What is a Control Sheet?
A Control Sheet (clink link to see an example and also see example below) is a
vital part of your Tree Swallow project.  It provides control, structure and
organization by:
  • Displaying crucial information about each nest that allows you to see
    when boxes should be checked and when they must not be disturbed.
  • Presenting basic nesting data for each nest that can be used in making
    comparisons and when compiling Season Summaries.

How do you use a Control Sheet?
Control Sheets are laid out in a grid with data headings at the top.  They are
more complex than the other record sheets and may require some practice
using them, but you'll come to see how handy and important they are.  Let's
examine the fields one by one.  


















Control Sheet data fields:
  • Box #:  A list of the numbers of every box in your project.  Each box
    will have its own series of spaces for numerical data entry spread
    horizontally across the sheet.
  • Egg Date:  There is a space for the date the first egg was laid and
    another space for the date of the last egg.  Tree Swallows lay one egg
    per day, never more than one, so even if you make infrequent box
    checks you should be able to count backward and forward to determine
    first and last egg dates.  It's especially important to know the last egg
    date because it helps pinpoint the date when hatching will occur.
  • Clutch #:  The total number of eggs laid by the female for this clutch.
  • Egg #:  The total number of eggs present on the last box check before
    hatching.  This may be different than clutch # because eggs sometimes
    are removed by nest competitors.
  • Last Egg Plus 3 6 9 12:  These are the calendar dates counting by
    threes from the date the last egg was laid.   The female is incubating
    during this time and box checks need not be made at this box more
    often than every three days.  Since Tree Swallow incubation lasts
    about 14 days you should try to check for hatching soon after day 12.  
    The dates can be crossed out lightly by pencil after they've passed.
  • Hatch Date:  The date you believe or know the majority of young in a
    nest hatch.  Many people use the date the first egg hatched as their
    official hatch date.  If you aren't able to check a box at the anticipated
    hatch time count 14 days from the date the last egg was laid and enter
    that as the hatch date.
  • Brood #:  The number of young known to hatch.  This is often less than
    the egg clutch number because not all eggs in every nest hatch.
  • Hatch Date Plus 3 6 9 12:  These are the calendar dates counting by
    threes from the hatch date.  Adults are feeding nestlings now, and box
    checks need not be made at this box more often than every three
    days.  Knowing these dates is very important for three reasons.  The
    best time to trap and band adults is between hatching and day 6.  
    Nestlings should be banded at day 11 or 12, no sooner and no later.  
    And perhaps most important, knowing hatch date plus 12 lets you see
    when box checks at this box must stop.  The dates can be crossed out
    lightly in pencil after they've passed.
  • Brood # D 12:  The number of young alive at the day 12 box check, or
    on the closest day before day 12.
  • Fledge #:  The number of nestlings that appear to have left the box
    alive, determined by subtracting the number of dead young found in
    the nest after fledging is complete from the brood number counted on
    day 12.
  • Totals:  Egg #, Brood # at hatch, Brood # at D 12, and Fledge # can be
    totaled and written under their respective columns (see example 3).

Note that in the example above the numbers were filled in as they either
occurred or could be determined.  As the egg and hatch dates plus 3 6 9 and
12 passed, each box was X'ed over lightly in pencil.  This makes it easier to
see at a glance which boxes should be checked and when.

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Learn About Birds at Tree Swallow Nest Box Projects
Control Sheet