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We arrived home today after being gone for 4 days and I checked out the Bluebird house where I saw a pair starting to work on a nest. The nest is there, but I have not seen a BB anywhere and there are no eggs in the nest. Now I do know they can disappear for a few days so I have not completely given up hope.
Weather has not been ideal for a dew days, torrential rains yesterday and possibly more to come in the next few days. I don’t know if that has anything to do with the birds not being around or if this is just normal BB behavior.
I am hoping to see them back, and will post if that should happen.
Connie (PA)The heavy weather can do that. It has happened here also. They work like crazy on the nest and then a storm comes through and they disappear for a few days. Mine have generally returned within a week if the weather lightens up. Keep a positive attitude. If they have that nest there is a good chance that they will use it.
David
Stafford, VAI hope it was just the weather but this morning when I went out to get the paper around 7:30 AM there was a #$*$ HOWR singing his lungs out somewhere in the near vicinity. I thought I had gotten rid of him since I had not seen or heard from him in days. Guess I was wrong.
I wish they were too Tammy, but unfortunately they are not. I will keep my eye out to see if they return, but I definitely will not hold my breath after hearing the HOWR.
Connie (PA)I feel your pain here in Philly! The bluebirds on my trail (walking distance from my home) never made a nest. They just disappeared after hanging around all winter and spring. I think the weather killed this year for us. Second bad spring in a row and second year with no bluebirds. To make matters worse, My swallow pair in my yard finished the nest and then the female disappeared! The male sang out there for a week after and finally gave up! I can’t take it. Such a terrible spring. Horrible cold spells, rain, winds. Depressing. Anyone know if I have a chance for bluebirds to show up for their second nest or is it too late by now? Should I clean out swallow nests on the trail as soon as they fledge?
I would clean out the box after the fledge to see if a BB pair might relocate or possibly a newly matched pair that may be looking. It can’t hurt, and if no bb’s show up the swallows might rebuild again.
David
Stafford, VAPhilly Blues, I agree with David – clean out the boxes – my 1st nestings just fledged on Saturday June 9, and papa blue has already claimed another box for their 2nd go-around, so I believe you would have a good chance yet for something to nest. Good luck.
As the old saying goes, “You can’t succeed if you don’t try and if you fail, you have at least tried”. I firmly believe this is true for anything in life, whether it be personal, hobby, occupation/business, etc.
Cleaned out the several tree swallow boxes, and noticed the one box I put up later in the season seems to have a fresh bluebird-looking nest in there. Wasn’t completely sure, but it’s very neat and tightly woven. Then just this morning I could hear a bluebird sing briefly nearby when I arrived. Scared to get too excited…say some prayers for me that it is what I think it may be. It’s been brutally hot lately. Do bluebirds tend to keep away from the boxes during the day in the midst of heatwaves?
Mine generally stay in a heavily wooded area across the street from me. They are usually doing their nest building in the morning when it is cool and I rarely see them during the day until the eggs hatch. Then it is a lot of activity. But if it gets real warm they tend to feed in the morning and evening. There will be off and on activity during the rest of the day. Again the Bluebirds seem to ignore the rule book. What happen at my nestbox may not be what happens at yours.
David
Stafford, VAPhillyblues I am so happy for you. I know the feeling when you hear or see a bluebird and you are anxiously waiting for a nest to start and more activity. Right now I have lots of activity, 6 new babies are in the box and Mama and Papa are busy trying to keep them fed. I am supplying mealworms a few times a day, but not on a continual basis since I think it is best for them to fend for themselves. This is day 13 so within 4 to 7 days I expect them to fledge. I hope I am here to see it. I also hope by now you have a Bluebird nest started and a family on the way soon.
Connie (PA)
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