Blues and Robins

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  • #26738
    Dave
    Participant

      There is a small tree about 20 feet or so from the blues box, they like to fly to it sometimes. I think I just noticed a Robin building a nest in it. Will this be a problem?

      #26739
      Carol – Mid-Mo.
      Participant

        Dave, a robin should not be able to build a nest in a BB box with a one and a half inch hole opening – they are too large for this. If your hole is larger you would need to put a 1 1/2 inch plate/cover over the hole. Good luck!

        #26740
        Dave
        Participant

          You misunderstood. Not in the box, in the tree about 20-30 ft. from their box.

          Good thing is blue’s eggs should hatch any day now and the robin just starting building. I think it takes them a little time to finish so by the time their done, laid their eggs and they hatch, the blue birds would have fledged.

          #26741
          Carol – Mid-Mo.
          Participant

            Sorry I misunderstood – yes, they would not be trying to build in a cavity nestbox I don’t believe the robin would be a threat to the blues anyway. Again, good luck.

            #26748
            Julie
            Participant

              Dave, I had a similar situation last year, but the robin nest was in an elderberry shrub about 15-20 feet from the bluebird box. The blues did not have a problem, but that robin sure did! It was such a squawker and chasing the bluebirds at times that they abandoned that box for the first nesting and went to the backyard one. So be observant.

              It seems like so many of these birds have distinct personalities, so maybe you’ll have a peaceful robin. We have had peaceful robins nest here. Just not that time! Wishing you all the best.

              I have to add that a robin swooped me and nearly hit me in the head the other day when picking blueberries in the backyard patch. It was the last picking and I took the nets off after, but it surely divebombed me and would’ve hit me but I ducked. Craziest thing!

              #26753
              Dave
              Participant

                That’s funny, Julie, and I think you’re right. They definitely each have their own personalities. I think this Robin is building another nest in a tree nearby, hopefully they choose that one.

                But somewhat on the subject, there are birds nesting in a huge tree about 50 yards behind the Bluebird’s box. In a huge natural cavity prob about 6” wide or more. They are super aggressive if anything goes near the hole. Not sure what kind of bird. Brown top with a lighter, cream colored underneath. Fairly big too. About the size of Robin, maybe little smaller.

                #26754
                Julie
                Participant

                  Chris, I’m unsure about your other cavity nester. Could it be some type of flicker? The northern ones can appear brownish on top and creamier underneath. And they are loud mouths and aggressive around the nest–the male is actually funny with all of his shows of bravado. Check some pics online and try to grab a look with binoculars for more details. This is an odd question, but it’s not one of the small owls, is it? I know nothing about them, but there are smaller ones and they do nest in cavities. I’m intrigued!

                  #26761
                  Dave
                  Participant

                    It’s not a woodpecker and doesn’t have the markings a flicker does. I have, what I think are, black phoebe’s that hang out at my garden. It kinda looks like a big version of those and being a lighter brown top cream bottom. I’m not sure the hole they are in would be considered a cavity, it’s pretty big, so not sure they are strictly cavity dwellers or was just coincidence. I’ll have to try and get a pic.

                    #26765
                    Julie
                    Participant

                      If you have phoebes, I wonder if it’s a flycatcher or Eastern kingbird? Allaboutbirds.org says kingbirds are aggressive nest defenders. I was thinking strictly cavity dwellers. I hear phoebes here, but have only seen one once across the street. In MD I had them nesting next door at an empty house. I miss their song! Keep me posted on this. I love learning about new birds!

                      #26769
                      Dave
                      Participant

                        Hey Julie – not sure it’s either of those birds. I got a few pics but he/she was mad and bouncing around yelling at me. Distance made it hard to get a clear one. The one pic from behind up close you can kinda see how the head is shaped like a phoebe. It’s a little smaller than it seemed before, I might have been seeing the bigger male. I’ll try to get a pic of him too.

                        View post on imgur.com

                        #26770
                        Dave
                        Participant

                          Couldn’t fit all the pics in one post

                          View post on imgur.com

                          #26771
                          Dave
                          Participant
                            #26772
                            Dave
                            Participant

                              I’ve never seen it do this but it came right outside my door on my patio eating bugs. Got a couple decent shots. I think it might be the same female as prior pics but these are clearer.

                              View post on imgur.com

                              #26773
                              Dave
                              Participant
                                #26780
                                Julie
                                Participant

                                  Great pics, Dave! Maybe check out this link:
                                  https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/browse/shape/Flycatchers
                                  When I saw the pics I thot wow, some kind of phoebe/flycatcher bird. I can’t say for sure, but that link has a nice scroll of photos you can browse down. But I think flycatcher types are smaller than robins. These look kinda big. I’ll ponder.

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