Second go round

[Sassy]

I watched Mama bring new material into the box on Tues. and yesterday. Today at noon time I went out and investigated how far along the nest was and it is almost entirely done. I did see her bring more material in this evening, but it looks like for the first time I am going to see them raise a second family.
I went out to put some worms in the dish this evening and a BB was singing so beautifully in the Hemlock tree, just like they do when they are courting the female. I don’t know if it is the same male BB or if there is another pair in the vicinity. I would love if a pair took up residence in the other BB box I have but I will be more than satisfied if it is the same pair and I get a second family to watch.
I am so excited.
Connie (PA)

[blue diamonds]

How exciting!!! Hope she gets busy soon with egg laying. My 3 baby blues just fledged this morning. I have the bluebird that lays pink eggs. I too hope she will build one more nest. I cleaned the box so it’s ready and waiting. I can hear the bluebirds in the trees, but haven’t seen them yet. I would really enjoy seeing them feed their young.

Judy – Michigan

[Lisa]

Box is clean and ready for fourth nest. Kind of would rather they not as heat scares me but they always seem to survive it.

Lisa in South Alabama

[Sassy]

Hi Judy, I hope you get a second nesting too. My babies are 2 weeks old now and the new nest is built, but nothing in it as of yesterday. I will check again today, since the babies all seem capable of taking care of themselves now, Mama might get down to business. Papa keeps looking in the box from time to time, I guess he thinks Mama should be busy with his new brood too.
Connie (PA)

[Sassy]

It is amazing Lisa how much hot weather the birds can take. I know we do not get as hot as you do there in Alabama as a rule, but it did get quite toasty and humid up here in PA while those little ones were in the box, but nature sorta takes care of itself. Maybe by the time she builds and lays new eggs it will have cooled down considerably.
I will keep an eye on here for news of a fourth go round.
Connie (PA)

[Lisa]

Thanks Connie! I would be pretty surprised if they didn’t go for round four. I wish my vision was better and I could tell if they are the same pair as last year but they are acting exactly like them. I need to get my styrofoam ready just in case. So far this year they have wasted no time with repeat nests!

[Lisa]

Does anyone else get empty nest syndrome when they see the blues carrying the mealworms to the neighbor’s trees? I know I should be happy when they are out and living but I miss those little chirps when the parents feed them in their box!

[Sassy]

Mine seemed to hang out close to home, but they are 2 weeks out of the box now and mainly feed themselves, even though I have seen them beg every now and then and make those little chirping sounds. I have seen them come down to the birdbath and take a bath too, 4 at a time. So cute to watch them, then Mama and Papa will bath also. First year I have had the opportunity to enjoy all these things, so I am taking it all in.
Connie (PA)

[Sassy]

because today the first egg was laid so things are looking good for this second go round. I am anxious to see how many eggs there will be.
Connie (PA)

[Lisa]

I think we get lucky down here because they get an early start and 4 broods is not unusual. The weather here the past 2 years has been much cooler than the North. No sign of new nest yet but they just fledged the 18th. I have a feeling though that we will see one more brood.

[Sassy]

Lisa I hope you are right and the fourth go round starts soon. I don’t think we would ever see that many up here, but I will happily settle for 2. I checked today and the second egg is in the nest.
Connie (PA)

[mspatt]

Connie, You give me hope for another nesting. We already had one and a half–both ended in disaster thanks to some HOSP. The mama bird was killed in the last nesting, but the papa is still sitting atop one of our other boxes. Problem is, I don’t think he can find a new mate before the weather starts to turn colder. But, as I said, you give me hope that we’ll have some babies before we know it.At this point, I’ll just wait and watch… Mspatt,Ohio

[Sassy]

Hi Mspatt:
Never give up hope, that is one thing I have learned from this group when it comes to our beloved Blues. I hope that Papa finds another mate and you get to have a successful nesting before the cold weather sets in, but we still have a while before that happens. Good Luck.
Connie (PA)

[Sassy]

Just to add on, you could have knocked my socks off about 10 minutes ago, I went out to check the nest, something I have not done since the 3rd egg was laid and Mama seemed to be incubating them. There was a new egg, so looks like this go round is going to be 4 new blues unless she surprises me again, which I highly doubt. I told my husband I think she likes even numbers
Connie (PA)

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