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Nice, pic PhillyBues. Yes, we have had very strange weather all over. My mama blue has been incubating for about 10 days and I am very worried if in this cool/windy weather mama can keep them warm enough (supposed to be below freezing in a day or two). My box is made of thick cedar and I have closed up the vents somewhat, just leaving enough for some light – about all a human can do. I did feel the eggs one time and they seemed to be warm. Mother Nature will do the rest, with mama’s help.
Phillyblues, terrific pic!!! These bluebirds are just cheerful. Carol, I’m eager to hear how things go thru the cold snap. This spring has been such a roller coaster. I never thot of touching the eggs to feel heat. That’s smart. I always learn so much when I’m here. Thank you for sharing!!
Julie, there is always something to learn – when we need to feel the eggs to see if they are warm, you should only just touch the top gently. Sometimes, it is necessary to know if the parents are turning the eggs, so we just put a magic marker dot on top of one egg and then check the next day to see if the egg has been turned (the dot will not be showing). This isn’t done very often I don’t believe, just when you feel it is truly necessary. P.S. Usually, if an egg is not viable the parents will toss the egg on the ground, but not always. Will keep their progress updated.
Agreed phillyblues! It’s been rainy and chilly here lately (Lancaster, PA). The extended weather forecast is calling for possibly mid-70s temps next week. [Fingers crossed]
– Dana
Carol, thanks for that tip. I have never read about touching the eggs. I’ve seen the marking advice, but haven’t ever done it. Phillyblues, here in central PA “our” blues have chosen a box but no nest building activity yet. The male is guarding the box, so that’s a good sign. We have workmen fixing a set of rotten deck stairs, and I thot that would interrupt the nesting process. Nope! These birds just fly around the truck, past the guys and get on the business of checking out nestboxes and fussing over them. We have black-capped chickadees, TRES and blues doing this. Happily the work ends today on the deck, so then–fingers crossed!–nesting can begin with fewer obstacles!
Finally got a little stretch of nice days. Yesterday the female started building while pops looked out. They let me and the dogs watch pretty close.
Glad to see the bluebirds starting to nest.
My nest box is lonely right now. The bluebirds come to the mealworm and seed feeders but have not started to build a nest. I may have to wait until the second round if they don’t start soon.David
Stafford, VADavid, didn’t you tell those silly birds to get busy – what’s their idea to leave you alone anyway? Give them a good spanking (HA,HA)!
Back to winter yesterday and today in SE PA! Supposed to warm up again tomorrow. Glad I don’t live further north with the snow they are getting.
We woke to heavy wet snow on everything!! Hyacinths, daffodils and magnolia all zapped. The last 2 days have been cloudy, rainy, windy and so cold. The bluebirds and tree swallows are gone, nowhere in sight. I assume they’re at the river, where there’s a better chance of finding live bugs in this chill. Yday I spotted sparrows going in and out of the swallow box, and here they’d made a whole nest! Thankfully I caught that male. Where in heaven’s name do they come from? I caught a male in there last week, too. I’m thrilled, though. Sometimes those males are smart. Anyway, I have no bluebird action at the moment, but praying they’ll be back….altho’ black-capped chickadees are moving into the bluebirds’ Gilbertson box. I watched one putting moss into it. So it could be interesting when the blues do return!
Carol and all, I have tried to get them to start building – even put some dry pine needles on the bottom of the box to help them get started – but not yet. I am thinking that they may have found another nest box nearby and just come to feed on he mealworms.
David
Stafford, VA
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