- This topic has 30 replies, 8 voices, and was last updated 8 years, 2 months ago by
.
-
Posts
-
Dale, they won’t mind being in a box that high. That height is not necessary though and I wouldn’t have one that high because it’s so difficult to monitor. Will you be monitoring your box? The rule of thumb is at least 5 feet to the hole entrance.
Tammy
Dale, you really don’t want a pole that high – it would be almost impossible to monitor. PLUS, when you mention a “pole”, don’t know if you mean wooden or otherwise, but of course, wood poles are definitely a no-no if possible. Sure, there are plenty of those out there, but think about the predators (coons, snakes, cats, etc.) that can climb right up that wooden pole and grab your babies or eggs. Think hard about it – maybe you can come up with a better rig. Good luck. Like Tammy says, 5 feet to hold entrance is recommended & seems to work good.
Dale:
I used on of those metal green post/poles that has the triangle on the bottom. You can buy them at Home Depot/Lowes or any hardware store. Good luck
Those poles are not round and will still allow a climbing predator access to the nest box. Unless you are using a baffle or some other kind of deterrent the box is still at risk.
David
Stafford, VATo say that I am big time disappointed would be an understatement. I removed the nest like everybody suggested. I am not sure where my bluebirds migrated to but they didn’t rebuild the nest and haven’t been around for about 2-3 weeks. Hopefully they will come back.
Just in case your thinking that removing the nest had something to do with your bluebirds not being around….it does not. Removing the nest was the right thing to do. Hopefully they have not chosen another place to nest …time will tell. But even then, they usually have two or even three nests per season so you still have opportunity to have them at your place. Sorry…those blues are so unpredictable!!
Tammy
Well they have been in that nest for the last 4-5 years ever since I put it up. So I am hoping that they come back. I had no bugs or mosquitoes around when they were here. lol
Did you take it out in the middle of Jan when you first asked us this question? Or just recently? Had you bluebirds already started adding tonitnwhen you removed it?
Tammy
No mosquitos? How did that happen? EABL don’t catch food on the fly.
For whatever reason, they have chosen another location for this cycle. Did you clean out the box back in January? That would have been a good idea and wouldn’t deter them. If anything, it would help them decide to nest in your box.
Gin
Atlanta, GAI did it 2-3 weeks ago instead of back in Jan. No they weren’t adding to it as they have been in it for 4-5 years now and only added to it last year or the year before. Still hoping they come back.
In my experience even if a bluebird nests in a box with an old nest it still adds it’s own nesting material. It is just instinct. There’s a good chance they already started adding nesting material to the exsisting nest, that’s why we recommended that you do it in January. Keep us posted. I bet they come back in the next few months.
Tammy
Happy to report my bluebirds did come back after about my 3 weeks and are doing well now. Does it hurt to look in the box once to see how many babies they have? I will say this much they much have thought a predator destroyed their nesting as anytime another bird came close to their nesting they tagged teamed it and sent them packing. A happy bluebird/wild turkey /humming bird watcher in rural Pa.
I know other years they had 2 hatching where do all those babies go? Also if this is this is the case I should clean the nest out in Jan. even though it’s cold then. Do I wait for a ram couple of days? I had a female wild turkey and 8 babies in my front yard this morning about 40 feet from my picture window. They love wheat. I also had a hummingbird come to my picture window this morning to the exact spot I had the feeder up last year. I am late getting it up but put it up this afternoon.
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.