- This topic has 8 replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 3 years, 7 months ago by
.
-
Posts
-
My female bluebird began laying her eggs on April 7, and put down a total of 6. She’s been spending a lot of time in the box, so incubation has begun. The male is not happy when I check the nestbox, he’ll swoop in and yell at me until I leave!
The weather has been unseasonably warm here the last few weeks, with much colder temperatures expected soon. I don’t plan on disturbing the box more than necessary so the eggs stay as warm as possible. Really looking forward to watching the nestlings when they hatch!
Matt: Congrats to you and Mama
on the 6 eggs. I don’t like the thought of cold weather but we can’t control Mother Nature. Mine made it through that bitterly cold weather we had, but my husband and I covered all 4 sides of the nest box with styrofoam insulation, three sides are still on and we are due for another blast of high 20’s to low 30’s tonight with a possibility of snow flurries or mixed precipitation, and my eggs are all hatched. Keeping my fingers crossed for a good outcome for you and me.
Connie (PA)Connie-
Thank you! I saw your earlier post as well, very exciting that you already have hatchlings. Hopeful that yours make it as well. Nature never ceases to teach me how fragile yet resilient many animals are; I’m sure things will turn out OK for you! Good suggestion on the styrofoam; I will see what I have and possibly cover the outside of the nestbox if it gets really cold. My nestbox only has 2 ventilation holes, 1 on each side, so I’m hopeful it will be tight enough to keep them warm. Once these little ones fledge (fingers crossed!) I plan on improving the ventilation in preparation for the summer heat and install a swinging wood cover for colder temperatures.
Looks like many folks on here are off to a good start this spring!Congratulations Matt and welcome to the forum. This is the first photo that I have seen with 6 bluebird eggs. My 5 just started incubation today. I am going to add you to my spreadsheet for nesting totals. Where are you located? Be sure to keep us posted on your progress and let us know if you have any questions or thoughts about the bluebird activity here. There are a lot of good people here a lot of knowledge to share.
David
Stafford, VACongrats, Matt – I also have never witnessed 6 eggs in a nest – My mama is incubating her 5 eggs – I really prefer a clutch of 4, since I believe they have more room to develop – but Mama blue did NOT ask me!!
Thanks everyone! I really appreciate all the helpful advice from more experienced bluebird caretakers. I am located in central Indiana, and live in a suburb just West of Indianapolis. My dad was interested in bluebirds growing up, and I picked it up as something to do during the quarantine we went through last year. I did want to see what everyone’s thoughts were about a possible 7th egg; I found a pure white egg in my yard, the same size as a bluebird egg, that looked like it was either dumped or discarded about 30 yards from my nestbox. I’m not so sure the female bluebird may have produced a 7th egg, but realized there simply wasn’t room for another in the nest. From reading online, I gather that, while uncommon, bluebirds can occasionally lay white eggs. They say that if it happens, typically the entire clutch is white. So I’m not exactly sure. It could coincidentally be a different species as well. Unfortunately I didn’t even think about snapping a photo before disposing of the egg
(it had cracked when it dropped).
Really hoping that all the eggs make it and there is a nestbox full of healthy hatchlings in a few weeks!Matt, a goldfinch egg is white and about the size of a bluebird egg. That said, I have never seen a goldfinch go near the bluebird nest box. Do you have a tree or large shrub nearby where the finches might have a nest? The only alien egg that I have ever found in my bluebird’s nest was a cowbird. I read that they only lay their eggs in other birds nests. But the cowbird egg is about the size of a bluebird egg and is brown with dark spots all around. (They are also very hard to handle when you try to move them from the nest
) I believe we had someone on the forum last year or the year before that had a nest of white bluebird eggs. Maybe Carol might remember.David
Stafford, VAYes, I remember one or maybe even two people here had white bluebird eggs – almost sure one of them was Tammy, one of our moderators on the forum (where are you, Tammy?). I’m not too familiar with other birds and white eggs, I concentrate on my blues as far as eggs go. But I do think a 7th bluebird egg would be very rare.
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.