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Does anyone have blues that roost in their regular boxes? I’ve never had them do this, but wonder why they don’t? Thinking about putting in another bottom (removable) for extra insulation in a box to see if this works. My blues DO stay around here in Mid-Missouri all winter. P.S. I did have a HOSP roost late last winter, but he didn’t last long.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL!I’ve had Downy Woodpeckers roost in my Bluebird boxes during the cold weather, but never the Bluebirds.
Central NY
TMB StudiosCarol, I never SEE them roosting but there’s droppings in the bottom of one of my boxes when I check in the spring so I have a sneaking suspicion that they do use it.
Tammy
I had one box used for roosting one year. Not so much usually. But this one year was exceptionally cold and when I opened the box in the spring it had 2 to 3 inches of droppings in the bottom! (and a dead BB :( but it had clearly continued to be used after that ones death) so that was really cool. I never took a photo of the droppings but really wish I had now. It hasn’t happened since. Often have to clean out a small number of droppings in the spring, but nothing indicating REGULAR use except for that once.
Thanks for the replies everyone. We are having unusually nice weather right now – but I know here in Missouri it will get really cold, and believe I will give this extra floor idea a try when and if I see the blues get really interested in one of my 4 boxes.
I had a pair of blues using a box for roosting one year when it was really cold out and we had a lot of snow. They used it for several nights in a row. That was a few years ago and it was the only time so far.
When the new wears off the old shines through
When The New Wears Off The Old Shines Through.
I have never observed them go into a nest box, but come spring, some of my trail boxes have evidence of Eastern Bluebirds (EABL) roosting. I would post a picture but don’t know how. EABL droppings look entirely different from HOSP droppings and if latter has been roosting, easy early season trapping opportunity. I also get a few Downy Woodpeckers using boxes to keep warm over the winter and new fronts or face plates needed for those come spring.
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Central NY
TMB Studios
Just wanted to say hello from Salem NH, I was not sure if this is where its ok to post pics and video links of my Blues. I have a Arlo Live Camera on my feeder at this time, I move it into the roof of the nest box where I got 14 babies last May through July. 2 broads of 5 each successful and the last broad 4 eggs attacked by something (from what you all say I am sure it was HOSP), when I check the video at work before coming home for lunch the bird was taking the 2nd to last egg, I don’t have sound with this camera so I could not try to scare it off. At any rate I wanted to share my Blues, unfortunately I only have 6 this year 3 pairs, usually I have upwards of 13, I expected near 17 with the extra 10 fledglings. I think Its because the weather is Just way to nice and they don’t need me (guessing) we have no snow still and many berries (winter berry) still on the bushes, but I’m grateful as this is the only time I get Blues and 1 pair for nesting. thanks everybody I love reading all your post and pics when I can find them. to the moderator I will post a picture of my ACORN Blue Bird house they just said it was liked by the blues(maybe a sales gimmick. but after years (6 years of no bluebirds nesting , this one they started the second year after I moved it away form the apple tree in the front of the house. (very happy with it and the separate live video /camera we installed. and we can take the top off, but I only do that to adjust the camera or change the batteries, (before eggs hatch ) ok ill try to put couple picks and Ill copy and past the video (only 10 seconds from the last couple days), I adjusted the camera today to 1 minute, as 10 secs. was to short, but I was trying to save battery power, (they are expensive batteries especially if I watch live in the nest for than several minutes at a time. Nice to meet you all, Marcel Male from NH. PS I took your advice and put a few pics on that other site for pic of the month.
https://arlo.netgear.com/hmsweb/users/library/share/link/62215AB062A35A8DI just realized I never replied about winter roosting, sorry, NO roosting the last 13 years, I’ve only seen them line up on a branch together several times. I have a couple great pics( I like) with 5 and 6 bundled ,snuggled up to each other in a row. I take in there special house so the HOSP don’t know its there,(not sure if it works but had to try something after an attack of the 4 eggs last year. I leave up the original 4 blues birds around the property, (as I intend on ensuring the HOSP have somewh1ere to go so I can promptly humanely evict them, so no harm comes to my Blues, I was devastated seeing a bird take away my pairs 4 eggs and they left the next day for the summer, I was upset and didn’t know anything about HOSP, I had no knowledge and didn’t know that could happen. any way, I’ll try to put a pic on here, if it words this one is from last year 1/14/2015. please someone tell me if I’m doing this wrong. )posting in the wrong place), I wish there was a pic place., nope no pic, this site make it more difficult then my It skills LOL. Ill have to see about creating an account on the suggested above ones, not sure if they charge or are free. ill find out. thanks again every body. here another 10 sec video., I hope to have a longer video with good lighting on the next nice day. and adjust the feeder platform, I had to drop the hood as the crackles are eating up my home made food for the Blues. LOL (not so funny when they are eating)
https://arlo.netgear.com/hmsweb/users/library/share/link/9ABFC57242B4602APS I took your advice and put a few pics on that other site for pic of the month.
Excellent, Marcel!
Central NY
TMB Studios
Hi Tamsea, it must have expired on my security system, sorry I don’t pay so things get abreviated. I’m post another one from like 2/7/16 245pm. I’m excited with this cold weather. I’ve had 9-11 the last 2 days at 4pm. And I put new batteries in my camera this morning. So I’m hoping to catch a great video of at least 6-8 on the platform feeder. So if people like to see the videos I’ll post, but I’ve not received positive or any feedback,so not worth it if people aren’t excited to see the beautiful BB’s. It’s especially cool once they nest and I post the eggs to hatching to feedings and fledglings. OK here you go hopefully you can see and others and I’ll post the 400pm video tonight if I have luck. ( I should as its going single digits and sub zero next two days.
Enjoy, and thankyou for feed back, very appreciated. And I Agree this is a lousy system when you can’t easily post a simple Bluebird picture on a blue bird forum site, hello can you say 2016. Yet on the NY BB site for photo of the month it was effortlessly done.
Thanks Marcel Kidder in NH
https://arlo.netgear.com/hmsweb/users/library/share/link/2C4A6D4F47D6A46AHi Tamsea, I just found out that the link only works for 24 hours, so I guess that’s how they get you to pay more money and then it probably last longer, ill have to check., thanks and I hope you get to see it. and If I get a niced clear video with 6 or more ill post tonight. and if its really good repost tomorrow to give others a chance., Ill have to figure out photo bucket, that is not user friendly either Joined that last week but was nothing but a hassle.. have a good day. Marcel
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