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My first set of 5 eggs were to hatch yesterday, April 20. I have not been out to the nestbox a lot since it has been cool here in Northern Virginia. I just went out to see what was happening and this is what I found. It looks like another nest is being built on top of the 5 eggs.
i am not sure that the pair building the new nest is the same as the original pair. I didn’t take as many pictures of the birds this time. They look different in the brighter daylight instead of the cold cloudy weather of a couple weeks ago.
I will wait until the end of the weeks to see if the eggs do hatch or if they continue to add new nest material, before I do anything with the nest.
David
Stafford, VAInteresting. So, according to what I found with a quick search, bluebirds somehow know when an egg is no longer viable. Also, that the female may bury the eggs in the old nest material and lay new eggs. I am curious what you learn over the next week.
- Ira / Coastal NW Florida
I’m just wondering. Just a newb here, but, do you think maybe they are providing more insulation during the cold snap? Or will the next day or two show them giving up on those eggs. Very interesting. I hope I’m thinking right but either way looks like you’ll have a nest.
We are just beginning to see bluebirds here on the WI/MI Border. Earliest report locally was about a week ago. Very little nest building going on. A couple nest boxes with some wispy bits of grass. We have snow in the woods still.
One PVC box I installed has moss nest from chickadees.
Tim
WI/MI Border, about 100 miles north of Green Bay
Tim C. WI/MI border.
I watched a bit this morning to see what was happening with the nestbox with the eggs. This male and a female bluebird were bringing new nesting materials into the nest and the female appeared to be constructing a new nest. So I went out and removed the bottom half of the old nesting materials in the box along with the 5 unhatched eggs and disposed of them. The two seem to have accepted the change as they are working again this evening. It was hot this afternoon and I didn’t see them around.
David
Stafford, VAThe cool thing about bluebirds is their resiliency! They seem to take things in stride and keep moving forward.
WI/MI Border, about 100 miles north of Green Bay
Tim C. WI/MI border.
Still building. Saw both birds this morning on top of the nest box with beaks full of nesting material. I didn’t have my camera handy, so I missed that shot.
David
Stafford, VA(@ David) Bummer!!! I think that it is a good possibility that something happened to that particular female bluebird and the male got another mate.
(@ Tim C) I wouldn’t count on E-bird numbers to be accurate for bluebird nesting. Because most backyard bluebird landlords don’t report to E-bird. I’m out of town now but had a complete nest with 5 eggs by April 6th and I’m right on the Ohio, Michigan border. They started building probably 3 weeks before that date. I also have see several active nests on the trail already and probably most with eggs.Tammy
(@ Tim C) I wouldn’t count on E-bird numbers to be accurate for bluebird nesting.
Tammy, I used to keep statistics on the group nestings and report them as a group to the Cornell University.
Their data sheet reflects “Hatch from last egg” as 14 days; “Days to fledge” as 17 days from Hatch date. That has worked for most of us.David
Stafford, VA(@ Tim C) I wouldn’t count on E-bird numbers to be accurate for bluebird nesting.
OK. I was just referring to local friends contacting me about sightings in our community. This is just my third season. After doing a presentation at our library last spring about my first season’s experience I have a small group of locals that I supplied with nest boxes and they are very enthusiastic at this time of year in terms of letting each other know of their sightings.
During my first season I was asking here (BBNut)and checking Internet sources for arrivals. I found those not very useful for my area. Similarly, I’ve just finished building a purple martin house and I was quietly referring to the PMCA “Scout report” for some arrival information, however, I’ve found that report to have stalled about three weeks ago in reporting for northern WI and MI. We’re on the northern fringes of the PM range and there are probably few spotters actively using that method to report arrivals.
Tim
WI/MI Border, about 100 miles north of Green Bay
Tim C. WI/MI border.
That’s great David. I’m being patient with my bluebirds. Some evidence of nests starting but we had snow flurries this afternoon while driving back home across the UP so it might be a little while.
Keep the photos coming.
Tim
WI/MI Border, about 100 miles north of Green Bay
Tim C. WI/MI border.
And another one. I did put up the Sparrow Spooker but the wind is blowing the Mylar strips almost horizontal.. I might have to tape some lead pellets to the ends to keep them down a bit.
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This reply was modified 9 months ago by
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David
Stafford, VA@ David. I have the same problem with the streamers too. All the time! Good idea for putting weight at the bottom. Maybe even paperclips would work at the bottom? Just a random thought.
@ Tim Neat that you did a presentation and are helping a group of people!!
I’m big into Purple Martins. If you are on FB there’s a group called Purple Martin Fanatics that is really helpful. I have a small colony for the last 17 or so years. I really don’t want to add more. I like to keep it simple. I probably have about 20+ martins right now. But am having terrible HOSP and starling problems this year. Usually the Starling can’t get into my Starling Resistant Entrance Holes but this year I’ve fought with two pair.Grrr.Tammy
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