- This topic has 42 replies, 11 voices, and was last updated 6 years, 6 months ago by
.
-
Posts
-
Definitely don’t give up, Mel. We all learn as we go along. The CACH may try again. I think they usually have one brood/year, but they all seem to try again upon failure. Sometimes, they look for new location upon failure, so if you’re able to move that box further from EABL box, it just may work. EABL are my favorites, but I’d love to have CACH nest with me sometime. So sorry for your loss!
Nicole
I’m so sorry Mel! I lost my first bluebird nest this year and still am not sure why. Last year it was snakes, now I believe birds. They keep trying though, so I realize I just have to do the best I can and learn as I go. I just hate how sad I get with the losses.
My third nesting last year made it all worthwhile when they successfully flew!Thanks for your kind words. I’m much better now and I’m gonna continue bluebirding!
The babies from the earlier pictures in this thread have fledged (my first clutch). I’m pretty sure three made it to fledge, but I’ve only seen two fledglings at one time since they left their nest. It was a roller coaster, but it was worth it!Now
I came back to show y’all the new nest that my bluebirds have built, they are going for clutch #2!
I checked it 3 days ago and it was empty, not even one claiming straw. Tonight I checked it and I found a finished/almost finished nest. I thought y’all may find it interesting because it is super tall again.
The blues here hate the dees and prows and if I don’t keep hole reducers on the boxes both the male and female blubirds will enter and destroy the eggs. I put reducers on one side of the yard but not the other. The blues seem to get along with the tres who are nesting now just fine though.
When the new wears off the old shines through
When The New Wears Off The Old Shines Through.
Mel, if you take that piece out of the bottom the nest will be just the right height.
Gin
Atlanta, GAYou would not believe the skimpy tiny nest mine built for round two. I guess they were in a hurry but it is 2 inches tall at most. All babies looking good so far. Day 10.
Hey, y’all!
I’m bumping this thread because a lot of posters here said my bluebird’s nests last year were too tall. (2017 was my first year to hang a house.)
Well, they did it again this year, 2018.
They started building 5 days ago and today I found three eggs in a tall nest.
That is an over zealous female. I would take out some of that material at the bottom. She’ll never know.
Gin
Atlanta, GAAgree with Gin on removing a bit of that nest. Did you remount the nest on a pole? Are you dealing with the CACHs this year? Keep us posted on your birds.
David
Stafford, VAThe bluebird hatchlings should be fledging soon.
This morning the parents were feeding them pretty heavily and those babies were making a lot of noise for their meal.
At about 1pm today Mama Blue started making a lot of noise and hovering in place around the house.
A few minutes later Papa Blue joined her in making a lot of noise and hovering.
I knew something was wrong so I got closer and saw a 4′ snake.
I called for my husband, he grabbed a shovel and joined me outside.
He identified the snake as a king snake.
He went to the garage to get a 5 gallon bucket to try and relocate the snake. (Kings are good snakes, they are known to eat the poisonous ones.)
He had trouble catching the snake by its tail and it hid from him under a stack of extra potting mix, azalea mix, mulch, etc.
My husband injured it while trying to get it out, so he ended up killing it. :(
He is now on board with installing a pole house.Now, Mama and Papa aren’t going in the house. They’ll hover around it, but wont land on it. I tapped on the side of the house and there is no noise. I’m worried.
The parents do that (hover but not go in) when they are trying to get their babies to fledge. I hope that’s all that happened. I hope the snake didn’t have a meal already. Do you see the babies peeking. They should be peeking. So with that pole put a predator guard on. We can tell you how to make your own if you want or buy one from Wild Birds Unlimited.
Tammy
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.