Bizarre behavior

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  • July 11, 2017 at 10:01 am #5469
    Lisa
    Participant

      To my utter and complete disbelief, in July, in Alabama,5 days after fledge, the blues have an almost completed new nest. This is WAY late here. Off to figure out some serious heat shielding!

      July 11, 2017 at 10:11 am #5471
      nhhawk6
      Participant

        Crazy. Good. Risky. Congratulations! (just typed the first four words that came to mind…)

        Randy
        Bedford, New Hampshire

        July 11, 2017 at 10:17 am #5473
        Lisa
        Participant

          Randy, isn’t that the truth! I could not believe my own eyes. There was a random piece of pine straw sticking out so I opened the side door to throw it out and was completely shocked. This last fledge was by far the latest I’ve ever had.
          I saw a mister for birds on wild birds unlimited that I think I should order.

          July 11, 2017 at 10:18 am #5474
          Lisa
          Participant

            It’s almost upsetting because it is going to be so hot here. On the upside there will be gazillions of bugs.

            July 11, 2017 at 10:19 am #5475
            Lisa
            Participant

              Gin, did you ever have a nesting this late up there?

              July 11, 2017 at 2:42 pm #5483
              Maybelle
              Participant

                I hope you will continue to share the outcome of these daring bluebirds! I’ve been reading an article about eggs & warmer climate that you might find of interest. This year our female had 6 eggs in May. Now in July she only layed 3 which she is now incubating. Three is less than any clutch we have had at our place and I wondered if it was because the weather on the day she layed the first egg was 90 degrees. http://www.birds.cornell.edu/Page.aspx?pid=1298

                • This reply was modified 6 years, 4 months ago by Maybelle.
                • This reply was modified 6 years, 4 months ago by Maybelle.

                Cari
                Willamette Valley, Oregon

                July 11, 2017 at 5:31 pm #5500
                Lisa
                Participant

                  Thanks Maybelle…Yes, the clutches here get smaller each time. The first is usually 5 and the second four. So this will be the fourth clutch. This year was 5 (all lost) then 5 (all fledged) then 4 (3 fledged).

                  July 11, 2017 at 5:35 pm #5501
                  Lisa
                  Participant

                    That article was a great read! Thanks Maybelle!

                    July 11, 2017 at 5:36 pm #5502
                    Lisa
                    Participant

                      I am definitely not getting my hopes up for this nesting. Average daily temps will be in the 90’s with at least 90% humidity…

                      July 12, 2017 at 11:24 am #5527
                      dogsandbirds
                      Moderator
                        Lisa wrote:

                        Gin, did you ever have a nesting this late up there?

                        Several years ago I did. It was 2008. She laid the first egg on July 17, the fourth on July 20. By the 24th she was missing and never returned.

                        Then in 2009 a clutch of five hatched on July 24. They all fledged Aug 9.

                        Here’s the thing, though. The box they used gets shade after about 2 pm.

                        Gin
                        Atlanta, GA

                        July 12, 2017 at 12:35 pm #5530
                        Lisa
                        Participant

                          I’m tempted to move the box to shade if and when an egg is laid.

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