will have bluebird house kits available for

purchase, as well as copies of his book. For additional information call the

library, 426-4533.