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After a week of a completed nest Susie laid her first egg this morning! I figured it would happen today as I was working in the yard a lot yesterday and Billy and Susie were very “active” and not shy about it. (I wonder if it was the Barry White music I was playing in the backyard). I’m fairly certain at one point I say Billy smoking a cigarette. Anyway early this morning my wife filmed them going in and out of the box. Susie was inside for about 10 minutes and Billy kept flying back and forth from the fence to the box. I checked at 8:30 this morning and low and behold, one beautiful blue egg! I immediately put the Spooker up and they accepted it within 30 minutes. Fingers crossed for a successful brood!
Great news Rich. They are so much fun to watch, especially when one is smoking a cigarette.
Good Luck with the season.
ConnieThese two are nerve racking!! This morning I checked the box at 8:25. Still only one egg. I was afraid the Spooker had scared them off, although I had seen them all day yesterday. I watched the box and the female went in for about 5 minutes at 8:45. After she came out the pair flew off so I checked the box. Still only one egg. Hmmmmmm….
I grabbed a coffee and went back to the window to watch. Billy was sitting on the fence in front of the box and ominously a male HOSP was lingering around. Billy seemed to be nervous flying between the trees, the neighbors yard and the fence. No sign of Susie but I assumed she was in the box. 20 minutes later she emerged. Billy flew to the box and peeked in and they flew to the back of the yard together. I checked the box – it was 9:25 AM. Low and behold another shiny blue egg for a total of 2 now. Bluebirding is not for the feint of heart!!I love the play-by-play, Rich! Now I can see what I look like sitting by the window, darting to the window, gazing intently at the box, etc. Love it! Sounds like your season is off to a great start! Let’s hope the male HOSP stays away. Happy 2nd egg!!!
Egg #3 today! It was cold and rainy this morning. I went to check at 9:15 making my usual gently clicking sound with my fingers. To my surprise Susie was in the box when I opened it and flew off! I felt bad! However, literally 10 seconds after I closed the box and slinked away, she flew back in. I waited until Noon to check for egg #3. I have never had a female lay so late in the morning. In all the broods I have had over the past 6 years there is an egg by 8 AM. She must be a late riser!! LOL!! Also of interest is Mom and Dad are regular visitors to my fly thru feeder. I use a blend of seed called Farm Fresh Harvest that has chopped cranberries which I suspect they are eating. I also have a Bluebird suet that they regularly feed from as well. I will be buying some live meal worms soon to supplement their diet and help with the fledglings when the time comes. I usually ration about 30 a day for the adults and about 50 day when the babies hatch.
Glad the eggs are coming, Rich – it is always fun (and sometimes worrisome) waiting for those eggs. On egg laying time, I have always read to wait until noon to check for new eggs and have found this to be sound advise. If you notice the birds are most active in the morning. Yes, it is usually early when they are “active” but the actual egg laying is late morning, at least that has been my experience. My mama and papa have been very busy today (been warm & sunny) bringing the live mealworms to the babies – I call this the “worm train”, first papa takes a bunch to them, comes back to the worm bowl where mama is waiting with a mouthful to bring to them. back and forth until the worms are gone. I am careful not to feed them too many worms – they are just to supplement the natural food which they need to forage for, and be able to take care of themselves if needed. Somewhere it is suggested 10 worms per bird, two times a day. This is my guideline, and of course the babies would not need that much for the first week or so. Good luck.
Good news from your house, so happy all turned out for the good. I like you, thought my female was laying her eggs later in the morning, but this is the earliest in the year that I have had a nesting pair, and these mornings have been down right chilly. Right now mama is sitting on 5 beautiful eggs. Good luck with your Blues.
ConnieLooks like 4 is the number. Momma is in and out of the box all day today likely starting to brood. On another note my new slot box in the very back of my yard is being scouted by a different pair of EABL’s!! If I get two with nests at about the same time that will be a first for me. I have had the same pair (assume so) switch back and forth with second nestings but never two pairs at the same time. My boxes are about 100 feet apart. Keeping my fingers crossed!!
I love this time of year when bluebird season is revving up!- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.