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Well, surprise. There is a nest with one egg this morning, and I hadn’t even noticed the female building a nest.
The other day I had noticed a male and a female alternatively perching on top of the nest box. It has been over a week, perhaps closer to two week, since the young fledged from the last brood and the bluebirds not paying attention to the nest box in the meantime. I thought to myself that they were scouting the nest box and the female would start building a nest soon. I didn’t have a clue that she was already doing so. Then this morning I noticed a male on the feeder pole and he only flew over to the fence and watched me after I approached, instead of flying away into the distance or up into a nearby Oak. After filling the feeders I observed a male peering into the box, and moments later a female exited. So I looked in the box. A completed nest and one egg!
Fingers crossed all eggs hatch this time. (Last time there were five eggs but only two hatched. Both of the young fledged.)
- Ira / Coastal NW Florida
Good for you. I have noticed the the first nest is prone to not having all of the eggs hatch. But I am in Virginia where it is colder in March most of the years. Hope nest 2 is full of young ones soon.
David
Stafford, VA@David thanks. I hope so. I was surprised at a new nest so soon. I’m wondering if it is a different pair. Seems it must be.
By the way, seeing Stafford VA is bringing back memories. I made many trips there back in the day. There are some very pretty neighborhoods when you get off of I-95 and Garrisonville Rd. I loved the geese. I know most people hated or at least didn’t want them around. Maybe I liked them as a visitor, not having to live with them, but I think I could adapt to them.
- Ira / Coastal NW Florida
Two eggs this afternoon, so I assume yesterday was the first egg day.
I wonder when this becomes routine for the nest watcher and the excitement mixed with apprehension will lighten up. For me I don’t know if it will.
- Ira / Coastal NW Florida
If you are a serious Bluebird keeper, it becomes and “occupation.” I didn’t think much about it until last year when I had the Sparrow problem and took the box down to keep the Sparrows away. It was really strange not going out to look in on the nest. It is good to be doing it again. I am putting up the Sparrow Spooker as soon as the wind dies down a bit.
If you are familiar with Stafford, I am out Garrisonville Road about 8 miles from I-95 and off Rock Hill Church Road going to Lake Arrowhead. Been here since 1989.
David
Stafford, VAI’m not sure I drove that far out on Garrisonville Road. I drove as far as just past the new Walmart and the new Sheets (new at the time). I would stay down in Fredericksburg and drive up to Stafford for the job. Sometimes I would get off I-95 south of Stafford and come in through the back roads. Really beautiful.
When I first set up the box, late summer last year, a pair of Sparrows immediately started a nest. I kept taking out the nest material but they persisted, so then I blocked the opening to the box. I was also feeding a good but not really great seed mix that included corn, and I had a lot of House Sparrows all through the day every day, so I also took the feeders down. The sparrows moved on and it’s rare now when I see one land on the fence. Knock on wood I won’t have a problem, but this board and my first experience has made me aware of the potential.
- Ira / Coastal NW Florida
Three eggs this afternoon, same as this time yesterday. Thinking out loud: Is she done?
- Ira / Coastal NW Florida
Yeah. But I’ve read clutch size can be less in second and third nestings. Anyway, we’ll see. I’ve penciled in tentative hatch day in the calendar.
- Ira / Coastal NW Florida
Three eggs again this afternoon, about same time as yesterday afternoon check. I suppose the female is incubating now.
Edit to add: It is my habit to watch the nest box snd make sure the male and female are outside the box before I lift the roof and look inside. This visit I observed the female peering out for a few moments before exiting the nest box, so I know she is present. I didn’t happen to observe the male around the nest box this time, but I don’t think anything of that for right now.
- Ira / Coastal NW Florida
Three eggs again this afternoon.
I waited and watched the nest box for the female to leave. It was more interesting than usual today. I waited for, I don’t know, ten minutes or more, and finally the female appeared in the opening, peering out. Usually she lingers there for a minute, looking around, and then leaves. This time she lingered for what seemed a longer time, and then withdrew back into the box. It was another five to ten minutes before she appeared again, and she left after only a few moments remaining at the opening. I figure she heard or saw something, or maybe it was what she didn’t hear, but no idea.
Anyway, the female is still working. I guess she is incubating now, probably started a day or two back.
- Ira / Coastal NW Florida
She apparently trusts you to not leave the box when you approach. When I check on my birds I usually whistle as I approach the box, then gently tap on the door. There is enough play in the door that it will move slightly when I tap. If she is in there she will normally fly away to a tree behind the nest box and wait for me to leave.
It sounds like you will have only 3 eggs this time around.
David
Stafford, VAI was inside, at the window. I only went out to look in the box after I observed her leaving. The sun was hitting the porch from which I usually watch and it was too hot to sit there and wait. She wouldn’t have known I was watching this time. The dog may have been outside, but he ignores the birds and they seem to ignore him, but at any rate his presence wouldn’t have been new or unusual. No clue why she withdrew back into the box that time.
The three eggs, I’ll be pleased if all hatch this time, and very pleased if three young fledge. I’m still not over the fact that I put something up that birds choose to use for a nest site, and out in my backyard.
- Ira / Coastal NW Florida
Same report as yesterday. I sat inside at the window and watched the nest box. In the meantime, the male came along and peered inside the box for a few moments. Shortly after that, the female poked her head out and then existed the nest box. I went out and looked in the box, and of course, three eggs. All is good so far.
- Ira / Coastal NW Florida
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