Bluebirds behaving strangely

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  • #3532
    Bluebirdie
    Participant

      Hi, I’ve been hosting bluebirds in my backyard for about 12 years and have 4 young in a nest box now. They are 2-3 days old. Late this evening I noticed the parents acting strangely. They fly up to the box and hover in front flapping their wings. At one time they were both hovering at the same time. I went and checked everything out and couldn’t find anything wrong. I never saw either one go in the box. They seem like something is wrong. I appreciate any input.

      Thanks,
      Martha

      -Martha

      #3534
      Lisa
      Participant

        The only time this happened to me there was a snake attack going on and I was too dumb to open the box and investigate. It was late evening and I just assumed it was because they were close to fledging. Like within days. Thank God you checked! I felt guilty forever!

        #3542
        Love my blues!
        Participant

          Are you sure there aren’t any bees or ants in there? Wasps will build nest on top of inside at times. I would’ve definitely thought snake like Lisa said, but glad you checked it out.

          Nicole

          #3544
          Carol – Mid-Mo.
          Participant

            Martha, bees or ants is definitely a possibility if you ruled out snake by actually looking inside box. Like Nicole said, wasps will build on the inside of the top of box.

            #3547
            Bluebirdie
            Participant

              Thank you for the input. I checked the inside top of the box for wasps. I didn’t see anything at all. I didn’t think about ants. My husband said they had been coming and going from the box all day. I even wiped the hole out with a paper towel in case there was a spider web there.
              Sadly I had to leave for work before light this morning. I’m praying the problem will be resolved today.
              Thank you again.

              Martha

              -Martha

              #3551
              Bluebirdie
              Participant

                Good News! My husband went home and said they are going in and out of the house like nothing is wrong!

                -Martha

                #3557
                Carol – Mid-Mo.
                Participant

                  That is great they are going in, Martha. To keep the ants from getting into the box you need to put about a 2-3″ strip of thick grease (like axle grease or heavy petroleum) around the metal pole, maybe 6″ down from the box. The ants cannot cross this thick layer of grease and will not be able to get into the box, which for newborn babies can be harmful. If you do not use axle grease, which will not wash away, you may have to apply the light grease after it rains. I had ants one year and this worked well.
                  P.S. reread your reply and the above not absolutely necessary but is sometimes used as a precaution. It is the time of year for ants.

                  #3560
                  Bluebirdie
                  Participant

                    Thank you Carol. I’ll do that. I’ve never had an ant problem but there’s a first time for everything.

                    -Martha

                    #3561
                    Lisa
                    Participant

                      So glad for a happy ending!!!!

                      #3619
                      tamsea
                      Moderator

                        Martha, you are actually opening the box and looking in, correct? I didn’t want to just assume that.

                        Tammy

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