Bizarre behavior

[Lisa]

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!

[nhhawk6]

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

Randy
Bedford, New Hampshire

[Lisa]

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.

[Lisa]

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

[Lisa]

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

[Maybelle]

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 5 years ago by Maybelle.
• This reply was modified 5 years ago by Maybelle.

Cari
Willamette Valley, Oregon

[Lisa]

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).

[Lisa]

That article was a great read! Thanks Maybelle!

[Lisa]

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…

[dogsandbirds]

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

[Lisa]

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

[Author]

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