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Well, my five baby blues fledged yesterday. I think the parents may have taken them to a wooded area across the street from my house. There is a large chokecherry tree there, and the nest that I cleaned out was FULL of cherry pits. At one point during feeding, I was terrified because there were red stains all over the front of the birdhouse. At first I thought it was blood. Turned out to be cherry juice :-D.
Papa blue comes back to the empty house several times a day. This morning he was sitting atop and singing loudly. I am so hopeful that this means they will be back for round two. Fingers crossed!
Susan
PennsylvaniaYou are right! Both mama and papa blue ignored the TRES and worked diligently on a new nest all day today. Very exciting!
Susan
PennsylvaniaThat is awesome, Susan! Keep us informed. My pair started building 7 days post fledge; Mama placed eleven pieces of pine straw in the box, and then abruptly stopped; she and papa tended to the fledglings full time over the next two weeks. They have been back for the past couple of days, building away. The nest is perfect, so just waiting for the fist egg to drop.
Randy
Bedford, New HampshireHi Randy: I am really surprised by the timing of this new nest. My first brood of bluebirds fledged on the 20th. Papa blue was returning to the house a few times each day. Both mama and papa started building a new nest yesterday on the 23rd. It seems so soon! Plus, the TRES babies (7) just fledged on the 22nd. As I have said, both birdhouses are mounted on the same pole, so there is activity around those houses 24/7. The TRES babies fly around in formation and go back in the house at nighttime. The parents are still feeding. I feel like I am in a “Top Gun” sequel when those babies start flying around.
So basically, when I look out my window at the pole, there are either TRES feeding their young or bluebirds building their nest. My biggest concern is the sparrow spooker. I have one sparrow spooker that protected both houses. I would like to remove it now that the baby bluebirds have fledged and return it after the next group of eggs. But the baby TRES are still going into their house. I read that the TRES babies could hang around for a couple of weeks! I’m really not sure what to do about the spooker. I would hate to put the TRES babies at risk.
Susan
PennsylvaniaIn my opinion, the two nest boxes on one pole are the driving the blues to rebuild prematurely. They probably fear losing the box if they are not actively “nesting”. I am going to guess that mama makes a statement by building a partial nest, and then get back to the more important task of helping papa feed and protect the fledglings. I would consider removing the spooker, primarily to prevent the HOSP from disregarding it, going forward.
Randy
Bedford, New HampshireI think you’re right. I will get the spooker off tomorrow. I doubt the HOSP will get anywhere near that swallow house. The adult swallows are relentless. I can’t even take my dogs into the back yard without being dive-bombed. I’m thinking that next year I will separate the TRES and EABL houses onto separate poles. I was going to do that this year, and then the couples moved in before I had a chance to erect a new pole.
Susan
PennsylvaniaRandy, mine are on round 3. First nest lost multiple eggs. I guess HOWR.Two survivors sadly died at a few days old. Then fledged five. Now have week old cuties!!!
Please forgive me; I had forgotten. Glad to hear of your ongoing success since then. I am soooo far behind you! Mama just finished her second nest, today. She needs to start dropping eggs… I am getting impatient! :) But I have to admit, I admire how relaxed my pair are. Nothing rattles them. They are real pros!
Randy
Bedford, New HampshireI took the sparrow spooker off of the house today. I peeked into the bluebird house, and they have a complete nest built already. I haven’t seen mama and papa at all today. I hope they are tending the new fledglings! I was worried about the babies yesterday, because the adults seemed so intent on working on that nest. I think Randy is right. . .the bluebirds are afraid of the tree swallows taking their house. It will be interesting to see when more eggs appear.
Susan
PennsylvaniaWow Susan, that is wonderful. Five new BB’s out in the world. Your yard sounds like Grand Central with the TRES and the BB’s flying around. It must be exciting to see.
Another nest so soon is amazing. I hope it does well too, and that you get a change to see the first family again.
Keep us informed.
Connie (PA)
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